Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-03-18

4 L udAuIJ FhuON 4ioh a @C017tSO eAN
impulse to crush the cursed witcl
beneath my feet; but aftd r moment
reflection, / turned my back to hel
| that she might not read in my ftct
the anguish Of, my soul, and coolly
aying, s.You are a lying old dotard,
/ walked on to the tishery.
On the evening of that day, whicl
seemed as if it would never close,
we mt as usual to Jesu$ita, and the
welcome that she gave lhe soon dis
PEELED all lurking suspifions. | lelt
no doubt but that the old woman, in
resentment of my epntemRtuous
treatment, had purposfly deceived
me as to the name of him for whom
Jesusita had crayed that protection
which I had despised.
| / had utterly forgotten my scene
With the witch, when, pne night, |
was as usual crossing the strait on
my return home. The Sky was dark
and lowering, yet not Sd cloudy but
| that l could distinguish amid tie
waY res something, which, from i,sSnan-
Tner Of swimming, ! could make oat
4 to be man. The object was along
Nside of me. The old crone's words
rushed upon my memory, and | felt
a thrill Of agony convulse my frame.
For an enemy | cared but little; the
;ile;, that | had d rival uaneryed me
lat once.
/ determined to ascert3in WHO the
unknown might be; and not Wis hing
to be seen, l swan under water IN
his direction When, according to
my calculation, We must have crossed
each other, he above and | below the
surface, ! rose above water. Tie
blood rushed to- my head with such
violence as to re nder me unabl E for
some time to distinguishaught an lidst
the darkness beyon d the phoa pho :
resent light that played upon th@
crest Of the wayes-unerring signs
of q co ming storm. NeYerthele IS, |
held on my course in the direction OF
Espiritu Sante. Some few nil nutes
elapsed ere | again beheld the s vim
mers head. He Glove the v fayes
With such rapidity that could s farce
kee p pace with him. But one alone
among all l knew could vie wit b me
in swiftness. ! redoubled my efforts,
and so on gained 50 much on Ii N as.
obliged me to strike out less quickly.
In Short, l saw him land upon rock
and ascend it; and as flash Of light
ming played upon sea and -sh6.d /. re, |
recognised the face Of Rafael. Here,
as elsewhere, were we doomed tc GROSS
each others path. A feelin 6 of
hatred deadly and intense, was busy
at my heart, and methought it were
well we met but once again. How
ever, we were des tined to meet on one
more occasion than l had reckoned
upon.
At first l determined upon calling
him by name and discovering my
presence: but there are moments III
ones life when our actions refuse to
second the will. Spite Of myself, |
suffered him to pursue bis way, whilst
4 gained the eminence he had just
quilted. Thence it was easy for me
to watch b is course. l observed him
to take the same direction | was
wont to tai ke, then knock at the door
of that hut | knew so well. He en-
ter ed, and disappeared.
| fancied for one moment I heard,
borne along the bowling Of the gale,
the old witch's scoffing laugh as she
croaked out, "What matters it to you,
since his name is not the one you
bear?'' and. looming amid the dark
ness, methd dught | saw her shrlvelled
and withere arm stretched out in
the direction of Jesusita's dwelling;
and I.rushed forwards, knife in hand.
A few strides, and l stood before the
door, and sto pped down to listen; but
| eardnougRt beyondi indistlnct murt
murings. l had now partially recoF-
cred my sdlgJrOjd, and bent my
whole thoughts upon revenge.
I drew my knife, and passed it
along stone to assure its edge; but
i did so with such carelessness or
agitation that it shivered to the hilt.
4, Thus deprived Of the sole weapon
that l could rely upon for my revenge,
Il felt that / had not an instant to lose.
| / ran in all haste to the beach, and
lninmoored a boat that lay alongside.
My rage renewed>my energies: |
crossed the strait, rushed to my hut;
procured another knife, and again set