The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-29

stantly tore into fragments, scattering them
about the floor
What bargained tn do, Pil do'' said Zach
again, with perceptble emphasis II won't dc
no more, nor no lessn
what DO you mean gu exclaimed Aveling
wen, amt going for to be bound for
them as knows Almost as much as do, that's
an saio the other. More eyes than mine
seen you that night, Mister Ayeling; that's a
factu
The deadly pallor which had oYerspresd
Marks countenance on seeing the knife be-
came even more ghastly, and his bright eye
quaiied under the steady, determined gaze that
met 1t. HIS strong frame suddenly began to
tremble 80 violently, as though it were con.
vulsed His lips, too, turned white whilst the
perspiration rolled down his face in heavy
drops He passed his unnerved hand across
his damp brow, and groaned deeply. The pic
eure OF dark deed has risen wildly before
him, in all the detail Of It's fearful reality.
young man, elated with Joy is returning
home on horseback. He has just quilted the
obJsct OF his affections. She has that night
| promised 70 link Der fate with his, and as he
proceeds on his journey, he dreams Of the years
OF happiness in store for him. His rival has
been rejected with haughtiness, and is probably
broodng over his disappointment. The young
man is 60 happy, that the misery Of his rival
OF which he draws no unreal picture-creates
in his bosom feelp akin to commiseration.
1t passes away, however, presently. He comes
to turn in tue highway, and hesitates mo-
ment He has yet some eight miles to travel
by turning Oft here, and cutting across his rivals
estate, some three miles may be saved The
path lies through dense wood, in the midst
of which is swamp extending thence for
many miles. He knows the track well for he
| IA fa hal It "a icht nh; oh
encourages him to plunge boldly into the dark
avenue. He is well in the wood, near the swamp,
when all at once his horse stops. The young
man plies whip and spur in vain. Something
surely soarss the animal. It is only the glm-
mer of the moon through the trees; and the
dark shadow that fitted across the path Just
then, was probably only wildcat So lie pats
his horse on the neck, and encourages him with
his voice. Still the sagacious beast resolutely
refuses to proceed and twists around On his
launches, making desperate efforts to avoid
some concealed danger. But the young man
persists, the horse struggling and plungng in
opposition, presently uttering shrek of agony
as his master falls backwards, and rolls out of
the saddle suddenly struck to the heart By a
| hand unseen. The assassin catches st the rein,
and secures tho aHrighted stead to tree, lest
he should make for home, and raise an alarm.
In the attempt, he drops the weapon that in
ficted the deadly blow, but soon becomes 80
intent upon dragging the warm corpse to the
borders of the swamp where allgators and OBJ
scene beasts OF prey resort that he does not
observe his loss until too late. Then he returns
to the fatal spot, and, guided by faint streak
of moonlight, gropes about on the green sward
but finds not what he is seeking. Now and
then his hands come into slippery contact with
something oozy and soft, that makes his blood
cardle as they touch it, but which he dabbles
In, nevertheless, 60 earnest is he in the search
after the one damning piece Of evidence, which,
| if found there, will assuredly fix the guilt of
that foul murder upon the real perpetratOr. He is
not aware that there has been living witness
to that deed-an Individual who prowling IN
the wood by night, setting traps for game,
chances to be within eRr-shot of the dying
mans last heavy groan, but comes up just too
late to render him any service The blow was
too sharp and sure. However, he Gees the
corpse dragged to the swamp and whilst the
murderer is engaged in disposing of it, turns
the eye of his dark lantern, downwards, and
stealthily commences careful search after
some token which may servo as a clue to one
of the parties or both. His sight is keen and
the glare of his lamp presently falls upon a
shining object, which he picks up. 1t is long
bowie knife, on the hafr OF which he detects in
laid in silver letters, a name we'll known to him,
and not in good repute even in Charleston. Ho
has stout heart, but it sickens at the sight of
dark stain upon that shining blade. Never
theless, he draws it through the long, rank
grass and thrusts it into his gamo pouch.
Shall he release the plunging horse? No he
will conceal himself, and await the last act of
the tragedy.
Plasl, How distinctly that sound breaks on
the stiffness of the night! The turbid waters
of the swamp have closed over the dead man,
and a dark figure shakes cienched ist at the
spot where the corpse now lies. The silent
witness shudders at the intensity of the hatred
which pursues its victim even after death. But
he has no time for thinking much; the muir
derer is on his way back to the spot he has
only so recently left. He reaches it soon, end
deep are the curses ne mutters whilst vainly
seeking the deadly weapon staraped with his
name. He gives it up at last and then pro-
ceeds to loose the horse, which he leads to the
swamp bright flesh, q sharp report, a
plunge, and heavy plesh, and the dumb beast
lies By the side of his master. A fearful i'm
p,ecation falls distinctly on the listeners ear,
and the dark figure that hes uttered il gldes
away like g spectre into the dark paths Of the
wood. He will 60 homo, and sleep perhaps; at
least he will try.
But sleep comes not save in troubled, fitful
starts, daring which he is still cropping about
after the something he has lost. He resolves
to search for it again by daylight. He will
steal away into the wood whom the sun is well
up and will not leave the spot till he has re-
covered the fatal weapon. IL is bright morn
ing and everything around him teens with
life He has put on different suit of apparel,
and as nc passes through the buildings and tho
plantation grounds, where his people are al
ready busy, they eye him ipquisitiVely
Steadily be pursues his way unaware that
he is followed at distance by one who has
lurked about the premises the best part of the
night, watching for al opportunity of breaking
in upon his privacy. They both enter the
wood, and both repair to the same spot The
murderer stands aghast at the fearful eviden-
ces he sees of the deed he has committed. The
ground is all cut up where the horse struggled
and plunged; and where the murdered man
fell there is more than one pool of blood.
There is also clear trail from that place to
the swamp. The long grass lies all one way,
fsttened down, and here and there torn up.
Some heavy body has evidently been dragged
over it. But neither on this path of death, nor
on the fatal spot itself is there trace of the lost
weapon He tries to calm his perturbed con-
science with the reflection that the place is
solitary and that no one is likely to pass that
way, for it lies quite out of the beaten track.
An irresistible impulse urges him to repair
! once again to the border OF the swamp. He
does not mistake the place, but goes to it
straight The water is puddled and discol-
ored. He needs no explanation of the cause
The foul denizens of the rank pool have COM
menced their disgusting meal, and, ere sun
| down, will not have left a vestige of what was
cast there expressly for them to feed upon. He
turns aside, exulting in the crime ne has COM