Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-10-20
CHAPTER "
T1ts z1rSeT r7r rvuvvr

TIE z1rseT. r7r r7vuovc- e15r,ceyovea t,rv-
ceeding on tasPart Of the FrencAnan.
The little Frenchman went to the widow
and gave her gold for her household expenses.
and gave gold to Julia to make her happy. and
cracked jokes with her that she was GROWING
rich, happy and educated Julia WAS hapnv
and she rejoiced that she had fallen in the care
of one so attentive and so kind as the LITTLE
Frenchman. She blessed her stars. went to
school, sang ike a lark Jared sumptuouslv ev-
cry day and made merry on the gold the French
man gave her,and wondered wherein the world
Allan WingfeId's servant made so much coId
She asked no questions, however but she
prayed the Frenchman might be blessed with
long life and continue his golden favors.-
The widow kept good house and felt proud
OF the funiture the Frcnchman bought for her.
and praised julia, aud called her a good oirI
and foster daughter.
When the little Frenchman returned home
he found his room door forced and his master
kneeling over his trunk searching among his
papers busily. Allan sprung to his feet MS the
Frenchman entered the room and his face was
suffused with shame. Levere drew loaded
pistol from his pocket, Allan fell on his knees
begging, and Levere returned his weapon to
its place Of conceament The miser said:
'Pardon me, Leyere; for am driven to
madness, to desperation, by what have heard
from you. am in your power you have my
secret and yet another; the widows tale-you
got from the -bed-that has been n haun-
ting spirit burned to know tt could not
wait until you rcturncd-I was driven to this
- must know tread it, Lcyerc
Rudolph gathered up the papers the misor
had scattered ON dhe floor and confronting him
he sternly said =
Allan Wingfeld, have you detected my Sc
cret too p
'As Heaven liveth,' said Allan, 81 have seen
read nothing
II is well then said Lovere, 90 your wav.
master and tomorrow / will read YOU the
Widows history
Allan arose from lis knees and skulked
meanly away from being detected in prying
into the private affairs Of his servant Ear h4-
was gone, LeverG entered INTO scruUnlZlng
examination of certain papers he had in his
trunk, and upon finding package in the bot
tom, the widows manuscript among others,
which it was evident the miscr had not discov-
cred, the little Frenchman gave vent to his pc
culiar laugh, and it rang through the olG build
ing and its pealing echo tormented the unhap-
py mser in his room among his gold. The
miser had now began to feel the stingings of
misery, not so much the pangs.of remorse, as
from the fact Of his guilt being known to 9th
ers He now felt that he was to some extent
in the hands of his servant,andit depended on
his good faith to save his name from intamy
and MS neck perhaps from the gallows. This
was what rendered Allan Wingfeld unhappy
and covered him with. misery rs sea. The
fearful truths that had been developed by the
trial Of the convict were now hourly haunting
him. True, no one knew the condemning truth
but the desperadoes with whom he had beer
associated and his servant-hs brothers of thC
band were bound 10y an inyiolable oath to Sc
crecy-the sanctity Of that obligation had beer
tested IN the court-trial for the convict woult
reveal nothing other than that Respectable
men among youare rs guilty as your prisoner.
Who they were, no one could tell. 1t was on
w coniectured. AS for Allan Wingheld, tn
miser, he was not suspcioned /; but the secre
was in the bosom Of his servant, ard he wa
fearful it would escape his lips. He thougi
TO destroy his fearful servant, but how could
effect this base purpose and not be detected
He could not, and he was unhappy-miser
BILE; and he sat among his bags OF ill-gott(
gain and wept.
The morning came and Levere was true
his promise. He sought his masters chamb
where he had been up all night counting h
gold weeping and cursing by turns. lie w
bending over his table making calculation
some bonds that were spread before him
bonds for the loan of money ut an enormo
per cent. He brushed back the strands
white hair from his forehead and motioncd
servant to the only vacant chair in the roo
The servant excused elfand told the mis-
that he had come to read the widows tale.
The miser laid aside his pen, swept the bo1
into his drawer and bid the little Frenchm
commence lie did so, by reading the mai
script rs it was given IN from the dying hal
of the widow in the garret room Of the Ieil
House
Owing to some disturbances in France,
which my husband participated, it became
cessary for us to leave that country We
rived at the Port of -- in good health
commenced life under renewed prospects
prosperity. My husband was IN artisan
his trade supplied us with all the comforts
life; we were happy. My husband was
and very 0ffectonate, and at every poss
opportunity he was with me in our peac
home, rendering me one of the happiest of
men and playing with our only child-a lo'
boy. Ii was fashionable where we lived
the men to indulge in dram-drinking, and
thinking of danger, my husband contracte
love for his cups he formed aequaintar
with men ofdissipated habits, and spent n i
share of his time from his employment
from me in their company. | saw all th
saw the growing evil upon him, but was
blinded by my alteration of him that | G
not foresee the coming danger and the i'm
ding ruin, and | sang to him and still was
py. His prudence and industry had acct
lated considerable wealth-a competency
life-when his evil habits first formed ar,
him, but by his neglectng to keep up his
mer habits of care ! could not fail to see
our little store of wealth was falling off dt
day. He ceased to work, and ihe daily drar
made upon our accumulated funds for VIII
spent in drink himself, and what his ibe
prompted him to give bis companions in S
way Of treat was rapidly reducing our
/ began to fear danger when he came to
home late at night drunk and singing a d
en- song. lie staggered into the little s.