Year: 1860

not knowing what might follow, | loaded
my musket, as | thought it better to be
able to defend myself if that should be
necessiatcd.


| waited anxiously long time, but
heard no sound Of her return, nor any
sound save the first dull clicks of an old
clock and the splashing of the rain out.
side. AT length was seized with tho
desire to inspect the premises, and after a
slight hesitation | vcntured into the other
end. 1t was the most drcary position in
which l had ever found myself, the SOL
ON stiffness imparting feeling as much
akin to terror as the greatest fear Of my
real danger could ever instil within mo
but my survey was almost imediatcly in
terrupted by a rustling movement in tho
direction where the dead man lay.


started at this, and moved my piece
in better position, and l think l raised
it mechanically to my shoulder, when l
saw the sheets moving on the lifelcss body,
as had thought it. My hair which was
generally so short as to be always on end
can not exactly be said to have stood
erect at this but l perspired at every
pore, and / felt some what unnervcd, al
though | am no slave to superstitious
fears. At this stage n voice from tho
sheets addressed me in a low tone, saying,
slowly and distinctly, q Sodger, sodger,
sure an yc won't shoot me !"


This partly convinced me that he was
still an animated being but was not by
any means at ease, and could only respond
by a searching yet tremulous stare.


"Sowl! an I'm living as yc are" he
said turning round but if yell plaise
to take the pins out of them binders and
cut the cord round my toes afore that wo-
man returns, I'll tell ye the howl about it.
an drink my own health with you in the
bargain"


There was uow no reason for being con-
cerned so much, although my curiosiy ran
ON ahead while conjecture followed hard
to ovcrtake it. Icomplied with his wish,
and he civilly asked me to remove to the
other end, after had covcrd him up near.
ly as he was before, and handed him a
"sprg' as he termed ponderous taft that
looked decidedly dangerous, even when
standing quietly in the corner. was
somewhat excited when l returned and
sat down again within. In an hour or so
silence was broken by the grating Of tho
lock, and my hostess entered, accompan-
led by as rutianly looking character as
[ had ever beheld. She pointed to the
door | was looking through, and muttered
something to her companion, who growlcd
a response, and brandishcd stick he had
brought with him. Both then listened
for what seemed long time, but was
soon convinced that was not the object
of much care on their part.


They sat down, and began to drink
from bottle the woman had taken
from recess, By-and-by the newcomer
put his arm around her neck and began to
whisper words | could not hear; but
their proceedings were speedily interrupt
ed by the man in the sheets springing to
his feet with sundry exccrations, and dea-
ling most unmerciful blows with the
"sprig" upon the head of each. At the
first sign of life in the prostrato figure tho
woman began to shrek, but this soon cea-
sed as she and her companion were knock
ed down.


felt it was not my business to interfere
80 | looked on in silence. The next pro-
cecdinC of our hero was to open the door,
and throw them both outside with the
greatest unconcern. After thi, he CAREFUL
ly locked the door, came forward where L
was, and asked me to sit with him by tho
fire which had now kindled up.


gladly complied and he related tho
reason that had led to the scene L had
Just witnessed, The woman, it appeared,
was his wife, and he had found occasion
to suspect that she intended to rob him
and run off with the stranger. lie like
wise discovered that she had poison in her
possession, which he managed to replace by
harmless ingredient, and he subsequent
ly had the qualification to see mixed up
for himself, This led him to feign death.
with a view to ascertain her exact inten-
tionS, but he evinccd surprise that she had
been deceived so thoroughly. Her ankle.
ty to get rid of him, however, had aided
the deception, and she had not investiga-
ted very closely whether her drughad done
its work Thoroughly.


He very rcservedly stated his future
purpose j; turned over some old gear in tho
corner, and produce a sum Of money with
which he meant to pay his passage to Am
erica and leave for that country at break
of day. We sat talking all night, and
grew so friendly that he offered to share
his funds with me, which |, ofcourse, de-
clincd,


In the morning he looked out in front
of the house, but the two outcasts were no
where to be seen. With hatchet he
smashed in the face of the old clock, which
terminated its asthmetic ticking, and threw
it on the FIRE; and every other thing in
the house, that appeared worth destroying,
he broke. Tying up some of his own ap-
parel in "A napkin, he muttered curse on
the wrctched dwelling, locked the door,
and thew the key on the dunghill with a
,bad luck to it )" and after that he show
ed no farther concern about what had oc-
Cured.


At the station | allowed him to pay
part of my fare, which grati6cd him cx-
cceiingly and when | left him, he was
50 sorry to part that | believe word
would have taken him into the ranks with