The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-16
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
Fortunes OF WILLIAM WIGHTON.
BY JOHN HOWELL.

Ny departure from Edinburgh was sud
I'd aud mysterious; and it was high time
thk was away, for | was but a reckless
b( at the best. Ny uncle was both sore
az vexen ana weary of me, for | was new
eII Icut of one mishap until was into Anoth-
Ell tut Cne illumination night in the CITY
pIk them all into the :tar-I bad, BY it, got
ia ahead Of all my former exploits. Very
esfly next morning, | got notice from 3
friend that the ballies were very desirous Of
al il terview with me; and, to do me more
hInor, | was 10 be escorted into their pres
ertce. bad no inclination for such honour,
particularly. at this time. | saw that our
d7course could not be equally agreeable to
bah parties; besides they, as knew, would
PIT questions to me could. not well answer
to, their atisfaction-though, after all, there
wks more of deviltry than roguery in any
Ting had been engaged in.
| was not loI & 10 making up my mind !;
III saw Archibald Campbell and two Of
t4e town-guard at the head Of the close as
skipped out at the stair-Ioot | had no
d bubt that | was the person they wished to
b pnour with their accompaniment to the
q vic authorities. vas cut at the bottom
Il the close like thought. | believe they
ever got sight Of me. kept in hiding all
ohy-neither my uncle nor any of my friencs
n rev where was TO be found After it
VI As dark, | ventured into town; but no
fVrther than the Low Calton, where dwelt
al old servant Of my fathers, who bad been
nty nurse after the death of my mother.
SIZE was a widow, and lived in one Of the
gfouDd fats, where she kept small retail
sVop. Poor creature she loved NE as if
hid been her own child, and wept when
tdld her the dilemD" was IN. She prom
I'D to conceal me until the storm blew
Cfer, and to make my peace once more with
oily uncle, If would promise to be q good
thy in future. She made ready for me q
ckmiortable supper, a. bed in her small
bhck room. Weary sitting alone, went to
rKst, and soon fell into a sound sleep.
I'd lain titus, | know not how long, when
Wks reused by loud noise, as il some per-
81 IA OF persons had fallen on the floor above;
A d voices in angry altercstion struck my
THE wcatt er being cold, nv nurse had
Int On a fire in the CRATE, which still burned
Blight, and gave The room a cheerful APPEAR
fce. locked up-the angry voices con.
4nued, ard there was a continued beating
Upon the floor at intervals, and, apparently,
Hgreat struggling, as if Two people were
dgaged in wrestling. attcmpthd to fall
@leep again, but in vain. For half an hour
tAere had been little intermlssion OF the
'bise. The ceiling Of the room was com.
NOsed only of the flooring Of the story above;
that the humping and scuffiing were
post annoying, reminding one Of the sound
drum overhead. rose in sger from
! 1y bed, aud, seizing the poker, beat upon
tfe ceiling pretty smartly. The sound
"A iased for a short space, aud | crept into bed
skain. | was just on the point Of falling
I Il ,ep vi hen the beating and struggling were
Il newed, and with them my anger. | rose
4 Iom bed in great fury, resolved at least tC
1ske these who annoyed me rise from the
\ fbor. ! looked round for something sharp
\ prick them through the joinings OF the
\ 1poring-deals. By bad luck, | found upon
e mantel-piece an old worn knife, with q
in and sharp point. mounted upon the
1ble, and thus reached the ceiling with my
Esand. The irritating noise seemed to in-
deaSe. placed the point in one OF ths
jtints, and gave push up-it would moi
bter; | txerted my strength, wben-l
Hiall never forget that moment-it ran up tC
be hilt Ia heavy groan followed; drew
n back covered with blood | stood upor
BE table stupitied with horror, gazing upon
1e ensanguined blade; two or three heavy
II ops Of blood fell upon my face and wen
\ Itto my ewes. | leaped from the table, anC
Nsced the knife where had found it. The
rpise ceased; but heavy drops Of blood con
tnued to fall and cOagnlate upon the hool
sh my feet. felt stupiied with fear anC
@guish-my eyes were riveted upon th'
VoOd which-dTop, drop, drop fell upor
be floor | had thus stood for some tim,
Kelore the danger / was in occurred to me
fstaTttd, hastily put on my clothes, and
b. ming the window, leapt out, fed by tn
lack Of the houses, past the Methods
4.spel, up the back stairs into Shakespeare
Squsre, and alorg Princes street; nor did
facken my pace until was considerable
ay out o. town.
was now miserable. The night was darI
ks a dungeon; but not half so dark as IN,
twn thoughts. had deprived fellow crea
lure Of lie In vain did | say 10 myself tha
was done with no evil intention on m
aat | had been too rash in using the knife
Ind ny consci ence was against me. va
II this time, also, in hiding for my rash
ess and folly in other respects ! tTemble
Vt the first appearance Of day, lest ! shOul
b. spprehended as q murderer. Dawn ioun
Inc in the neighborhOOd Of BAthgaIe. Col
knd weary az | was, dared not approach
house or the public road, but lsy cOOceale
IN wood all day, under sensations q th
Gtuost horror. Towards evening, | cat
kiously emerged from my hiding Plac:
Eompelled by hunger, entered lionel
house at distance from the public roa'
And, fer payment, obtained some refresi
1ment, and got my benumbed limbs warmed
: IDurlrg my stay, avoided all unn' cesar
sconversatlon. | tremble&Iest they Woul