Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-17

this morning, and perhaps anxious to free your
self for d few hours from the arduous toll of
Your profession, and would gladly embrace an
opportunity to 90 a birdingH'
: ! could not object was the Doctors reply.
Then make ready said Ralph, { for the
day Is passing on, and we shall be too late for
the best of the sport to-day
but l have no fowling piece said the
Doctor.
30, that does not matter I have a brace at
home we will pass that wav and you hall
have choice. Ihave a pointer that can be
beat he will set a bird to- fraction and never
fail. My uncle sent him to ne a fe~ weeks
ago and find him one Of the best. So come
along we will 90 by home and then direct,
up the creek, which is considered the best field
for sport about town
The two left the Office in sparkling humor
and proceeded on their journey-the Doctor
pleased with the idea of a day sport with one
towards whom he learned to entertain kind
feelings of friendship, earned by an avowed
attachment or his p ri. and a solicitude for his
welfare and Ralph, pleased that he had his
victim partly in his destroying taions and on
The way to ruin. The two left the office with
joy beaming on their faces, and yet from what
dissimi'ar prompGngs!
The hunt was an exciting one, and for a few
hours they spent the time in a mutual enjoy
ment The Doctor was pleased with his com
PAM n and expressed a regret that his avoca-
ton was such as in its nature 10 prevent the
association with such an agreeable a sports
man as often as he could wish. Ralph laughed
ard thanked him for the compliment. The
sporting hours were spent and the young men
songhi the residence OF Squire PetEbrooks, and
OF what passed there you shall not 90 unin-
formed.
The two young men arrived at Squire Penn
brooks, and Ralph was not slow in his hospi-
tality to produce a bottle of the best liquor to
afford good cheer to both himself and friend
sitter their days huEt. The Doctor was well
pleased with his friends generosity exhibited
through the day, and felt reioiced in the COM
paniOnship of so fine a fellow! Ralph at his
fathers house was all hospitality and endeav.
ored to make himself agreeable to the Doctor
The bottle was cracked and the liquor mix.
ed by Ralph and both drank of the beverage
deeply. In a short time all was conviviaIity
their tongues ran with increased volubility
sparkling witticisms were rapidly exchanged
and on the part of the Doctor, there was :
strange and vivid excitement. He was surpri
sed himself at the brilliancy of the whirlino
train of ideas that were rapidly revolving il
his brain a new and more extended range
seemed to be afforded; abstruse and m~etaphys.
ical problems that had on former occasions
baked his genius, now seemed to be Ieaped
with a vigorous bound theories that once
seemed inexplicable were now plain and com
prehenslVe, his genius now seemed unclogged
and on fancy's swift pinion was clearing its
way through darkened mazes unapproached
untraveIed by mortal thought. He seemed
new being to his companion and to himself
ne felt possessed of a new and more ~vigorou.
mental endowment. The effect Of the liquo,
and the drug exceeded the expectations of thu
iendship Ralph, and he became somewhat a
harmed, lest it should end with fatal conse
q~uences. Ralph was alarmed at the vivid fir,
that seemed to be flashing from the burning
! eyes Of his victim the frantic gestures as hi
marked with chilling emphasis, his searching
words, his thrilling eloquence, his more thar
human conception, his scatiliEg ~invective upol
a theme which he tOuched-one that he hated
his wildness and his glowing features, filled tn
blackened mind Of his tempter with fearful ap
: prehensions, lest the fatal potion should d.
| more than was designed.
The liquor and the drug had lone their fear
full work the stage of wild excitement wa
al piSSeu ttilt IIlG consequent IledNltiSSS Vi III
=, drunken stupOr began to become apparent : hi
eyes that just before was sparkling with errat
ic fires now became clouded with a dull an
t sluggish film, his features grew heavy, and hi
\ tongue grew stiff in its incoherent articulatio
: and fltered and muttered unmeaning senteu
ces. Ralph saw this and limited to him the ne
cessity of going nome as night Was approach
. ing, and generously offered to bear him CON
plny on the way. The Doctor stammere
some broken thanks for his kindness (?) an
= they started on their way to the village. 1h
Doctor was unconscious Of the road, and o
the way he reeled from one hedge to the otht
!, that bound it; and at intervals gave ~utteranc
- to a language that he had never learned before
- u shameful vulgarity, the most shocking bla
paemous yulgarlty trenOied on his sWolie
- lips-a hideous dialect of such obscenity tn
- we dare not poilute our page to give the re
der an example.
The two travelled on, the one directing Il
steps OF his victim at the same time gIoItir
: on his hated success, and the other poliutir
g, the air with his drunken blasphemy which ev
re ~ moment grew more shocking as his fa1
y inebriation grew more deadly.
~ They were to pass the Mansion, and as tn
!" were gong down the rocky slope along t
," eastern wall towards the creek, a more diab
lcai incentive seemed all VI a sudden to d.
s-ss the tiendish soul OF Ralph; he suffer
his victim TO gain a pace OIL MIN, and then W
he the energy Of Il demon ne pushed the p(
o3W drunken man 6crceiy forward He sttgger
III paused Il moment, aud then fell heavily i
ward on his face among the sharp stones in
road! a heavy groan gurgled in MS bosom
strange discord to the splitting laugh of
%torturing hend. Ralph stopped to see the f
OF the Dottor-it was smeAred with his o
IRE smoking gore, and the rough sand and filth
the road. In his insensibllity he Ind his f
=, as if for shame in Il reeking pool Of his heA
blood! Ralph stopped, VITA his guilty hu
,' on his knees, gazing intently on his worI
destruction for some monents-he did MOI
=" much Us turn his face out OF the smother
pool OF blood-no; ne g~zaG-ga2ed with 81,
ne eyes on tue work OF sad destruction bel
NJ MIN. Poor Duldny Was inSenSiUie OF MS {
"er happily unconscious Of all surrounding
un Jects, or else the jeering laugh OF his destro
That chuckiing gice at the success OF his il
Mss ISL misSion-U0usd hare Chilled his contid