The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-04-16
THE BETRAYED;
OR, THE PURITAN's REVENGE.


the restoration of Charles III, Young man of
gentlemanly appearance was walking rapidly
towards the village of Charing. His dress
denoted that he was of the sect of the Puri-
tans. 1t was Edward Marston, q widower
with one child, whose household was under
| the direction of his sister Grace.
He had proceeded for some time In his
solitary walk, when n hand was laid upon his
shoulders. He started and turned-it WINS
| his uncle Martin. Nh,
"Uucle !" he exclaimed, "whnt brings you
here at such an hour?"
"To tell thee that the Commons of Eng
land and Monk have betrayed their trust; aud
recalled Charles Stuart TO the throne of his
fathers"
VI have heard as much. England Is now
no place for US. You and my late father sat
! ~ judges on thcS ,,fanistrmls
"Edward," said the relative, "thou art but
lukewarm. But the Lord hath reproved
thee. Hath He not smitten thee in thine af-
feciionsY ~
ale hath" groaned his nephew, with q
glance at his mourning garments. "She low
ed is in her graye!'
sand thy sister," added the old man, bit.
terly, "the child of her who bore thee is dis
honored !"
"What mean you!"
"That William Clayton even now is in her
chamber, despite my warning. Thou wouldst
shelter him, and the proud fool, his brother.
Like serpent he has stung you"
~ must have proof of this"
"Thou shalt watch with me-" snid the old
man, sadly, "and be convinced of the dishon-
or of thy blood."
Drawing their swords, they concealed
themselves behind n portion of the garden
wall, from whence they could see the window
of Graces apartment.
Grace Marston was MS lovely n creature to
look upon as earth could boast. She had
won the heart of the young Royalist, who
was her brothers friend and guest, and, Weld
ing to his solicitations, had weakly consented
10 secret marriage. There might have been
may, there was-imprudence in the act, but
no dishonor. Unfortunately, his nightly visits
to her chamber were discovered by her uncle
Martin, jealous Puritan, and the storm was
ready to break.
ale comes" whispered the old man to his
companion. snow are you convinced"
"But too fatally"
As the adventurous husband descended
from the window of the mansion-for he and
his brother were lodged in pavilion in the
garden-both uncle and nephew attacked
him. They would listen in their blind fury
to no explanation, and the young man must
have fallen beneath their united efforts, had
not the clashing of swords brought his broth.
er Richard to his assistance. In few min.
utcs the tables were fatally turned-Edward
Marston was dying.
No sooner did the young man perceive the
condition of his friend than he knelt beside
him, and attempted to raise him from the
: ground.
"Taise friend!" gronned the dying man. -.
"Not so, Edward-I am true to thee
Grace" he whispered, sis my wife"
A glance of satisfaction overspread the
countenance of the Puritan, as he fell upon
the sword corpse.
, But TO explanation could appease the wrath
of Martin. Over the body of his nephew he
vowed deep revenge! Time will show how
,, he fulfilled it. AS guardian of his niece, he
instantly prevented all possibility of her CON-
= municating with her husband, whom he
, branded as her brothers murderer, and af-
fected to disbeeve her marriage.
Poor Grace was truly wretched!
Richard and William returned to London,
where they assisted in the restoration Of the
/ King, after several vain attempts to see Grace
Marston. In the gay court of the licenlious
monarch, the brothers moved with eclat-al.
: ternatelv the companions of Charles pleas
ure and councils, homo. and appointments
were lavished upon them with IN inconsider-
ate hand; both rose to high military command
At length, when time had sufficiently effaced
the memory of Grace, William agnin began
! to indulge in thoughts of love. Ellen Digby,
! the only daughter Of n staunch royalist, was
the object of his choice. The court and its
CAV allurements were abandoned for marriage
= and retirement. Nine months after the death
c of Edward, William and his young bride ar.
rived at his brothers seat, Tyler Hill, neal
Canterbury. Grace, who, since the death OF
:. her brother, mad given up her mind entirely
! to the guidance of Martin and the preacher
Newlight, heard of their arrival, if not with
out emotion at least without tear.
await" exclaimed her uncle, 81 have en-
: gendering here what shall work retribution
{ they have tramped upon us, and We will turr
i and rend them!'
: Within the year the bride presented he
I husband with son--fortune seemed to smil,
= on its birth; the young stranger was not only
y heir to his fathers and grandiather's estate
> but to the fair carldom which Charles hat
: lust conferred upon Sir Richard Clayton, VIII,
heard of the birth OF his nephew with un
= mixed satisfaction. Meanwhile, Martin anC
" Grace had disposed of all their property il
y Kent, and light vessel was secretly engaged
!. to carry them to their destination. One nigh
= they suddenly disappeared, and were neve
again seen in that part of the country. Grea
8 was the CONSERVATION on the following morn
IS ing, when it was discovered that the youni
, heir of the Claytons Ind been carried of, n
one could tell how. In vain did the distract
! ed parents offer n reward; messengers wer
l. dispatched into different parts Of Englnnt
I. but in vain; every clue seemed lost, and tn
q search was at last abandoned as hopeless
\ William, with his brokenhearted wife, re
turned to London, to forget, if possible,
q the dissipation of the capital. the grief whic
d. preyed spon his heart. Nearly twenty yeal
,e rolled ON without the least intelligence of I'll
/. lost heir, when the Earl and his brother wei
appointed to attend the Duke Of MOI
II mouth against the Coyenanters in Scotlan,
'p whose success had at first embarrassed III
ia Government. Before the royal army the
= were everywhere defeated; from Edinburg
;" they were pursued to Dumbarton, and drive
ar from that strong hold TO defles difficult
n, access on the opposite banks Of the Clyde.
n. 81 have strong presehtiment, William
4, exclaimed his brother as they mounted the
= horses to lead the party sent 10 dislodge Il
III enemy from their last defense; sin all our el
er counters have been singled out by an O
er man aud his sons--at least, from their ber
IN all together,and fighting in concert, estee
them as such; something tells me that to d;