The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-10-07

s he had taxed his wicked ingenuity t
e the utmost, could have produced any
thing more diabolical 1t was a wild
: stormy night, like the present; wbe
Sherrick lighted false beacon Oh tn
headland, half mile from this, an
decoyed a first-class Est Indiana
amongst the rocks. Every soul Of
board perished, aud the ship was liter
! ally broken into fragments. The noas
l Cor miles was strewn with her timber
and portions of her rich merchandise
from which many dishonest wrecker!
enriched themselves I"
| 81 had no idea that human natur
was SO vile"
"Vile ! God grant that you ma,
never know the hundreth part of you
fathers experience in that respect
Both ceased talking, as il by mutua
consent, and the invalid dozed lof tc
sleep. The hands of the clock pointed
to the twelve on the dial, when n louc
report from a cannon announced tn,
arrival of the steamer. The invalid
slowly opened his eyes, and said:
God be thanked for His great mer
cies p'
In ten minutes afterward the watch
dog growled suspiciously outside al
some person approaching.
"It must be Ernest" said Nina,
quickly rising from her scat.
"His step is not so heavy. and the
dog knows him"
"But you forget, father, that the
night is dark and stormy, and perhaps
both are bewidered"
A loud knock at the door silerced
further discussion Oh the subject
The door having been opened, in
walked tall man of most unpreposses-
sing appearance, with black hair and a
large flowing beard. He wore a SLOUGH
ed bat, which partly concealed deep
scar on one side of his face. A heavy
boat cloak and high boots, worn out.
side the pantaloons. completed his ex-
terrier costume, and in his right hand
he carried heavy sword cane.
Having curtly apologized to Ninna
for his intrusion, he approached the
fire 70 warm himself. In doing this,
however, he exposed leathern girdle,
which he wore round his waist, carry
ing two pistols, such as were used at
that period in furnishing holsters.
"'Tis rather a rough night out here,
but it might be worse in the colonies
What do you say, old fellow ?" said the
stranger, fani liarly addressing the sick
man.
"My father does not understand you,
sir" answered NinDa.
Perhaps rot.''
Are you stranger in this country%
asked Nina, not well pleased with the
mans rude style of address.
II might say yes, althous h THAT
would not be quite correct l have
been absent from the locality for some
years
Then you have been travelling ?"
"Traveling Yes. at the expense of
the British Government, and by the
gratuitous ofices cf your father there"
said the man, standardization
don't know me, Fielding. l presume 2"
said he, after a moments pause.
Know you," deliberaied the sick
man, Il think do. Your name is"
"Sherrick !" added the stranger, in
a stern voice, completing the sentence.
Ninna started at the dreadful name.
"How have you found your way
hirher?" asked Fielding, calmly :
You surely have not been pardoned? !"
"Escapad from the Colony, that's
all. Knocked my keepers brains out
with a piece of cold iron, and gave leg
bail for my honesty"
What object brings you here ?
Why DO you disturb me at this hour ct
the night?"
81 have merely called to pay you
friendly visit, and cancel an cid obliga
ton. That's ALL" and he laughed in
bitter irony.
"What is it that you desire ?"
"T desire ten years of serfdom, spent
in Van Di- mans Land You have
caused the sun of my life to go down
whilst was still young. What wild
compensate for three thousand six
hundred and fifty days blotted from the
calendar of my existence What will
remunerate for the iron chains that
bound my legs and eat into my flesh,
or for the robbers jacket that defled
MY back l answer blood! 1t was
your cursed testimony that placed me
in the ielon's cell, and consigned me to
felon's ignommy and exile"
Your crime has been terrible one,"
interposed Nirna, attempting to divert
the current of his fierce anger from her
iather.
"Ha! you allude to the transaction
of the tempestuous night?'
81 do"
81 was poor" urged the wretch, half
in vindication of his offeuse. 80 Would
you have me starve, with such gold
en- prize within my grasp? I would do
the same thing to morrow, under the
same circumstances, without compunc
tion."
"The laws of God or man recognize
no such right, sir. You have outraged
society,"" said the girl, boldly. !
"Bravely spoken, no doubt, but your
fippancy fails to convince me of the
contrary. What is society at best, 1
demand, but conclave of perjured viii
lains, where he who denounces loudest
against fraud, but waits the chance to
cut his neighbor's throat in secresy,
and those pious men who profess to be
the best guardians of morality, are the
most fragrant violaters of chastity
What is the difference, ask you, be-
tween my crime ard that of the devout
merchant who charters a ship for some
foreign port, when, after effecting
goodly insurance upon her cargo, wish