Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-04


Lynx, howevelf now recovered from his
fright, sprang 9TH unwieldy gambols a.
round him, and led him onwards, some
times barking aiond and glaring with his
eyes as if animated by some extraordinary
design. In this manner our hero was
drawn onwards towards a neighboring
wall, in which hs at last perceived small
entrance gate. He tried the lock in diff
ferent ways I'll it opened, and he now
found himself s. saltifnl garden which
be had adsais So nlueil.
The trees shook aleir drenched heads,
and saluted him with those deep, rustling
sounds, by which they responded to the
violent attacks of the storm. He went
rapidly onwards beneath their agitated
canopy, while his laboring heart became
50 anxious and opprest that he could hard
ly breathe. Meanwhile, the relentless tenn
pest beat the flowers one against another,
crushed their tender heads to the earth,
and drove great whirls of red and white
rose leaves through the perturbed atmos-
phere. At length stream of lightning
flashed through the clouds, and Wolfe
found himself between the ruined, moss
covered ice-cellar, where the two lime
trees, exactly as they had been described
to him in his dream, stretched their with
cred branches, as if pointing, with long
black fingers, to a low, fallendown door of
the entrance. Wolfe instantly drove away
this barrier. In his mind there was no
trace of fear All inferior solicitude yield
ed before the increasing impulse here to
realize some extraordinary discovery. He
had become excited to such degree, that,
Notwithstanding the interruption of the
storm, he followed the directions received
in his dream, by searching thoroughly
among the raised up rubbish and mould,
with scrupulous attention His faithful at
tendant, Lynx, assisted him with more than
Instructive perseverance in this labor,
scratching and turning up the earth with
his snout, till, at last, he barked vehement
ly, and stood as if rivited to one spot
Wolfe bent over him, while the thunder
rolled at a distance and pale CLEAN Of
one solitary star fell through the dark man
tie of the night. Wolfe started back as
the light fell upon an AXE or HATCHET that
lay at his feet. "What may this import?"
said he; and lifting it up, he stepped out
of the dark shades or the cavern into the
free air. The solitary star was reflected
Sa Sha S#Fith horror, deeply rusted stains of
blood, which irresistably agitated his heart,
and, full of obscure apprehensions, he ex-
claimed, "Murder a secret, dark and bar
barous murderw His whole frame trem-
bled with Indignation, and the desire of
just vengeance; and, taking the hatchet
under his mantle, without having deter
mined what course to pursue, he returned
back to his quarters.
The weather had now become compara-
lively tranquil; the thunder clouds had
sunk beneath the horizon, like worn-out
volcano; the daylight already dawned, and
light fringes of red adorned the yet hnger-
ing vapors in the east. Wolfe came, with
great strides backwards to the court; his
white cloak futtering in the wind; his up
raised hair staring and wild over his an
cry and contracted brow; and his eyes
9 too, considering the temper in which he
was, must have looked sufficiently formida
bic. He now happened to encounter Myn
heer John, who, quietly looking at the
weather, was smoking his morning pip
under the gateway. "Look here, master,
cried Wolfe, drawing the hatchet from un
= der his cloak, "see what I have chances
e to find this morning. The tobacco pip
! ! fell from the butchers hands his eyes be
came wild, and his lips quivered; ; ther
murmuring in hollow voice, "Blood wi
, , have Judgment am doomed at last !" b
y = clasped his hands, and fell down dead, wit
L his face to the earth, in a fit Of apoplex,
} Wolfe stood as if rooted to the spot, sti
; holding the axe with upHfted arm, whe
: Louisa looked over his shoulder, and, in
" piercing voice, exclaimed, ooh heavens
: that is Andrews own hatchet; there
= = his name on the handle-Andrew Wolfe
= Then the whole connection of events fasl
. ing with the rapidity of lightning on ht
le mind she clasped her hanos together, an
- almost breathless with horror, exclaime
- - "That is his blood They have murde
u u ed him !"
~ The alarm had brought together all tt
" inhabitants of the house, who throng'
~ ~ about Wolfe, and urged him to unravel t
~ ~ frightful mystery. To him it appeared
% if his head and breast were loaded with
~ - weight of iron, Words and thoughts bo
. failed him, as if frozen up, motionless a
7et dead within his soul He stared at t
MS letters upon the hatchet his brain whirl
ng as if wheel within it; suddenly tears bu
ear from his eyes then the spirito vengeal
est returned he fell lupon the PROSTATE but
IN er, and violently lifted him from the grou
nc nd exclaiming, "Thou cowardly bloodhou
lie hast thou murdered hirn?' The cold, p
De- lips, however, opened not again, for de-
ma had finally sealed them. Wolfe drew ba
Al therefore, after having let the stiffen
his corpse slowly sink down., then look
al wildly around him, rushed from the no
'Eg towards the garden. The spectat
MT perceiving his design, followed him '
ste shovels and pickaxes, with which they as
lelo ted him to search, until they had at
sta drawn from the grave the remains of d
'dr- !, body, now reduced to skeleton, SO
'al''1 nothing more was recognizable but q
loeG 20 R yer ring which, uninjured, still adhere
ned one of the withered fingers. On behol
aros this, Lousia, with trembling lips, could
eeo- ly pronounce, "It is he-'twas who
him the ringw And Wolfe on hea
orm, this fell down in state of insensibi
pen, from which they were unable to re
ring him.
most After our hero, under the infuen'