Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-01-09


sigh .L -
'There-there's your fee.' e.
Il do not require it of you,' said |.
| You-vou are surer
Quite sure
Then, I--I-then will keep it. Don't
tell any body you saw it, OF | shall be robbed y
He clenched the coin again, and withdrew
his ghastly attenuated hand and arm. could
see by his whole appearance that he was snt-
fering from want Of nourshing diet, and said,
You must spend that guinea to-day in some
wine and arrow-root'
'Guinea!' he cried, what guineal have
no gold. Do you want 10 rob me but mind
one thing
What is that,'
IL am not dy-dyng. Mind that am
not diving. No, no-not dying!'
you will, though said |, if you do not
take some nourishing drinks
He fixed his ghastly eyes upon my face as
he muttered-
DO you think half a pint of porter is really
necessary for met
laughed and said, "A bottle of good port
wine, you mean.
Wine = he cried, Good God and SO
wretchedly poor-so miserably poor y
DO you know said |, begin to suspect,
What-whatl' he cried.
That you are not so poor as you affect TO
be. Have you not some secret hoard, now
that, freely used, would make the remainder
of your days comfortable =
What! gold!' he shrieked you do not
think have gold Z
Yes, do. You are miSer.'
A miserl'
Yes
! He fell back on the bed with a gasp; then
suddenly springing up, he screamed
Thieves thieves help, help! robbers
Il shall leave you, said |, if you make such
a noise
The door now opened and a course man
put his head into the room, with the polite in
quirv Of what's the row,'
Nothing said /; the old man is i'll and
raves
20, that's the ticket. is it, He's going
all for TO assault the bucket, at last, is he =
| There'll be another spicy nut for Old Nick
crickey
Having delivered himself Of this elegant
opinion, the man withdrew his head, and sh Ut
the door. When | turned again 10 the old
man, he lay in a swoon on his old miserable
bed
| am never without restoratives about me,
and very soon succeeded in restoring nv pa
tient TO AT least his former state. With a long
drawn sigh he opened his eyes. and fixed them
upon nv face with an expression Of mournful
intensity.
How arc YOU nowl - said.
Better-bet,er,' he murmured.
saw that ii was not so, for an awful change
had come across his face, and there was Pc
culiar gaze about his eyes, that told me he was
diving. Impressed as was with the convic-
ton that he had money secreted somewhere.
which might he of the utmost service TO some
one claiming kindred with him, | did not hcsi-
tate to tell him his real condition.
! DO not deceive YOURSELF said |, you are
dying
He sprung up in bed with shrek, as if he
had been galvanized.
'Dyingt' he cried mo, no, not dying
/ Let me live-live on, though it be III torture.
Why should die! Mono, cannot, dare no,
die y
1t was dreadful to see the agitation of his
features Hot, scalding tears poured down his
checks he clutched the scanty covering which
was upon him, till the blood started from his
nails, and still he shrieked-
i cannoi-dare not dis.'
Then he suddenly turned to me, and clutch
ing my arm, he cried, in the most suppicating
tones. Save me- save me. for the love 0
Heaven, save me. Hold me to the world
You are skilful save me by your art. Looi
at me, miserable, poor old man. Twill knee
to you-bless you-be your slave but give mt
life-life-life =
Il knew that few hours must end the scene
of his mortal agony, and / seized the opportu
nifty of leaving the room, and getting somebody
in the house 10 fetch some wine and brandy
for | knew that by stimulants alone could the
Pickering fame of life be kept alive for til,
next few hours.
When | returned, started, for he had riser
from his pallet, and was kneelng before th'
wretched little skeleton CRATE, which by its rust
had evidently not seen fire for years. HI
did not hear me, and | paused to observ
him.
With feeble efforts he wrenched from it
place the little CRATE, and then | saw him eag
erly clutch at something. | advanced and lai
, my hand on his shoulder. With a scream h
sprang to his feet, and, as he did so, heav
bag fell from his relaxed hold with crash up
e on the floor.
}. Wretched man. said I, pointingto the bag
| is II Tor this you cling to life =
He tried to speak, but could not. His ham
, clutched the air wildly. Iuar,iculate sound
!. came from his throat, and had lust time ,
d catch him when he again tainted. I carrie
him to the bed, if bed it could be called an
k then carefully replacing the CRATE, lifted III
bag he had dropped, and concealed it unde
e some musty apparel which lay in a heap