The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-04-29

pable of inhicting the most excruciating
torment, when welded by tyrannical mas
ter who was accustomed 10 the recreation
Of tiogsing his pupils. and who rather liked
the excitement of it.
Flourishing the rattan, and making il
cut the air with whistliDr sound. Rath-
burn turned TO Nellie, and said to her. saw
agely-
How do you still persist in disobeying
me: Did not order you to remove the
covering from your shoulders"
Terror again obtained the mastery over
the poor girl She was alone, and in the
power of that bad, cruel man. whose in
stinctive brutality was infamed by that
jealousy-a passion that converts good peo-
pie into demons; Judge. then. its effects
upon base and unprincipled nature,
Nellie fell upon her knees at the feet of
the tyrant, and sobbed out an appeal for
mercy.
If l forgive you," said Rathburn. knit
ting his brows and looking down gloatingly
upon the kneeling maiden-"will you sol
emnly promise to discard that young Lewis
and listen favorabiy to my proposals.
Il cannot-I will not" cried Nellie.
wringing her hands and weeping bitterly
you may kill me, if you choose. but will
never give up Charley"
'D-n Charley?' growled the brute.
with increased terocity, and with rufhan
hand he tore open the dress of Nellie, so
as to expose her white, naked shoulders,
to his merciless inflictions.
This act Of proclamation was speedily fol-
lowed by an exhibition of the most unmiti-
gated barbarity for Rathburn, raising his
rattan, brought it down with frightful eff
feet upon the fair shoulders of Nellie and
hideous red streak was left on the white.
plump and polished flesh.
The prosecuted girl gave utterance to a
piercing scream.
That sound was heard in the school
room, and caused all the pupils to shudder.
1t also reached the ears Of people living
in the immediate vicinity. Some of them
shook their heads and remarked,
"Rathburn is logging some of his schol-
ars again; he is a good man, but altogeth-
er too harsh"
Charley Lewis, who happened to be pass
ing near, heard that agonized scream, and
thought to himself
"That old codger is exercising his brutal
ity Oh some unfortunate girl; I should like
to punch his head My Nellie is one OF
his scholars but he wouldn't dare touchher,
ALL if Charley had only known that it
was his beloved one who, at that very mo-
ment, was writhing in the ruffianly grasp
of that Internal miscreant
But the youth passed on, in ignorance of
the fate of his Nellie.
Down upon her lovely shoulders came a
shower Of blows. With one hand the mas
ter grasped her long and luxuriant hair ;
with the other he brandished that cruel,
cutting rattan, every stroke Of which left
behind it dark, purple stripe in proof Of
its savage efficiency. Soon the blood be-
gan to trckle slowly from the wounds, and
Nellie tainted. Then, and not till then,
did the brute desist from his horrible task
Calling in one of his female assistants, he
directed her to restore the insensble girl to
consciousness. This was accomplished
with difficulty. When the school was dis
missed that afternoon the suffering girl tot
tered home, quite weak and sick, and was
obliged to betake herself instantly to bed
She felt herself degraded by that unmerit-
ed castigation she was ashamed to look
her parents in the face and, in answer to
their inquiries as to what allied her, she
gave vague, unsatisfactory replies. She
had all the pride of q woman in her heart,
and could not bring herself to confess how
she had been humiliated and abused. Care
fully, therefore, did she conceal her lacer-
ated shoulders from the gaze of her anxious
mother. That good lady finally attributed
the girls illness to some trihing cause, and
ceased to entertain any serious apprehen-
sions in regard to the matter. Little did
she suspect that the esteemed Brother
Rathburn" was the cause of her daughters 5
misery.
Charley Lewis, failing to meet Nellie
that evening at the usual trysting place,
ventured to call at her place Of abode
Here he was informed of her illness; and
the young man, quite ignorant of the cause
Of it, went away much disappointed and
deeply concerned.
The next day, Nellie was Of course alb
sent from school; and then did Mr.. Rath-
burn begin to fear that he had gone too far
in gratifying his personal malignity under
the cloak of maintaining school discipline
As he thought Of the fiery and impetuous
Charley Lewis, a thrill of terror shot
through him.
81 like not the looks of that young fell
low," thought he-''whenever / chance to
meet him, he gives me glare of ferocity
that fairly makes my blood curdlc. He
instinctively hates me, am sure, already ;
and, should he be informed of what have
done to Nellie-my God! hope she will
not tell him! ought to have thought of
this before, and not allowed my passion to
get the better Of my prudence"
During the whole of that day, the tyrant
experienced all the agonies of uncertainty
and fear. His punishment had commenced.
In the evening, feeling somewhat better,
Nellie stole out of the house and met her
lover, to his intense joy. But she looked
pale and wretched. Tie youth tenderly
inquired the cause of her evident prostra-
ton; whereupon she passionately said while
fire sparkled in her eyes and honest indigna-
ton suffused her beautiful countenance with
a sudden glow
Charley, have been grossly, shame