Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-07-15
From the Huntington Observer.
WATERSON,
The Fiend of the Wabash.
ny PHRED HAwKEYE.
CHAP TERI.
ny PHRED HAwKEYE.
THE FIRST CRIME.

calm evenings winch sometimes are seen 10
this rouble,ossed world of ours, when we
feel that life is blessing. and when every
thing appears bright and beautiful, partakinp
Of roseate tinge--in short, just such an
evening as lover would choose 10 wander ia
the calm moonlight with the mistress of his
heart, and breathe TO her those VOWS Of deep,
burning love and constant devotion which he
himself imagines sincere but which need ou-
ly time and separation to test their faseness.
But ours is not tale of love therefore quit
we for The present this description of what
will prove interesting TO 20 one, and intro
duce you to some Of the characters that bear
part in this 'o'er true tale
Mrs. Egbert was widow lady whose hus-
band had purchased farm on the bank of
the river, in the State Of Ohio, some four
years previous TO the commencement Of our
tale, had settled on il with his wife and daugh-
ter, and just as he began TO have things a
bou, him snug and comfortable he died,
leaving his wife nearly inconsolable. At
first, she contemplated removing from their
then place OF residence, but had finally chan
! ged her mind, and concluded TO remain
where she was and with the assistance of a
man who had been in the employ of Mr.. Egg
bert some three years previous 10 his death,
to cultivate their little farm. This mans
name was Waterson. or Sam, as he was more
familiarly called. Mrs. Egber thought him
rough and uncoulh, but good natured and
honest with Just enough of common sense
10 render him faithful and trustworthy "
| But Emiline, her daughter, fair girl Of
some thirteen summers, thought differently
ly. She had frequently discovered him.
when he thought himself unobseryed, ga
zing at her with look Of mingled cunning
and fendish triumph, which caused her Ia
turn away with shudder. To her he ap-
peared the personl6cation OF everything evil.
Nothing had as yet transpifeG, however. to
justify her suspicious, and she kept them to
herself wondering fit could be true as she
had been told that "a man may smile, and
be villain
A pause had occurred in the conversation
OF the mother and daughter, which was con-
tinued for some length OF time, neither ap-
pearing anxious to break the silence, but
each apparently occupied with thoughts
suggested by their previous conversation.
At length the silence was broken by Mrs.
Egbert-
Il wonder what Sam finds to do so late
He does not usually stay so long. Put on
your hnnnPt Emnline. and 20 anh wha'
keeps him. Tell him we have kept supper
Emeline proceeded 10 array herself for her
walk with slow and reluctant steps. Per
haps she felt presentiment of the horrors TO
come; but at all events she more than ever
felt shrinking from contact or conversation
with the hated Waterson. She paused up
OH the threshold, and was on the point OF
urging some excuse which might delay her
errand in the hope that Sam might arrive in
the meantime, when the fear of being laugh
ed at by her mother for her fears deferred
her, she passed from her mothers cottage,
never again 10 enter il the bright and joyous
maiden of former years,
Waterson had been engaged during the
day 10 a field at some distance from the
house, and ont Of sight and sound of human
habitaton. He had fingered from his work,
after it became too dark 10 see with distinct
ness, hoping Emeline would be despatched
to hasten his return.
Two years before some hard words had
passed between HIM and Mr.. Egbert, and al
though an apparent reconciliation bad taken
place, WateTsOn had sworn bitter and ter
ribe revenge; and now his time had arrived.
His only regret as he sat upon the trunk OF
fallen tree broodiDg over his tancled wrongs,
was. that Mr.. Egber was not alive to witness
and feel his revenge.
The patteung Of little feet was heard be-
hind him, and Emeline sprung 10 his side as
If for protection frightened perhaps by some
wild beast His greeting was kind, as, taking
her by the hand he endeavored to force her
TO a seat by his side. She resisted, and re-
mained standing shrinking from his touch,
while he related 10 her his wrongs, told her
how for years he had uourished the thought
of revenge un,il it bad become almost Sec
ond nature to him, ne explained to the fright
ened and trembling girl, ia a cold, calm tone
Of voice, his purpose, and bade her. as she
valued her life, not TO resist him in his hu
NOR.
She did resist, and long and desperate was
the struggle that ensued between this fend
in human shape. and that poor, weak maiden,
upheld and gifted with almost superhuman
strength until enraged at her long aud sue
cessful resistance and excited by animal pas.
sion, he ielIed her to the earth at single
blow.
And now pause, monster, and glut thyself
al sight of thy victim. Reve on in thy tri-
umph for it will be short lived. Before thee
! stands the avenger. Ay!--look up and start,
| for thou hast need. James Morris, the boy
lover of the mangled and bleeding Emeline
( stands before you, aud listen thou TO the
words that fall from his lips, and may they
enter deep into thy soul and scar and burn,
and rend thy heartstrings with the pangs Of
He'll!
'Wa,erson. may the curses Of the widow
. and the orphan light upon your head for this
deed. Go! | might take thy life, but it will
bo greater curse for thee to live! And
mark me- when your hour Of death shall
come--when you have finished your career
Of crime, and wretchedness, aud woc--wheu
the last grasp Of expiring nature shall linger
upon your polluted lps-I shall be by your
side to hiss into your ears Remember Eme-
LneF Like spectre will | follow you, ill
life shall become curse and thing to be
hated. Go"
And Waierson skunk away before that boy
the strong man quailing before the child in
strength-the words Remember Emeline =
yinging 10 bis ears as he fed, and ever after-
wards whispering 10 him ~ the murmurine
OIL thc winds, in the cresking Of The trees, in