The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-04
For the Nation
THE YOUNG MAN
WHO WENT TO TOWN TO LIVE.
A STORY, Ely ALICE CAREY.


STORY, Ely ALICE CAREY.
"Well, Judge, glad to behold your physog
nomy," said Mr.. Black, who was good-humored
with the tide of fortune the snow had brought
him that day.
You ort to be glad" grumbled the knife
grinder, who in his heart hated the old Jockey
"for L have come here with one foot in the
grave, as you may say, to do you good turn,
and haint for nothing shorter"
ave might as we'll call the undertaken
laughed bystander. "If the Judge has got
one foot in the grave, there is no sort a hope
| for him."
"Never do you be poking jokes at your bet
ters," said Black, who really stood in awe OF
Forbs, and was greatly anxious to know what
had brought him to his stable, where he had
not been for many day; and especially when
| glance at his face showed how little able he
was even to stand up. dwell, what are You
going'to do for me?" he added, approaching
| Forbs
y GU know, said the man, his eyes upturned
and glittering in his listeners face, Il don't
love you, and I've got no cause to love you
and no matter what / can do, don't do moth.
ing till you have Civ me twenty-five dollars.
You can jes take my word, and know that can
help you to five times that amount, to say moth
ing of little sweet revenge that you're to git,
free Of cost"
"Tell me, first, what you can do, and the
sinners are yourn," said Mr. Black, who felt
uneasy, and that Forbs was not testing.
" lou might jes as well 90 out there and ask
your gray mare, as for to ask me-" sneered the
knife-grinder, stepping out of the door; for
I've toe you all l mean to-"
As doubtless he knew he would, Mr.. Black
followed him out Of the door, with intent. prob.
ably, of teasing him to an explanation. when
something like the truth at once broke throuub
his cloudy understanding-the gray mare was
gonel
need not finger, nor further enter into par.
ticulars. At the end of half an hour. the knife
grinder was grooming on his sheep-skin pillow.
his head aching no jot the less for the twenty
i've dollars that were under it; and two officers
were holly pursuing thief, who had that even.
ing stolen valuable mare from the door of
the Riflraff Stable, in Bone Town.
Meantime, the two young friends. HAVING
enjoyed to the full what in their insane excite
ment they supposed to be harmless frolic.
drew rein at the door of a dry goods store. pro
posing Immediately after the purchase of the
new dress to return home, and leave the mare
where they had found her.
BE expeditions" said David, lighting cigar
with match he had scratched to fire on the
slelgh-runner; and wrapping the buffalo robe
about him, he leaned back, to get ont of the
time what satisfaction he could; and Charley.
smiling and nodding assent, disappeared be-
meath the width of calico waving over the mer
chants door.
He could not so readily satisfy his tastes as
he might have done with the help of the miss
ing dollar; and piece after piece was examined
and rejected; but at last he found an article
that both pleased and came within his means
A number of yards were cut off and paid for.
and, with the parcel in his hand, Charley
fastened to join his friend. But what was his
surprise, on coming into the street, to find that
friend, sleigh and all, we're gone He waited
few minutes, thinking he would come back !:
but when he did not come, he remembered that
David had said he should only wait FIVE min
utes, for that it was then time the mare was at
home.
- pleasant trick, / suppose, he thought p
unused Charley. "Well, never mind. ri NAV
him another!" And tucking the bundle under
his arm, he set off on foot whistling as he went,
and meditating some jocular retaliation.
He passed within stones throw of the dark
walls of the old Jail, never thinking of it at all
no light streamed through its grated windows.
and no sound drew his attention - and why
should he think of it? Its miserable convicts
had nothing to do with him. He did not sus
pect how short and easily supplied was the link
between himself and those awful vaults-a link
that should make the chain of his bad habits
strong enough to draw him down, and place
him beside the poor wretches whom he now con-
sidered so immeasuraby beneath him. The
ground slid fast beneath his feet; the dark walls
and the little grated windows were farther and
farther behind him, and altogether out of his
thoughts, long before they were out of sight
At the foot of the steep stairs he stood still
for moment, having stamped the snow from
his icy feet, and gazed down and across the
street to where, dark in the darkness, stood
David Wardelrs grocery store.
g No doubt he is at home, and fast asleep,
before this time," unused Charley, as with light,
quick steps he assembled the stairs. There was
no pause at the landing, no slow fitting of the
Key, but at once the door opened and closed
again. There was nothing in that poor garrett
to tempt the robber, and why should Charley
trouble himself with bolt or bar.
The new dress was smoothed into even folds
and laid carefully on shelf at the head of his
bed, and without light or warmth the Young
man made hasty preparations for sleep, which
ne had not long to wait for. His senses blunted
by the cold and the freedom of his potations.
the memory of his late companion, his good
sister and her new dress, the glimpse he had of
Charity and her sweet spirit face, were Joined
to dream almost as soon as his head touched
the pillow.
When he awoke, he saw the sun beckoning
him to get up, and, to his surprise and regret,
soon found he had been reckoning 90 for half