Litchfield enquirer., 1851-10-23

ding several mile., 1t begantO bofdsf6u the sea, in some places edging the precl-
 pieces that overhung the shore, and at
 others winding into dtep recesses ol the
 country. a taiis | At length on coming to the opening of a long reach of the road, ahe' saw | 1 igufe Which she took for heE husband. ust disappearing at the oppositeextremi- ty. Immediately gathering fresh strengtI, she pushed briskly on, and hfter am hour's toilsome march. had llle afisfac -i tion, on turninga projection. to tind her husband sittings right before her on stone. tslti Fordyne was certainly very much sur
 prised at her appearance, which was to-
 tally unexpected; but he soon recovered
 his composure. He met her with more
 than usual kindness, as concerned at her
 having thought proper to undertake so
 toilsone a journey. He hastened to ex-
 plain that some information he had re- ceived at Glasgow. respecting the dan. fgerous state of his mother, had induced him :o take start out of his way to see her, after which he would immediately return. It was then his turn to ask ex. planation from her but this subject he pressed very lightly, and far her part, she hardly dared in this lonely place to avow the suspicious winch had induced her to un- deftake the journey. :. It is all livery wetl,' said Fordyne. with affected c0mplaisance l. you'll just go forward with me to my mothers house and she will be the better pleased to see me since have brought you with me- lsbei, smothering here re- al feeings, agreed to do this, though it may well be supposed that after what he had already dune. ard considering the wild place iu which she was, she must have en- tertained no comfortable prospect of her nights adventure. On then they walked in the dusk ot the fast approaching night through country which seemed alike des- titute of houses and inhabitants, and where the universal titllness was hardly ever bros ken by the sonnd of any animal, wild or tame. The road. as formerly, was partly on the edge of sea-worn precipice, over which victim mght be dashed in mo.
 nent with hardly the least chance of ever being seen or heard of, and parlly in the the recess of a rugged country, in whose patliiess wilderness the work of murder might be also us securely effected. lsb0l Lucas. knowing now much reason her hua- baud had for wishing her out of the world opened her mind fully to the dangers of llsr path aud Il. every place that seelned more convenient than another for such work, regarded hiln, even in the tnids, of a clviI conversation, with the watcilful eye.Oi One who dreads the spring of u tiger from eve " bank. Sne cOnlrWee to keep upon tue the side ot the road most remote from the precipieces, and car riedin iiLr hand an un- clasped pen knife, though alrnost hopeless that her woman nerves would snpposE her to use it. Thus did they walk on for seve- tal miles, iiLI tt length ali of a sudden, For dyne started off the rOai and was instant. " lost in tortuous ravine. This event was so different from any she had feared that for moment, lsbel, stood motionless with surprise. Another moment. howev. er, sufficed to make up her mind for the future course, and she immediately plunged iuto the deiile, following as near as possible in the direction which the fugitive appeared to have taken. On, on. she toiled, through thick eniangled bushes, and over messy ground, her limbs every moment threatening to sink beneath her with fatigue which they would have done very speedily, if the desperate auxieties which filled her mind had not rendered her in great measure insensible to tho languor of her body. 1t at length became amere pressing object with her to find some place where che could be sheltered for tho night, than to follow
 in so hopeless a pursuit; and she therefore
 experienced great joy on perceiving light
 at q little distance. As she approached the
 place whence this seemed to proceed sho 1 could hear the sounds of music and dan,
 cing. With great caution she drew noar
 the window through which the light was glancing, and there peeping into appartment she saw her husband caperiug in furious
 mirth. amidst set of coarse, peasant like individuals, mingled with few who bore all the appearance of sea smugglers. An old woman of most unamiable aspect, sat by the fireside occasionally giving orders for the preperation of, food, and now and then addressing a complimentary expression to Fordyne, whonl Isbel, therefore, guessed to be her son. After the party seemed to have become quite tired of dancing, they sat down to rude but plenteous repast {; and after that was concluded, the whole party addressed themselves 10 repose. A single bed which stood the corner of tho appartment was appointed to Fordyne, apparently on account ofhis being the most important individual of the party. and he therefore continued under the unsuspsct> ing observation of his wife till he had con> signed himself 10 repOSe. Previ0us to hi0 doing so, she observed him place some. thing with great caution beneath his pil- low,
 For another hour. Isbel lay as the win dew. inspecting the interior of the house. which was now lighted very imperEoctly by the expiring fire. At length whenevery recumbent figure seemed to be bound securely in sleep, she first uttered ono brief but feryent prayer, and then undid the loose fastening of the door. and gltiei Into the appartment. Carefully avoiding the straw pallets which lay around, she appoaclled the bed where lay Fordyns. and slowly and softly withdrew his large pocket book from beneath the pillow. To her inexpressl6ls s. nwaEuiinW the ma.