The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-24
THg sKxToN's ADVENTURE.


lr,r AS Bob uudged homcwsrd, his eye me-
-rsulre y sought the pubic house which bad
.rcr belonged IL Phil SlsneY. A iaint light
.,ss o,nAips lis way through the shutters and
,f, GLASS paBCs over the door way, which
made a sart Of dull, iosgy halo about the
ff,ut ef Ire house.
AsE.a's ewes hGd become accustomed to
81, obs-urity bv this time, the light in ques-
,,, W. quite sufficient TO enable him to see
man n scrt Of loose riding coat seated
apon d bench which, at that time, was fixed
,..,t,r che window OF the hOnse. He wore
E,s h,; ,erv much over his eyes, and was
s..ebir. a long pipe. The outline Of glass
.t a.gla,t bottle were also dimly ,raceabIe
beside im; and large horse saddIed, bu;
family G.sceTuiAie. was patiently awaiting his
!r4sspt'S : leisure.
There Mas something odd no doubt, in the
t.sta!.n,e o; traveller refreshing himself at
su.h au hour in the open street; but the sex
ION accounted iur Il easily by supposng that,
q. the closing ot the house for the night, he
had tqnea hat remained of his rejection 10
the place where he was now discussing il al
freSco.
At aaoIhcr time Bob might have saluted
the stranger, as lie passed, with q friendly
'g0oG-u Gnt;' but somehow, he was out of
Lumor aud in no genial mood, and was about
passing without any courtesy of the sort,
when ee sfranger, without taking the pipe
a.u a.> mouth, raised the bottle, and with il
..c,osea hm tamiliarly, while, with a sort
Il .ur.A of the head and shoulders, and al the
same tine shifting his seat 10 the end of the
legla .a pantommcally invited him TO share
lis sea and his cheer. There was divine
:aZttuce Of "hlskey about the spot, aad Bob
fzfrsanjed; but he remembered his promise
lgst a. ae began 10 waver and said,
Ne | thank You, sir; | cannot stop to-
ri-ht,'
The Stranger beckoned with vehement well
come, and pointed TO the vacant place on the
seat beside him.
| thank YOU Tor your polite Offer said
Bot. 'nlt It's what I'm too Iate as it is, and
Gs,ea't lime TO spare, so l wish you asgood
night
rha rayeler jingled the glass against the
:.ck q the bolGle, as if TO intimate that he
night st least swallow dram without losing
time. Bob was mentally guile of the same
opinion bat, though his mouth watered, he
remembered his promise, and, shaking his
head ".lh ncOrruptble resolution, walked on.
The ,r-nger, pipe in mouth, rose from his
tsnch i..e bottle in one hand, and the glass in
Iar otueI, and oll0wed al the sexton's hee S,
Als dusky horse keeping close in his wake.
here was something suspicious and unac-
Countane in this importantly.
Bob qulckened his pace, but the stranger
tJIoHed close. The sexton began TO feel queer
and turned about. His purser was behind,
and S1.iI inviting him with impatient gestures
10 taste his liquor.
4 told YOU before said Bob, who was both
angry and frightened, That ! would not taste
Ii. and that's enough. | don't want to have
anything to say TO you or your bottle and in
Gods name," he added, more vehemently, OBJ
serving that he was approaching still closer
'iall back and don't be lormenting me this way.
These words, as it seemed, incensed the
stranger. for he shook the bottle with violent
!"rAance at Bob Martin but notwithstanding
this gesture he suffered the distance between
them &c increase, Bob, however, beheld him
lodging him still in the distance, for his pipe
sheda wonderful red glow which duskily Ilu.
minated his entire figure, like a lurid atmos-
phere or meteor.
1 wish the devil had his own, my boy NUT
te ed The excited sexton, 'and l know well
enough where you'd be-.
ne next time he looked over h g shoul lder,
10 his dismay he observed the impOrtunate
stranger as close as ever upon his track.
'Cohiound you, cried the man of skulls and
saoYeI> almost beside himself with rage and
horror, what is il yoH want of me 2
he stranger appeared more confident, and
Kept wagging his head and extending both
glass and bottle toward him as he drew near,
ant Bob Martin heard the horse snoring as il
followed in the dark.
Keep il to yourself, whatever it is, for there
Is neither grace nor luck about you, cried Bob
bIafun' freezing with terror leave me alone,
will yCu.'
And he fumbIed. in vaia among the seethipg
confusion OF his ideas for a prayer or an exor-
cism. lie quickened his pace almost to d run;
lie was row close to his own door, under the
impending bank by the river side.
Let me IN, lie, me in, tor Gods sake; Molly,
open The door, he cried, as he ran to the
threshold, and leant his back against the plank.
His pursuer confronted him upon the road ;
iAe pipe was no longer in bis mouth, but the
1ushE led glow still fingered round him. He
uttered some Inarilculate capernous sounds,
which we're woifish and indescribable, while
lie seemed employed in pouring out glass
nom he bottle.
The sexton kicked with all his force against
the door, and cried al the same time with
CespalrIng voice,
IN the name of God Almighty, once for all,
leave me alone"
lis pursuer furiousy flung the contents Of
the bottle at Bob Martn but, instead of fluid
HissGed our in a stream OF flame, which ex-
panded and whlrled around them, and for
i;oment they were enveloped in an, blaze,
a, The same instant sudden gust whisked
en- The strangers hat, and the sexton beheld
iAat h's skull was roohess; For an instant
lie beheiG The gaping aperture black and shat
tered, aud then he fell senseless into his own
UIbaned.
need hardly give my reader tho key to his
most Inieiligible and authentic narrative. The
traveller was acknowledged by all 10 have been
tne spectre Of the suicide, called up by the
ETll One, TO tempt The convivial sexton into
violation OF his promise, sealed, as il was,
ny an imprecaI0n Had he succeeded. no
doubt the dusky steed, which Bob had seen
saddied in attendance, was destined 10 have
carried back double burden to the Mace
t:om whence he came.
As an aliestation of the reality ofthis Wis.
'Iali6n. the old thurD-iree which oyerhung the
doorway was found in the morning 10 have
'Jeen blasted wit. the Internal fires which had
issued from the boule,j ust if a thunderboIl
Lad scOrched il.
The moral Of the above tale is upon the sur.
iace' apparent, and, SO TO speak, self acting
i circumstances which happily obyiales The ne
cessiiy OF discussing IL together.
SHOCKING DEATH.-As German youth, Ie
years oiage, named Anton FARM, attempted q
draw pail 0f wner at the East BoAton sugat
house, on Tuesday, he slipped aud lell inlo 1
cauiGfon ct boiling syrup, by hich he was