The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-25

quite near his own; and then learned, for
the first time, that he occupied room in the
same house and on the same floor with my
self. Thus / became acquainted with two
of my fellow-Iodgers.
Jansen and myself often mt after that,
but it was always in the street or on the
stairway. He never invited me to his room,
or accepted an invitation to mine. He Wis.
tied me but once at my Office, and then re.
mained less than FIVE minutes. How he
spent his time, l did not inquire. He was
mystery. Ispoke of him TO Smith one day.
Strange to say that gentleman had never
seen him, but from my description of him,
ventured the opinion that he was either a
gambler or gcnteel pickpocket. Twas re
luctanty forced to the conclusion that Smith
was right, and after that treated the young
man with unusual codness. He observed
the change, and his look wore reproach so
sorrowful that l half repented having har.
bored the suspicion of my venerable look
ing friend, who was fearfully averse to all
mysteries.
Occasion called me to my room, one even.
ing, at an earlier hour than usual. / heard
a soft rep at my door, and, opening it, found
Jansen stsnding in the entry. "Come in,
Jansen" l exclaimed. throwing open the
door.
"Would you not prefer taking walk 2"
he inquired. "The night is beautiful"
81 believe not to night" replied; "some
other time" was little piqued that he
should persist in remaining outside the door
81 should be much pleased to have you"
he rejoined. II have few words to say to
you, in justice to myself, and"
Enough" interrupted, 81 will CO." l
felt assured he desired to tell me something
OF himself, and l was all anxiety to hear it.
1t was unpleasant to think him pickpocket
or a sharper, and I hoped he might be able
to prove to me that he was neither.
We left the house and proceeded along
Stockton street toward Happy Valley. For
ten minutes not word was spoken. Seve-
raj times he seemed on the point of speak.
ing, but lie as often checked himself.
"Unless may call you one, have not q
friend in California" he at length began
placing his hand upon my shoulder. bow.
ed, but made no reply.
"You do not speak," he continued, OBJ
serving my silence. Il am to understand,
presume, that you are not to be made an ex
ception."
"To be frank with you, Jansen," Irepled
"there is a certain mystery about your move.
ments calculated TO give rise to euspicons
anything but favorable"
"Of what nature 7" inquired my compan,
ion.
"That you are gambler or even worse,' 81
humbly replied.
He smiled as he replied: "Yes, yes,
see, but the suspicion wrongs me-"
"Make it appear so," l answered, "unt
you shall not want friend"
"Promise that you will not dvulge wha
may tell you, or attempt in word or act tc
thwart me in the accomp plshment of pur
pose to which l have pledged my SOUL" he
said, looking me earnestly in the face, "ane
you shall have the proof you require"
"If your purpose is not criminal, | prom
ise; If otherwise keep your secret" was my
answer.
"'Tis what you would do, or any othe
man worthy Of the NAME"
"Then promise; here is my hand"
"Listen," he resumed, taking my orm, en-,
walking slowly on. 81 have twin sister
We were born in Georgia, and our parent
were the possessors OF hundred slaves an
plantation large enoungh to give all employ
ment. When we were fourteen our fathe
died. At the oge Of sixteen my sister be
came convert, during religious revival
and six months after, in the face of the de
termined opposition of my mother, ran ava
with and married young preacher, to who's
eloquence the revival owed its origin. M
sister did not love the man. Her feeling
for him were religious ehthuslasm-a fan
cy wrought upon by an unnatural infutua
tion. Learning they were married, my goo
mother sent for them, and they returned t
receive her blessing. The plantation wa
, placed in charge of my sisters husband, an
he relnuqished the Gospel. He frequentl
visited New Orleans, and other OF the lerg
Southern cities, during the first year of hi
marriage, but the circumstance excited n
suspicion.
To be brief, before two years elapsed, tn
large estate left by our falher was swep
from us, and we were almost bankrupt. H
had induced my mother to mortgage tn
plantation, with the view, he said of pur
chasing more negroes to work it, but tb
money was sduandered, and the slaves w
had were secretly sold by fves and tens
until less than dozen remained. Whel
asked to explain by my mother, he had n
excuse to offer. In the midst OF this grea
grief, another wife Of Mayhew-that wa
the villains name-suddenly made her ap
pearance at the plantation.
Learning the residence of her husband
but knowing nothing Of his second marriage
, che had left South Carolina to meet him.
My poor sister was heart. broken. Mayhem
to escape prosecution. fed from the state.-