Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-10-28
MsifellaneuMs.
The Man who struck Him
self,
BY T. 8. ARTHUR.

in the sufferings or misfortuncs of their
fellow men. This is stating the case
rather broadly, and we do not, in the
least, doubt that Jason should he ever
chance to discover this introduction Of
himself to the public, will reject our clas-
sifcation, so far as he is concerned. We
make it understandingly, however. The
fault We nave indicated is usually the
com psnion of another The man who
feels pleasure in the ill-lortune Of his
neighbor will hardly hes tate to inflict an
injury, if it can be done with impunity.
Men of the class to which Jason Elder
belonged, rarely pass far on their life
Journey without misunderstanding with
some of their ielow.passengers. Of
course they are always in the right, and
their fellow passengers in the wrong
Aud as they are injured and oppressed, it
is the most natural thing in the world for
them to feel indignant, and quite as natu-
raj to retalia:c-gving blow Tor blow.
The man who wrongs me | neither
forgive nor forget" This was one OF
Jason Elders sayings, and very bad
saying We cannot help declaring it to be
-particularly in Jasou's case, for he
quite lived up to his principles. OF
course. judgment as to wrong was always
rendered by himself and on evidence
wholly exparte. Ii he believed that an
other meant him wrong-ani he cou i
sometimes. on very sh. ht evidcnce-an
evil purpose was SO quickly born in his
mind us if positive testimony were before
his eyes
In fact, Jason Elder was very bad
sort of man, aud often very trouble
some to those who had any dealings with
him.
Among those who were favored with
the hearty dislike of Eler was master
mechanic in small way, named Martin
Lee, who by industry and economy, had
accumulated enough to buy himself i
house of moderate SIZE, as a home for his
family. Elder also owned u house in the
same neighbo.hood These houses were
built on piece Of ground that ori risinally
belonged to the same estate.
Mr.. Lee was a very upright man-too
upright and Independent to have much
intercourse with man like Elder and
not mortally offend him. He had SO Of
Tended him, and the offence WAS neither
forgotten nor forgiven. In more than
this one Instance his enemy had sought to
do him injury but the poisoned arrows
huny trom his bow, had fevn harmless '
by him.
One day, while in conversation with
one of those idle gossiping individuals,
who give more attention TO other peoples
business than they do to their owa. the
latter said in responding to some iil-ha-
tured remark uttered against Mr.. Lee,
II learned fuct yesterday that may be
you would like to hear"
"Abou, that Lee 7" eagerly inquired
Elder.
"Yes, or | mi ght better say, about the
ground on which he has built that snug
little house"
"Indeed ~ Our old gentleman was
alive now. and commenced rubbing his
hands in delighted expectation. What
shout the ground -
"Title detective" was the laconie an
swer ~s
mo"
Fact. Had it from old Larkin and
I rather think he ought to know some
thing about it,"
"Wcll that's Jews, Got a bad title
eh wonder who's on the hip now,
Mr.. Martin Lee ?''
But surely, Mr.. Elder, said his in
formant, "you will not take advantage OF
this information to injure our friend
Lee? ?"
"Won't l, indeed; wait and see. Ii
don't deal him staggering blow, my
name is not Jason Elder--;hat's all. l
always said I'd bidc my time. lia ha
ha flaw in his title. But that's just
his way of doing business. Id Ike to
see any one pick flaw in mine"
True to to the evil purpose declared,
Elder took the first opportunity to search
out the party to whom the property OWN
ed by Lee would revert III case a defect
did really exist in his title. and communi-
Gated the alleged fact. This individual,
whose name was Earl, seemed at first in-
credulous but when Larkin was men
toned as authority, seemed to feel quite
an interest in the matter.
Il am really indebted to you" he said
with bland smile ''should 1t prove true
that there is a defect shall have quite a
windfall and it could not have reached
me in better time. | will have the mat
ter investigated at once.
That blow will tell hard, surely. |
have planted it below the fifth rib" said
Elder to himself, in a tone of cruel exul-
tatiou, as he left the presence of Mr..
Earl.
Through much self.denial and hard la
Dor, continued through many years, had
Mr.. Lee been able to provide modest
homestead for his family. He had been
the more anxious to accomplish this from
the fact that declining health warned him
of the approach of day-how speedily
it might arrive he knew not-when his
beloved ones who leaned on him so con-
fidingly would have none to care for
them. If he could secure home into
which they might cluster together, he
felt that much would be gained. And
this he had accomplished but the effort
cost too dearly. he had taxed his physi-
cal system to an extent that produced a