The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-11-12

A TALE OF Honor. 1t was wild
night. The wind blew and it rained
hard. The gust shook the chimnies and
men hurried along the streets in haste
to shelter themselves from the tempes-
tuous hornpipe of the thoroughfares.
The horse railroad was in existence.
We write in the memorable year of
1857.
A stranger mufilcd in cloak and
wearing slouched hat, which effectual
ly concealed bis features, hurried along
Washington street past the old South,
up Bromfeld street, and disappearing
for q moment beneath the old trees on
fremont street, soon reappeared, cloth
cd in the height of fashion,. Stout peg
ged boots and wife pantaloons furnished
forth his lower members, while beauti-
ful brass buttoned coat and cotton UNI
brella did the uper part of him quite
handsomely. go.
"Safe at last !" be murmured within
his clenched teeth. "Tbose hell hounds
may end the traces if they can !" He
had pitched his hat into the buryiDg-
ground.
He gaily entered car. The conduc-
too stood on the platform, his hand on
the bell-pull. {" A wild night" said the
stranger, cheerfully.
AYE! marry it is-for fold that ply
q trade abroad. Dost with us to Kox-
berry, or shall not the line be crossed ?
Tie stranger gazed hurriedly about
him. "Anon anon !" he calculated,
and the bell sounding, tho hores walked
away. Past the Common, whose white
walks shone in the moonlight had
stopped raining-and whose trees moan
ed mournfully with the waving of the
wind, past the lordly Winthrop, and the
lager beer room in Boylston street,
whence shouts Of revelry issued, thoug b
the midnight hour had long since passed.
past Bacon's, that abode of oysters, and
up, up along the noiseless thoroughfare
The grocery shops were closed, watch
men paced the streets with muffled steps
Now and then reeling form proclaim
ed q promenading inebriate. But OF
sped the car until the railroad bridge
was peared. But bark voice in th'
rear and pursuing form /! The conduc
tor turns. The stranger with grasl
like vice prevents the sounding bel
from arresting the progress Of the vchl
ole. "S'death "he exclaimed, " wha
would ye' A drunken sot who knows
not what he does ~
The conductor struggled with his pas
senger. 1t was terrible trial, but still
the car sped on, the bridge was almost
reached. The conductor was triumph,
ant. He shook off his assailant anc
threw him from him. The voice in the
distance was again heard,-"stop! stop
broke on the still air.
Taking from bis wallet a number o
bank notes, the stranger offered them
to the conductor if he would but contln
ne needless of the pursuing party. Fo
moment the conductor hesitated-h'
had family-fourteen little tongue
lfsped " father" when he entered hi
cottage near the Norfolk House. IL
took the package of mouey-threw hl
eve over the name of the bank" Rhod
Island," he cried with fendish smil
at the covering man in the brass but
tons before him" No! no! take bac
your rags" and the tinkling bell ar
rested the car on the bridge.
With wild cry the brass-buttone
individual leaped the parapet and disar
peared in the abyss below where by day
light is seen the railroad track. A heav
fall, deep groan, proclaimed that a
was over; and that a soul was launche
into eternity from railroad bridge.
Faith an ye gave me chase, sure,
we're the breathless words uttered by 9
honest Hibernian as he entered the ca
The horses moved on, and again all WI
silent. Moodily the conductor foldt
his arms and in this way entered Ro'
berry Boston Post.