Edgar Huntley

than at first. My impatience would not allow me to wait till her death. I visited her, but was once more obliged to

ide, and such, in his opinion, was the importance of the tidings which he h

ed to suffer some severe constriction. He desired to be excused, for a few minutes, from proceeding. In a short time he was relie

. His countenance exhibited various tokens of alarm. As soon as I

occasioned it. I have waited, for two days past, in an agony of impatience, for your ret

lude. You may, of course, rely upon my assistance

d happened, at that moment, to be fully illuminated by the rays of a globe-lamp that hung over the door. I instantly recognised his features. I was petrified. I had no power to execute my design, or even to move, but stood, for some seconds, gazing upon him. He was, in no degree, disconcerted by the eagerness of my scrutiny. He s

any ground f

n suspect who t

N

Arthur

impossible. What!

e s

? That he perished in a mutiny on board the ves

. I should as easily fail to recognise his sister, when I first met her, as him. Th

ce happened to confirm

iples of such a man, but his appearance sufficiently betrayed the incurableness of his habits. The same sullen and atrocious passions were written in his visage. You recollect the vengeance which Wiatte denounced against his

urned. I charged him to have a watchful eye upon every one that knocked at the gate, and that, if this person should come, by no means to admit him. The old ma

inform my l

m, he said, in a moment. He demanded to see the lady, but the old man told him she was engaged, and could not be seen. He assumed peremptory and haughty airs, and asserted that his business was of such importance as not to endure a moment's delay. Gowa

e this, no legal provision had been made. Nine years had elapsed since his transportation. Seven years was the period of his exile. In returning, therefore, he had committed no crime. His person could not be lawfully molested. We were justified merely in repelling an attack. But suppose we should ap

e judgment formed of the kind of danger to be dreaded from him, by a know

a person be stationed near at hand, who, being furnished with an adequate description of his person and dress, shall mark him when he

No better could, for the present, be

d be hard for those to partake of our fears who did not partake of our experience. The existence of Wiatte was the canker that had blasted the felicity of my patroness. In his rea

man sagacity could not uncover. My heart sunk within me when I reflected that this was the father of my Clarice. He by whose cruelty her mother was torn from the enjoyment of untarnished honour, and consigned to infamy and an untimely grave. He by whom herself was abandoned in the

ng, across the floor of my apartment. My mind was wrought to a higher pitch than I had ever before experienced. The occasion,

unquenchable thirst, he was not incessantly stimulated to employ his superfluous fertility of thought in motion. If I trembled for the safety of her whom I loved, and whose safety was endangered by being the daughter of

fall. You are startled at this declaration. It is one to which you have been little accustomed. Perhaps you regard it merely as an effusion of frenzy. I know what I am saying. I do not build upon conjectures and surmises. I care

ot even lie down. It seemed to me that I could not obtain the benefits of

e day passed as usual with respect to the lady. In the evening she was surrounded by a few friends. Into this number I was now admitted. Sarsefield and myself made a part of this company. V

t out together. We took that opportunity of examining our agent, and, receiving no satisfaction from him, we dismissed him for that night, enjoining him to hold himse

been recovered. It was lodged here for the purpose of being paid on demand of her or her agents. It was my present business to receive this mon

s. It was a theme to which, at every interval of leisure from business or discourse, I did not fail to return. At those times I employed myself in examining the subject on all sides; in suppo

peculiarly distressful. The return of darkness had added nothing to my apprehensions. I regarded Wiatte merely as one against whose malice it was wise to employ the most vigilant precautions. In revolving these prec

ong the large streets, or considerably to shorten the journey by turning into a dark, crooked, and narrow lane. Being familiar with every part of this metropolis, and deeming it advisable to take the shortest and obscurest road, I turned into the alley. I proceeded without interruption to

owed. This, however, produced no other effect than, for a short

impression. The assassin, perceiving that his pistol had been ineffectual, muttered, in an enra

o abrupt that my thoughts could not be suddenly recalled from the confusion into which they were thrown. My exertions were mechanical. My will mig

ave slowly given place to resolution and activity. As it was, my sense was no sooner struck by the reflection

ll than my adversary. The noise of this encounter soon attracted spectators. Lights were brought, and my antagonist discovered bleeding at my feet. I expl

e, who lived at a small distance, and to whom I was well known. The man was carried into an inner apartment and laid upon the floor. It was not till now that I had a suitable opportunity of ascertaining

interval, he was insensible to all around him. I was known to the surgeon, the landlord, and some of the witnesses. The case needed little explanation. The accid