Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-04-04
CHAPTER XIV.


Il
conduct accounted tor.
I could only sit and listen, without saying
word, then; for such q web Of villainy and
romance quite took away my breath Was
my mind under the influence Of no dream
Had l not been 0verpowered with some work
of fiction No | looked deliberately about
the little attic bedroom; and there was the
high window, and on another side Wiggles-
Worth's lank bed, with it's check coverlid;
and near by the antiquated washstand, and
the table by which we sat, and on which lay
package of manuscript; and, leaning
against the wall an odd chair, and all lit
up by the lamp giving its Pickering light.
And there in the kind of seat called
Boston rocker, sat poor old Wigglesworth
himself. Although he had been out that
afternoon, towards dark, and had long in
tervieW with Martha, it was more than he
ought to have done. l was quite shocked
with the CHASTITY appearance of the poor old
man, and his lurid and bloodshot eyes He
ceuld not be long for this world. Indeed he
told me he didn't think he should have lived
till the present hour, except that he thought
he had one work to perform. And he couldn't
rest in peace, if it was not done.
&c tell you jack" said he, excitedly,
&C this is all that has kept me up for long
while past. AS for my body, it gave out
months ago. 1t is dead I tell you you can
see that for yourself"
Poor creature you did look more like
corpse, that moment, than living being
'sThe mind, Jack" the old man went on,
81 never before thought it had such wonder
full power, But l res0lued to live until
had unravelled the web of deviltry which,
as have told you, providentially got the
clue of determined that would last till
this revelation could be made-was made
And now, 0 my God, l thank thee p
He motioned to me to hand him glass of
water from the stand. When he had taken
it, he continued:
"You will know without my telling you,
that l soon after my engagement in his office
found out Covert to be villain. l knew,
too, that he had, as Martha's guardian, con-
troll over quite an extensive property; but,
bad as he was at heart, did not until lately
believe him so utterly vile as not only TO de-
fraud her Of her Inheritance, but to make
that friendless girl a victim to his licentious
passions"
started. And now, ah l began to see
the meaning of Martha's note, and its hidden
allusions WigglesWorth went on
" Martha's affairs involve peculiar his
tory, extending many years back The
package on the table there was written
by her father-written in prison, where he
was confined for terrible crime done in the
heat of passion That crime, with his i'm
prisonmenq, and his death, could not but ex-
ereise q gloomy effect upon her although
she was an infant when they occurred
" Poor girl the more I have learned
the more | am interested about her
and this afternoons interview with her
decided me to unburthen the whole mat
ter, without any reserve, to you. II was
for the better understanding of it all, that
Martha gave me her fathers story, prepared
by himself, which reached her from a trusty
source, some time since, and which she has
kept, unknown to Covert Take this pack
ct, then ] ack; but do not read it till you
have leisure to weigh well what you read
Some evening let it be, when you are alone
for there is weighty stuff in it, And though
you already know the particulars which are
contained in it, you have perhaps right tC
hear the witness of him VINO made you faith.
erless, and to know how deeply he repentec
and suffered for it,"
Truly it was more like romance than sober
life, in dwelling in one Of the streets O
this matter of fact city And, after ! hsC
buttoned the manuscript in my breast pocket
, | had to thump there from time to time, t.
, convince myself that was really awake.
As | rose to bid him good night, Wiggles
worth toek my hand between his, and fel
those feeble pslms, thin and cold
Jack" said he, g do not think wande
/ in my thoughts; but know that | have no
many days, perhaps many hours, more t
D live. have left some few directions witt
I the landlord who keeps this place He is a
honest man whom have known for years
and | am sure he will obey them faithfully
. You will think me something of an sristocrai
Jack, but | wish to be buried in my mother
t vault--she was Of the Old English stock, tn
early ones here, Jaek--in Trinity church
yard. That will cost money, too, as the cit
regulations are now; but have long prov
ded for that, and my landlord, who know
my wish, is my banker. You shall go wit
t my old friend--probably, indeed, none bu
t YOU two and see that my shattered hulk
y put away there, according to my wish. Wi
8 you not, jack :"
n strove, although it went somewhat again'
h the grain, for l felt a profound sadness
q strove to answer in a cheerful manner, an
told him that we might have many a plea
:, ant supper together yet, and that he woul
get over his illness and come out new maj
}, The old clerk made no response, fer he sa