Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-02-17

now n woakED AND HOW IT ENDED.


CHAPTER l.
ss THE REVENGE.
"Open the window, wife, and let in
some cir. Phew this place 10 enough
to choke one."
Il was close s,ckening atmosphere,
truly The chamber Vas dark and low,
and on the old tester.bed, hung round
with checked curtains, lay something
covered with q ragged counterpart.
The speaker approached the bed,
drew aside the so,led coverlet, and
started back a. he beheld CHASTITY
face With eyes Enclosed, and rigid jaws.
"Come here, Hannah-come here.
Uncle Zebedee's dea J." The man
spoke in . low tone, then turned and
looked At his wife. She was neat and
gentle looking woman ; he fine broad
shouldered man.
20 Richard !" The woman's face
and voice expressed her horror at the
sight before her. 1t was death in its
most repulsive form. An old man,
with pinchcd and withcred icatures,-
with beard unshaven, and eyes unclos-
ed, lay on that wretched bed, staring
upwards, as though lowering over his
couch, he still beheld the awful pres
ence that had announced his doom.
1t was Zebedce Peck, the miser who
Law there. stark and dead; and the man
in q stonc-mason's dress, standing by
the bedside, was Richard Mallet, his
nephew, q working mason.
God ha' mercy on him, said the
man after = silence, during which he
and his wife stood gazing in awe on
the face of the dead. "IIe'Il need it,
p,or soul! lie hadn't much mercy for
others."
Through the open window came a
murmur of voices from the court be-
low; then there was noise Of foot
steps on the stairs.
"Here are the neighbors, Hannah.
Come look look up lass. There's lots
to do"
Rchard Mallet threw the sheet over
the face Of the dead, and went to the
door to meet the new corners. There
was goodIy troop, principally women.
Curiosity was written on every face
Peck's Court had been in q state of OK
element for some hours.
For two days past the old miser's
house had been shut up, and nobody
had seen anything of its owner. At
first, it was supposed to be only one of
Daddy Peck's whims, and his eccen-
ricities being well known, no one
troubled themselves about the matter.
The next day it was reported early
in the morning, that the old miser had
had fit; by noon, it was said that he
had hung himself in his garters from a
beam in the garnet; and lastly towards
evening, it was asserted that he had
been murdered by thieves, who had
plundered the house aud escaped over
the back wall. Whereupon consula-
ton was convened at the pump, by the
matrons Of the court, AS to what ought
to be done under the circumstances, land
varions resolutions were proposed
One lady advised trying the effect OF a
watchman's rattle, and a cry Of Fire
under the window; another advocated
long ladder, and decent through
the garnet; third was for having pc.
liceman sent for, and breaking oben
the front door with the strong arm O
the law while fourth, an enlighten.
ed washer woman, suggested sending a,
once for Richard Mallet, Old Peck's
nephew and nearest relative. This
bright idea carried the day; and q
feet messenger was at once dispatched
for the stone mason and his wife-''in
. case of life and death" as the mes
senger was strictly enjoined to say.
When, therefore, Richard Mallet
proceeded to inform the neighbors that
his uncle had been found dead in his
bed and nothing more, there was some
thing like disappointment written OF
their faces. The court had made W
its mind to terrible catastrophe =,
suicide at the very least; and now ther'
would be nothing bnt coroner's in
quest after all. However, with that t,
look forward to, aud the question Q
the miser's wealth to discuss, it hat
gained something, and so the court re
covered its equinamity.
Hes gone then at LAST We'll W.
are ell mortal you see" His money
o no use to him now +" were anon!
the pious remarks uttered by the by
ISLANDERS. as they crowded around tn
bed.
Lets hope his money will 60 int,
better hands, marm,' said the intelli-
gent washer woman, addressing hersel
to Mrs. Msilet. 'You mustn't fret m
dear; it's the ways O Providence, an
all for thu best, you know
Seeing that Mrs. Mallet had neve
spoken to the deceased dozen time
all the twelve years of her married lii
it required no grea amount of resie
nation on her part not to fret. Sh
was only pale and heightened.
Go home, Hannah, whispered be
husband; I'll see to things, and q
these people away. Don't tell Jess
Mrs. Mallet made her way out Of tn
house, an object Of much interest
various members ofthe court, awaiting
At windows and on doorsteps, her re
appearance. 1t was trying momer
for the good woman. She was beior
critical audience. Ifshc carried he
head erect, it would be attributed t
her pride as the wife Of the miser
heir if she held it down, it would b
taken a. a hypocritical assumption {
sorrow if she made haste, it would b
to avoid lowering herself by talkin
A.