The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-15

Haunting it so bravely in the world, whilst
he-poor duped and despised cast-away
WIS falling lower and lower in the
world every day he lived. This was the
natural consequence Of his increasing dis
solute and idle habits. 1t was not long
before an execution for rent swept away
his scanty stock in trade, and he thence
forth becamea a ragged vagahond hanger
on about the place,-sellom at work, and
as often as possible drunk; during which
fits of intemperance his constant theme
was the bitter hatred he nourished towards
Bridgman, and his determination, even if
he swungfor it, of being one day signally
avenged. Marke Bridgman was often
warned to be on his guard against the
venomous malignity of Green; but this
counsel he seems to have spurned, or
treated with contempt.
Whilst the vengeful blacksmith was
thus falling into utter vagabondism, all
was sunshine at Red Lodge. Mark Brdg-
man really loved his pretty and gentle, if
Valn-minded wite,-a love deepened by
gratitude, that through her means he had
been saved from insolvency and ruin; and
barely II tw elve month Of welded life had
passed, when the birth of a son complet-
ed their happiness. This child, (for near.
iy three years it did not appear likely
there would be any other) soon came to
be the idol of its parents, of is father,
the pamphlet before me states even more
than OF its III ther. 1t was very singular
~ marked, with two Strawberries, exceed
mgIy distinct, on its left arm, and one, less
vivid, on its right. There are two fairs
held annually at Lavenham, and one of
theSe-when little Mark was between
three AMI four years oId-Mr. Bridgrnan
came i'll from Red Lodge to attend, ac-
companied 10y his wife, son, and woman
servant OF the name Of Sarah Hollins.-
towards evening, Mrs. Bridgman went
out shopping, escorted by her husband,
leave having previously been given HoIlins
to take the child through the pleasure
that is the booth and show part of the
r'ir,--but with strict orders not to be ab
sent more than an hour from the inn
where her master and mistress were put
ting up. In little more than the specified
time the woman returned, but without the
child; she had suddenly missed him, about
half an hour before, while looking on at
some street-tumbling and had vainly
sought him through the town since.
The woman's ti'lings excited great n
larm; Mr.. Bridgman himself instantly hur-
ried Oft, and hired messengers were, one
after another, dispatched by the mother in
quest of the missing child. AS hour af-
ter hour few by without result, extrava-
giant rewards, which set hundreds of per-
sons in motion, were offered by the dis
tracted parents, but all to no purpose
Day dawned, and as yet not CLEAN of
Intelligence had been obtained of the lost
one.
At length some one suggested that in
quiry should be made after Richard Green.
This was promptly carried into effect, and
it was ascer;ained that he had not been
home during the night. Further investi-
CATION left no room to doub, that he had
suddenly quilted Lavenham; and thus a
new and unearthly light was thrown "pon
the boys disappearance. 1t was con jec-
turcd that the blacksmith must have gone
to London; and Mr.. Bridgmau immediate
ly set off thither, and placed himself in
communication with the authorities of
Bow Street. Every possible exertion was
used during several weeks to discover the
child, or Green, without success, and the
bercaved father returned to his home, a
harrassed, spirit-brokcn man. During his
absence his wife had been prematurely
confined Of another son, and this new gift
OF God seemed, after while. to partially
I'LL the aching void in a mothers heart;
Tut the sadness and gloom which had set
tied upon the mind of her husband was
not perceptihly Iightcncd thereby. "If |
knew Mark was dead" he once remarked
to the rector of Lavcnham, by whom he
was often visited, 81 should resign myself
To his loss, and soon shake off this heavy
gret. But that, my dear sir, which weighs
me downs, in fact, slowly but surely
killing mc--is a terrible conviction and
presentiment that Green, in order fully to
work out his devilish vengeance, will stu
dio,lsly pcrvcrt the nature of the child
lead him into evil, abandoned courses
and that | shall one day see him-but
will not tell you my Dreams" he added,
after stopping abruptly, and painfully
sl'a'idering, as If some frightful spectre
passed before his eyes. "They are, trust,
mere fancics; anG yet-but let us change
the subject"
This morbidly detected state of mind
was aggravated by the morose, grasping
dispostion-so entirely different from what
Mr.. Bridgman had fondly prophesicd OF
Mark-manifested in greater strength with
every succeeding year by his son Andrew,
"a strangely unlovable and gloomy-tem-
pered boy, as if the anxiety and trouble
Of the time during which he had been
hurried into the world had been impress
ed upon his temperament and character.
1t may be, that he felt irritated at, and
jealous of, his fathers ceaseless repin:ngs
for the loss Of his eldest son, who, If re-
covered, would certainly monopolize the