The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-12-05
an 1ntercsti'll Gjorn.


moaning down the great blnGk-,hroatc,
chimney, made bright, waving phautnns oI
the rcd flames which l,aptd over the few bits
Of wood upon the hand irons.
There WAS but little hrc--yct that Il,tle
lighted u9 the handsome face Of young Flint
wood with pale gllostly gleain. Aud in that
face, By the light. you tuu!l read the fca,rul
tale oil utter poverty, AID near saryuliun. -
There was hunger in the wild expression Of
the hollow eyes. and upon the broad white
forehead. where the transparent skin failed
TO conceal the delicate vein tracciy wrought
there.
Two years before. Horace Flin'wool had
lett his pleasant home iii country section of
Massachusetts, and his aged parents, to seek
his fortune in the great city of the West
O; where NE liiil him at The COM
tncnccmcnt Of our story.
The old homestead, the blessed old place
where his cll'dhool had been passed, was
inOr;gaged, and 1t was to obtain moncy to
save the home Of his parents from strangers
hands that young Fiiutwood had bid fare.
well to those he loved and joined tie great
stllam Of western emigration. His trade
that ola bmcklaycr-, ut first procured him
ready money in llaLtcring quantities; but as
people were unSaIlsiied with settling so far
east as G, Tie Young mechanic soon
found himself out Of employment.
lie would have followed the current on
even 10 the shores Of the Pacific. but an
attack Of fever brought HIM 10 his bed. and
lc at length arose, to find himself derived
tf every dollar which he could once call his
own. On the very verge Of starvation lie
thought Of begging his way back to his parents
hit his pride revoked. They were ,our and
looked to him for the restoration Of th,ir
diSSi pated fortune Shoull they SIC hin
come back to them ronnivSs and starving !
NJ, not even il he died in that great civ
;lWc, aud for the want of brva lie could
not &" back 10 them only to Increase their
care, and lie but ali additional burden upon
their Scan'y means.
Horace Fiinwool was thinking Of all this.
while sitting there by The waning fire that
chill November night, ard as lie thought,
despair cIcpt into his heart. Out on the
nuhcd air buomtd, shril and clear. the bell
upon nrishboring tower p2aling eleven.
As TIC last ech"ng lttg ceased, lh,lc came
a short, quick rap at lio.acc's door lie
answered the summons, and a figure. closely
wrapped in black cloak, strobe INTO the
room and without word sat down On the
chair wiic! Horace had vacated.
a wild evening. friend " Horace remarked,
to lrak the awkward silence.
Every. Are You engaged for this even
irg 2 The strangers tone, were quick and
imptra i've.
Engaged = Horace started at the qucs
ton, " certainly not at this TINE of uigh,."
"Aie you III want Of lnunpy = Tic UNI
known bent glance If piercing enquiry upon
Horace, from pair Of black, flashing ewes
set far back under c!! like bvows.
Sir, am not accustomed to answer oucs.
tions concerning my private affairs" llolace
drew himsclfup proudly. and somcth!nA, Ike
flown passed over Ids pale brow.
Il require a job Of work dome done by u
good, faithful hand-a discreet workman. |
mean, and such is your reputation among
those who best know you"
Horace bowed.
1T is It small ,j)h, but wish it finished
to-ni5 ht-~to-nisht!' reporting the woids wilh
startling emphasis, land you must Do i.n'
Well, sir work would DC very acceptable
to me- need the money bad enough, but
midnight Is rather a singular time to call
upon the services Of a iricklavcr'
Granted but ask it, nevertheless and
Still farther, you must be hndloIled and
conveyed to the place where You are 10 labor
i'll close carriage, and rc,urn to your
lodgings in the same way. Moreover, YOU
which may occur to you this night, to any
living creature -
The unknown had arisen to his feet and
stood silently and haushtily awaiting Horace S
repiy.
The young brcklaycr seemed much struck
10y the mysterious proposition of his strange
visitor.
Gould but know that there was nothing
criminal nothing"
1T is enough shat you have nothing to
do but follow my directions. Al, will lie well
with you; and the pay Shall be yours in adj
vance, if you require It," He flung down a
purse. well filled with gold upon tie table.
1lorace's eyes glistened but he was silent.
There are one hundred dollars they are
yours, if you consent"
One hundred dollars impossible, I
cannot accert--it Looks too much like bride
for committing some horrd crimc-some-'
Hush my friend, know your circum-
stances, and your services to night will fully
compensate me for the trtllng sum Do you
consent 2"
Horace threw on his wcll-wom ovcrcoat
and taking with him some small implements
Of his trade, lac followed the unknown to the
waiting carriage. Once within the vehicle. a
handkerchief was bound tightly over his
c1SSp anu VIC hiShb vi sClilGu over
every object
On and on rolled the phnton over Boyton's
Bridge, and past the canal toll.gate, over the
brick ravemcnts, out upon the FLANK road,
until at last the wheels r,Soyed upon tho
hard gravel Of a turnpike. Bye ard bye, the
way became rough and stony, and Horace
knew that they had left the city and Its
envrons far behind them. Not word had
been exchanged between the young mechanic
and the unknown: and the man who had
held the rcins and guided the horses, was
silent as tie grave.
At length the carriage STOPPED, and Horace
was assisted to alieht. He was conducted
up grassy path and into some sort of Il
Luildng--hc knew i. by the confined air and
the heavy clang Of doors behind him. With
the unknown holding fast to his arm. h.
assembled two flights OF sals-thcn passed
through several mouldy, damp rooms; then
down flight Of steps; through long. empty
corridor; aud then successfully dcscend,d
four winding saircases tile last Of unhcwI
stone. The mir grew moist and dense til,
odor Oppressive.
Where are you leading me z" Flntwooj
venturcd to ASK Of hiG mysterious guide.
1T matters not ~ was the bllci, stcrr
reply
They stopped before massive, iron door,