The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-12-09

mount the stone steps, that have seen
SO much of time, yet remain unchang-
ed by age Slowly some one of them
fumbles for bell or knocker, but be-
fore he is successful in bringing the
whole household to confirm the dis
grace of Archie's being thus brught
home in Intoxicating helplessness, 1
cautiously open the door, and the
light, falling from the passage lamp,
answers the question, which hovers
upon my lips, yet never finds utter
ance.
There standing before me, like evil
demons, uprisen from some tomb,
| were three ghastly-looking men, bear
ing between them Archies form, min
gled, and bleeding, and with no sign
of life.
Gazing upon it, deprived of all its
beauty, the disfgured face with its
glazed eyes, glares at ne rs if it was
some fearful thing unknown to earth.
Prompted by powerful will L lead
the way to the sitting-room, while the
men, bearing their heavy burden toll
low, smearing the floor at every step
with mud, and drop Of blood, trickling
down from the wounded head, and
body, they bear along.
When at length, they have deposit
ed him in all his CORY state, upon our
crimson lounge, whose color seem to
fade, as it comes in contact with the
bloody pools, that ooze out of his
bleeding head upon it, my speech re
turns, and advancing to the one,
whose face has more of humanity lin
gering in it, Task chow did it happen?"
And he, with a ring of compassion,
distinguishable in his voice replied,
che pointing to the PROSTATE figure,
and that man Delacourt met at our
place, had high words, Delacourt ac-
cusing him Of stealing FROM him. At
this he 'never calling his name, but
always indicating the occupant of the
said much, I needn't tell you, then
they both kept up such wrangling we
tried to stop 'em, but it ended in their
finally clutching each other, cutting,
and beating, until this one fell, with
life all gone"
The man whose place had no
doubt witnessed other deeds, no doubt
as fearful as this, ended his narrative,
in his low tone, and followed by his as
sociates filed out of the room, into the
hall, thence out upon the muddy,
splashing gravel back to their den,
where to-night's work will be recount
ed in all its hideousness, until another
nine days wonder usurps its impro-
lance.
Did / realize the startling reality
of this awful termination to Arches
life, or did I feel was but the partic-
ipant in some frightful dream, or fur
Their still, in choosing the lots, was I
not better satisfied that Archie had
drawn the murdered, rather than the
murderer.
Could 1 have been mortal that
night, and preserved such wonderful
mastery over my pent-up feelings
Must 1 not have been either dazed, or
some superhuman power directed my
actions
I cannot exactly remember now, for
it was dream, from which 1 am just
awaking, how 1 pulled my limbs, be-
numbed with terror as they must
have been, up the two flights of stairs
to Jamie's room, and tapping gently
wondering at the power sleep has ex
ercised over them all, in keeping them
thus oblivious of the scene enacted be
low, bring him, startled to the door,
where seeing my ashy face, by the
light of his dying fire, he family ejac
ulated Jessie
But my wall of Archie, relieved hi
parental anxiety, and dragging OF
some apparel, while we glided togeth
er down the stairway, he soon behele
with horror stricken expression, tn,
all that remained to US, Of our ono
handsome, clever, though misle(
brother.
While thus we stood, bending owe
the mutilated, care-wOrn features o
2 this once beautiful image of an limo
cent, prattling babe, bending in terri
BILE anguish, for the life thus rudel,
| cut short, in what might have been
the midst of useful career, but whlcl
t alas was but the harvest time of tn
| bitter, deadly fruit of dissipation
: whose seed he had sown in earle
d years.
In still more fearful anguish q
!, the thought Of the morrow, when tn
d poor sorrowing father, dropping owe
!, his tavorite, should wall in David
9 language, go, Absolem, my son, m
0 son !" another stood in mute, and av
full establishment beside US. Leonar
6 sharing Jamie's room, had heard m
u whispered insinuation Of somethin
: concerning Archie, had likewise d.
Il scended to ascertain the truth, an
beheld, how death thus soon had a
1 solved him from his promise, registe