Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-31

OR, THE PURITAN,S REVENGE.

On a fine moonlight night Just previous to
the restoration of Charles II a young man of
gentlemanly appearance was walking rapidly
towards the village of Charing. His dress de-
noted that he was of the sect of the Puritans.
1t was Edward Marston, widower with one
child, whose household was under the direction
of his sister Grace
he had proceeded for some time in his soli
tary walk, when a hand was laid upon his
shoulders. He started and turned-it was his
uncle Martin.
Uncle! he exclaimed, what brings YOU
here at such an hour?"
ITO tell thee that the Commons of England
ana Monk have betrayed their trust and re-
called Charles Stuart TO the throne of his ia
Tiers"
Il have heard as much. England is now no
place for u.s. You and my late father sat as
judges on the tyrant's trial"
Edward said the relative, thou art but
lnkewarm- But the Lord hath reproved
thee. Hath He not smitten thee in thine al
fections?"
.'He hath, - groaned his nephew. with a
glance at his mourning garments s-She loved
is in her gravel"
''And thy sister, added the old man. bit
terly, =" the child of her who bore thee is dis
honoredi"
What mean you?"
THAT William Clayton even now is in her
shelter him, and the proud fool his brother.
Like serpent he has stung you'll"
Il must have proof of this
''Thou shalt watch with me-; said the old
man, sadly, "and be convinced of the dishonor
of thy bloOd.''
Drawing their swords, they concealed them
selves behind portion of the garden wall.
from whence they could see the window of
Grace's apartment.
Grace Marston was as lovely creature to
look upon as earth could boast. She had won
the heart of the young Royalst who was her
brothers friend and guest. and. yielding to his
solicitations, had weakly consented TO secret
marriage. There migh have been-nay, there
was-imprudence in the act but no dishonor
Unfortunately, his nightly visits to her cham
Der were discovered by her uncle Martin.
jealous Puritan, and the storm was ready to
break.
:" He comes!" whispered the old man to his
companion. 'Now are you convinced?"
:" But too fatally
As the adventurous husband descended from
the window of the mans on-fOr he and his
brother were lodged in pavilion in the gar
den--both uncle and newhew attacked him.
They would listen in their blind fury to no eX-
PLANTATION, and the young man must have fallen
beneath their united efforts had not the clash
ing of swords brought his brother Richard to
his assistance. In few minutes the tables
dying.
No sooner did the young man perceive the
condition of his friend than he knclt beside
/. him, and attempted TO raise him from the
ground.
False fiiendr' groaned the dying man.
Not SC, Edward-I am true to thee. Grace
he whispered, sis my wife ~
a glance of satisfaction oversprcad the
countenance of the Puritan, as he fell upon
the sWard Il corpse.
But no explanation could appcase the wrath
of Martin. Over the body of his nephew he
vowed a deep revenge! Time will show how
he fuliled it, As guardian of his niece, he
Instantly prevented all possibility of her COM
municating with her husband, whom he brand
ed as her brothers murderer, and affected TO
disbelieve her marriage.
Poor Grace was truly wretchedl
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 licentious
monarch, the brothers moved with ecla-al
ternately the companions of Charles pleasure
and councils, honor and appointments were
lavished upon them with an inconSiderate
hand; both rose to high military command
At length, when time had sufficiently effaced
the memory of Grace, William again began
TO indulge in thoughts of love. Ellen Digby. |
the only daughter of staunch royalist, was
the object of his choice. The court and its
gay allurements were abandoned for marriage |
and retirement. Nine months after the death
of Edward, William and his young bride ar
rived at his brothers seat, Tyler Hill, near
Canterbury. Grace, who, since the death of
her brother, had given up her mind entirely
to the guidance of Martin and the preacher |
Ncwlght, heard of their arrival, if not with |
out emotion, at least without tear.
Watt" exclaimed her uncle, Il have en-
gendering here what shall work retribution 4;
they have trampled upon u.s. and we will turn |
and rend them ~
NIthln the year the bride presented her |
husband with a son-fortune seemed 10 smile |
on its birth; the young stranger was not only |
heir to his fathers and grandfather's estate. |
but to the fair earldom which Charles had just |
conferred upon Sir Richard CLAYTON, who |
heard of the birth of his nephew with I'M
mixed satisfaction. Meanwhile. Martin and |
Grace had disposed of all their property in |
Kent, and light vessel was secretly engaged |
To carry them To their destination. One night |
they suddenly disappeared, and were never |
again seen in that part of the country. Great |
was the CONSERVATION on the following morn |
ing. when it was discovered that the young |
heir of the Claytons had been carried of, no |
one could tell how. In vain did the distract |
ed parents offer Il reward messengers were |
dispatched into different parts of England. hut |
in vain; every clue seemed lost and the ., arch |
was at last abandoned as hopeless. VI lillian, |
with his brOken-hearted wife, returned to Lon
don. to forget, if possible, i'll the ssipation |
of the capital. the grief which Ireyed upon |
his heart. Nearly twenty " ars rolled on |
without the least intellig nee of the lost heir.
when the Earl and his br t er werr appointed |
to attend To the Duke of MoamO 18th against |
the COvenanters in Sec Ian e., whose success |
had ut first embarrassed the Government. |
Before the royal army they were everywhere |
defeated; from Ed nburgh they were pursued |
to Dumbarton, and driven from that strong
hold to dcfiles difficult of access on the oppo- |
site banks of the Clyde.
- have n strong presentiment, William
exclaimed his brother MS they mounted their
horses to lead the party sent to dislodge the |
enemy from their last defense; " in all our en-
counters | have been singled out by an old |
man and his sOns-at least, from their being
all together, and fighting in concert, / esteem
them as such; something tells me that to-day
they will be successful
William laughed Mt the Earl's augury, and
placed himself at the head of his troop The
royal forces were again successful, and the
Covenanters completely dispersed. The Earl,
after the engagement. rode short distance
from the field to observe the direction the fu-
gitivcs had taken, when he once more encoun-
tered the old man and two young ones, whose
perseverance in tracking him he had before
observed during the day.
-So!' exclaimed the old man. 4" we have
met at last! The Lord hath given thee to
me-"
Tho Earl recognized in the speaker his old
enemy, Martin; aud aware of his determined
character, prepared for his defense. Time
which had SPAR d the strength of Martin, had
the arm of his antagonist. He was
no longer the light. active soldier who once
brought him TO his feet. \ few blows decided