The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-23
distracted by what had befallen me, and
WhmR Vni~hk 10 A. ~n...ik


what might be the result.
Pale, weary and exhausted, reached IN
lodgings between three and four O'Clock o
the morning OF the seventeenth day frou
that tx which I had left il in joy and hope
After had knocked, and was answered, N!
laOdlady almost tainted at the sight Of me
She had believed me dead and my appear
aOce was not calculated to do away the i'm
preston, looked so ghastly from anxiety
and the want Of sleep. Her joy was extrem
when sbe found her mistake. | undresseC
and threw myself on bed, where soon fel
into 9 sound sleep, the first had enjoyed
since my Involuntary voyage.
did not awake until about eight O'Clock
when arose and dressed. | did not haste
to Elizs, as my heart urged me, lest my sud
den appearance should have been fatal TO her
| wrote her q note Informing her | was il
health, and would call and explain all aftel
brtakfast-sent of my card, and immediate
" waited upon my employers. They were
more surprised than pleased at my return
Another had been placed in my situation
and they did not choose to pay him off when
| might think proper to return after my un-
accountable absence. Ny soul fired at the
base insinuation my voice rose as | de.
manded to know it they doubted my veracitY
VIM an expression Of countenance that
spoke daggars, one of them said, "We doubl
at least y our prudence in going on board an
unknown vessel; but let US proceed to busi
ness-we have found all your books correct
to farthing, and here is an order for your
salary up to your leaving. Good morning."
| received it indignantly; and, bowing
stiff1y, left them. was not much cast down
at this turn my affairs had taken so unex-
pectedly. had no doubt Of finding a warm
reception from Eliza, hurried to her parents
house, and rung the bell for admlttance.
Judge my astonishment when her brother
opened the door with q look as if we had
never met, and inquired what wanted. The
blood mounted to my face-I essayed to ut
ter my feelings, but my tongue refused its
Office; felt bewildered, and stood more like
8 statue than man. After the most insult
ing manner, he said, "There is no one here
who wishes any intercourse with you" and
he shut the door upon me-
OF everything that befell me for length
Of time, from this moment, | am utterly un-
conscious after awakening to consciousness
| was In bed at my lodgings with my kind
landlady seated at my bedside. ] was so
weak ana reduced | could scarce turn my
self; the agitation had undergone, and the
cruel receptious. had been too much for my
mind TO bear; . brain fever had been the
consequences, and my life had been des-
paired of for several days. | would have
questioned my landlady but she urged ST.
lencs upon me and refused to answer my in
quiries. | soon after learned all. had been
nf hu L sxAs
have looked for aid and consolation, but the
bitterest thought OF all was, that Eliza should
cast me off without inquiry or explanation.
could not bring my mind to believe she did
so Of her own accord She must be either
dec lived or under restraint, for she and her
friends could not but know my situation.
vainly strove 20 call my wounded pride to
my aid and drive her from my thoughts, but
the more | strove, the frmer hold she took
of me. As soon as able wrote to her in the
most moving terms, and after stating the
whole truth and what had suffered, begged
an interview, were IL to be our last-!or nv
life or death appeared to depend on her an
swer. In the afternoon | received one-it
was my own letter, which had been opened
and enclosed in an envelop. The writing
was in her own hand. Cruel woman all it
contained was that she had read, and now
returned my letter as Of her own accord, and
by the appreciation Of her friends and &C
quaintances. This unjust answer had quite
an opposite effect from what I could have
conceived few hours before pity and con-
tempt for the tickle creature took the place
of love; my mind became once more tran
quill ] recovered rapidly and soon began to
walk about and enjoy the sweets of summer.
| met my tickle fair by accident more than
once in my walks, and found | could pass
her as if we had never met Her brother
had often mind to have horsewhipped, but
the thought that would only give greater
publicity to my unfortunate adveu ture, and
be looked upon as the guilty aggressOr, pre-
vented me from gratifying my wish.
Glasgow had now become hateful to me
otherwise | would have commenced manu-
facturer upon my own account, as was my
intention had married Eliza At as short
period as convenient | sold off the furni-
ture of the house had taken, at little or
no loss, and found that still was master OF
q considerable sum. Having made present
to landlady for her care Of NE, bade q
long AdIeu to Glasgow, and proceeded By the
caach to Leeds and procured a situation in a
house with which our Glasgow house hal
had many transactions
After few years | became a partner in
the house-Our transactions were very ex-
tensive, more particularly in the United
States OF America, where we were deeply en-
gagged in the cotton trade. We Judged it ne.
cessary that one Of the firm should be on the
spot to extend the bushes as much as pos
sible. Tne otheas being married men, | at
once volunteered to take this department
upon myself, and made arrangements accord.
ingly. | proceeded towards Liverpool by
easy stages on horseback, as the coaches a..
that period were not SO regular as they are
at present.
On the second day after my leaving the
city Of Leeds, the afternoon became extreme
ly wet towards evening, so that resolved
to remain all night in the first respectable
inn on my way. | dismounted and found it
completely filled with travellers, who had ar
rived a short time before, and it was with
difficulty | prevailed upon the hostess to al
low me to remain She had not a spare bed.
All had been already engaged. The weather
continued still wet and boisterOus, and | re-
solved TO proceed no farther that night whe
ther | could obtain a bed or not. We ar
ranged at length with her to pass the night
by tne f1reside seated in an armchair. Mat
ters were thus all set to rights, and supper
over when a loud knocking was heard at the
door. An additional stranger entered the
kitchen where sat, drenched with rain
end benumbed with cold, and after many
difficulties upon the side Of the hostess, the
same arrangements were made for him.
As our situations were so similar we soon
became very intimate. felt much interest
in him. He was Of frank and lively turn
in conversation, and exceedingly we'll in
formed on very subject we started. A shrewd
eccentricity in the style and manner of his
remarks, forced the conviction upon his hear
ers that he was man Of no mean capacity,
there was also restless inquietude IN his
manncr which gave him the appearance Of
having a slight shade Of insanity. At one
time his bright black eye was lighted up with
10Y and hilsrity,,9e he chanted few lines o
some convival song. 10 few minutes, .
l. f.rre RTFVntC