The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-05-04
RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY, ND,

hastily and he threatened. / did not stop TO
consider tina. he was under the influence of
wine, for l WAS too far in lis power myself for
that / accused him of trappling upon me,
and he tainted me with bringing shame upon
hi. household. This msddened me, and
spoke very quickly and thoug ghtlesslv What
| said va. severe. and upon my father il!
struck Ike shaft Of lightning, and he struck
me with his cane. As | received that blow
my blood boiled Ike molten lava l was
blind-crazy. NV father lifted his cane again
and l seized chair that stood near me.
lifted it with both my hands, and with all n
maniac might hurled it upon his head. He
sank upon the carpet like rag. In an in
stant | was sober. | kneeled down over the
PROSTATE form but there was no motion-no
breath Presently there came 4 conyulsive
movement Of the muscles, bat itquickly pass
ed away, and then lie was as motionless as
the chair which lay broken by bis side |
spoke 70 him but he did not ansner-I lifted
him to sofa and chafed his temples but not
Il sign of Life could discover. 1 knew that
| had killed my father, and sunk down upon
my knees By his side, and wept and prayed.
soon was aroused by a step beside me,
and on looking up saw my mother. She
asked me what was the matter, but | could
not answer. She stood over the body of her
broke from her lips and then sic sank faint
ing upon the couch. l started up and gazed
upon him Once more | felt my fathers
pulse, but il did not move. His eyes We're
half open, and they were z assy and dim
With one low cry | started back and seized
my hat. | a murderer. the murderer of
my own father \ dim spectre arose before
me-a gallows IN shape, and 1 fled from the
house | made my way TO Philadelphia, and
from there to Charleston. and there took pas
sage for England. | have not seen my native
land since While in Philadelphia, took up
a morning paper from New York, and there
[ learned that my father had died of apoplexy
Ny mother hid my crime"
Marshall stopped and bowed his head again.
He did not she tears now, but his eyes were
set and glarng.
s.Har' he uttered. starting gsuddenly-"have
we had Hstener?''
81 forgot" was my reply. as [ recollected
the passenger | had taken, and at the same
time east my eyes toward the door of the
state room, where | had placed him. l have
had passenger come on board
you ought to have told me-" said Mar
shall, trembling with fear.
But before | could make any further reply,
the door CT the state room was pushed further
open, and the white haired old man came
forth. He first gazed upon me, and then upon
nv mate and then with low wild murmur,
he tottered towards the table. He sank down
on his knees, and laid his head in my mates
lap
Luke! Luke! my son-O, my son' he
murmured as he reached up his trembling
hands and caught the mate about the neck.
Luke Marshall, as [ had known him. start
ed to his feet, and held him oil at arms
length.
.'Who are you9" he gasped, glaring wildly
al him.
Il am Joshua Foster--I your fatheri--
o Luke. my boy, my noble. wronged boy, for
give me o forgive mel know tha | abu-
sed you. know | made you nad--but for
give it all now [ am your fs.her-you did
not kill me but lived and recovered | have
sought the whole earth over after YOU. Ihave
been all up and down the world. o, you
know me-"
A few moments my mate held that old man
off and gazed into his face, and then with a
sharp cry he sank back entirely insensible
During all that night Luke raved ike a
mailman, but on the next day he came to his
senses and fever set in. He called his father
when he woke. and saw the Old man bend
over him aal kiss him and weep. and ! saw
the young man wind his arms around that
aged form and cry Ike cAild,
And so my Ina.e's real name was Luke Fos-
ter, and | heard the old m.u tell, as he sat
By his sons side, how he had recovered from
the effects Of the blow he had received Two
whole days after Luke lied did he lay insensi-
bic, and the servants reported that he was
dead. W hen lie recovered, lie told his wife
the whole story, and having LEI. lis business
iu competent hands, he set out to search for
his son. He traced him to Liverpool, and
there he los. him. Eight long years had he
been or the search--sometines going home to
comfort his wife and then setting out again
upon his mission. His wife still lived, and
she waited for the return of her son.
Al length my mate recovered, and his faith
er accompanied Us 10 Liverpool. l of.en saw
them weep together, but it was only the mem
DRY ofthe pas: Eha: cslled up their tears. l was
sorry to lose my mate. bu / knew that others
had = prior claim upon him, and l reluctantly
gave him up!