The San Antonio Ledger. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 16, 1851 Page: 1 of 4
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SAN ANTONIO, T#A^S;: THIIRSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1851.
1 ii
INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE
THE SAN ANTONIO LEDGER.
PUBLISHED ON THURSDAYS BY
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• rcírtí frí< TTú^ü. \jui uuu. r
BELLA WARDEN:
OR,
JUDGE NOT FROM APPEARANCES
A DOMESTIC TAL.E.
BV DK. J. II. ROB1NSOJÍ.
In a flourishing town situated on
the banks of Connecticut river, there
once lived a country practitioner," by
the name of Warden, Dr. Warden was
what we commonly term 'one of the
lucky ones/so far as this worlds goods
were concerned.
Being one of the early settlers, he
had found little difficulty in acquiring
a fair practice, which grew more ex-
tensive as the population increased.
The doctor and his good lady, as
their worldly affairs prospered, and
they found their earthly substance in-
creasing, suffered themselves to be-
come somewhat elevated in their
views of life, and imbibed certain aris-
tocratic notions not at all pleasing to
their neighbors. Dr. Warden grew
very "particular," and Mrs. Warden
became at once very "select."
Extensive alterations and additions,
were made in their house from year to
year, in order to keep, pace with the
rapidly enlarging views of the War-
dens.
Many of the doctor's friends were
displeased when they perceived "how
things were going," and said, with
mysterious shakes of the head, that
"the doctor was growing rather toploft-
ical in his ideas."
—Ob^tojggard io the meaning of this ex
pression' wc>*eave the reader to draw
his ovyi infeignces. ít is certain that
"\Y ell, we wont stop to disagree up-
on that point. Now tell mé what you
think of Mr. Wagstaff?" '
"I think he is a natural bom gentle-
man ! Did you notice.what remarka-
bly smál 1 feet and hands he has?"
"No, I didmofj ( must confess."
"O, Isabella Warden! what a stupid
creature ! Why, Í noticed his hands
and feet the first thing."
"You looked at his face too, I sun?
posé?" •
"OF course I did. There's nothing
plcbtan and low about him, I assur.e
you; mark my words, and see if it
don't ptóve so.*. ' .
"I'll remember.?' - •
^ftella?" . ^ .
"I did'nt notice. Was there any-
thing peculiar about it?"
"Why, Isabella! you force me to
conre to the painful conclusion that
you don't know much. In fact,
there is something plebeian about
you."
"Well, we wont disagree about
that," replied Isabella; with a merry
laugh. "So tell me how Mr. Wag-
staff said fine."
"He said it delightfully! and there
was something so fashionable and
well-bred a')out it! 1 can't imitate it
for the life of me; but it was something
like this—foine die, doctqhV"
"That meant fine day, doctor, I sup-
pose?"
"Certainly, stupid! what else could
it mean? If you had any natural, in-
herent aristocracy about you, you
would'nt ask such silly questions
—vou.d understand by instinct."
"I think it requires instinct to under-
stand such a foppish affected young
fellow; that's my opiuion, sister.' •
"I know why you made that remark;
it was on purpose to wound my feel-
ings, just because I feel an interest in
Mr. Wagstaff."
"Pardon rne, Rose; nothing was far-
ther from my intention."
"Did you hear how wisely he talk-
ed about medicine, in all its various
branches?"
"I heard hirn say "that Holmes was
a foine lecturah," and "that young
Warren was deduced clevah with his,
what do ye call it—scalpal.'"
"Why, sister, that- sounds exactly
as it did when he said it. I must
isor-r
will one day cause you.i>*> litt
row," said Isabella, seriously.
The face and neck of Rosafc^ red-
dened with an ver.
"Bella, you're a foolish, peddling
There is
no knowing
striveing to
tent of their filmes. rAhey
^^jiJjJimate terms with their less
fftífunatel neighbors, and the doctor
said more than once that "he did not
•:are whether poor folks employed him
or not; he had as much as Ac could at-
tend to among the best families, and
did'nt wish to be running at the beck
and call of those who had'nt cash
enough to pay th^ir taxes, let alone
their doctor's bill!"
Mrs. Warden was more free to ex-
press such sentiments than her hus-
band, which created nota little sur-
prise and vexation among the "com-
mon people," as she thought proper to
call them; it was to this class the
Wardens owed their success,
The doctor had ,two daughters, who
at the date of which we are writing,
had attained to woman's estate. Ro-
sabel was eighteen, and Isabella
somewhere between sixteen" and sev-
enteen. The oldest, very naturally
and eagerly imbibed the notions of her
mother, and entertained a sovereign
contempt for everything "plebeian and
low." We quote this last expression,
because it was a favorite remark of
hers, and was usually brought into use
whenever she freely expressed her sen-
timents on the subject of "the different
classes of society."
Rosabel possessed a good figure and
an attractive face; but her manners
were haughty and supercilious, and
thus the charm of beauty was de-
stroyed.
Not thus with Isabella; she enjoyed
all the personal advantages of her sis-
ter, allied to a sweet and obliging dis-
notbne *particl¿a£ fool-
ish pride.
"What do you think of the new stu-
dent father has taken?" asked Rosabel,
one day.
"As I am the younger sister I pre-
fer that you should express your opin-
ion first," replied Isabella.
"O, you are always so afraid of
committing yourself! It's of no kind
of use to ask you about anything ! 're-
torted Rosabel, pettishly.
"Indeed I have hardly had time to
orm an opinion of Mr. W agstaff. 1
ave seen him but a few times, y o v.
know."
"That makes no kind of difference.
I always form an opinion of people at
first sight. I can invariably tell by
the countenance what kind of stujf
a person is made of. If there is any-
thing plebeian and low about them, /
always know it"
"I think it wrong to judge by faces
alone. It seems to me impossible to
read a person's character by a casual
glance at his features."
"That's because you haven't got
any shrewdness. Mother says I am
very sharp about .such matters; and
that you haven't half my natural
acntcness; that accounts" for it."
f°
ha
should learn to ape such ridiculous af-
fectation! Why, all the domestics are
laughing at him!"
"It's my opinion, Bella, that nobody
laughs at him but that conceited awk-
ward clown that father has hired to
work on the farm."
"I am surprised that you should call
Mr. Spilte awkward, clownish, or con-
ceited. I can discover nothing of the
kind about him. I believe him to be a
very sensible young man,' said Isabel-
la, mildly.
"If you was not my own sister, I
should actually be ashamed of you.
I should'nt at all wonder, if, one of
these days, you should marry some
low farmer !"
"I consider farmers a very respect-
able and useful class of men. We
could not live without them. Grand-
father was a farmer, you know."
"Hush, for heaven's sake ! I see
Mr. Wagstaff coming."
"I have not the least objection to
his knowing that grandfather was a
fanner," said Isabella.
"I would'nt have him know it for
the world, Isabella Warden!—not for
the world! It would disgrace us in his
opinion forever. I must confess that
you are the strangest person I ever
.«aw. You require some one to watch
you all the time. You have no more
pride than that puppy in the corner—
nor half so much. I can't endure it; I
live in continual fear. And then you
have such a shocking, not to say hor-
rible, taste about gentility! No long-
er ago than yesterday, I saw you talk-
in j familiarly wit* that farmer fellow
with the detesta1 name."
"It is an odd i<ame," replied Isabel-
la, smiling good hum*>redly.
"Odd! it's perfectly awful! No
person ought to be admitted into de-
cent society with such a name. Just
think of it—Hezekiah Spike! It's full
enough to throw a well-bred lady into
convulsion fits. I wonder father
would employ a man with such a
name. For my part, I thint there is a
great deal in a name, and I do hope I
shall never see you conversing with
Hezekiah Spike again."
These words were pronounced with
much energy, and not a small show of
authority.
"Perhaps you are not aware that
Mr. Spike has admired you at an hum-
ble distance."
"I have no desire to be aware of
such a fact," returned Rosabel, with
much d ignity. When I want a man
like Hezekiah Spike to admire me, I'll
let him know it! Mr. Spike's place in
life is more particularly in the kitch-
en. The kitchen and the parlor, accor-
ding to my notion, are not very near-
ly allied."
"Sister, you have many ideas which
I solemnly believe are erroneous, and |
\$at harsh
word might not have con* next, had
not the door opened, unexpectedly re-
vealing the face and figi^e of Hezeki-
ah Spike.himself. /
• We will "here rem/ftf that the
young ladies were s^ted in the sit-
ting room, and not in/he paríor. Mr.
Spike entered, and, bowing low to
them, seated himsilf, without the
lea§t possible embarrassment.
him ^by a
smile, and ^n inclination of the head;
but Rosabel did not honor him with a
single glance, or other sign of recogni-
tion.
Mr. Spike took a book, and car-
lessly turned over the leaves, remark-
ing as he did so:
"A fine morning, ladies."
"Very pleasant," replied Isabella,
quietly.
"What assurance!" exclaimed Rosa-
bel, in bad French; for among her
other attempts to be fashionable, she
had essayed to learn the French lan-
guage, and melancholy work she had
made of it.
"I see no harm in it," replied her
sister, in the same language; I do not
think he should be excluded from all
the privileges of society, simply be-
cause he works on a farm. He
seems to be well taught, and has the
quiet, unassuming air of a gentle-
man."
"Unassuming, Bella! I think him
quite the reverse. Would he thrust
himself upon the society of those above
him in station, if he were unassum-
ing? He would not—much less pre-
sume to address them."
During this time, the person who
answered to the odd name of Spike
sat quietly gazing at the pages before
him, apparently unconcious that he
was the subject of remark.
"You must confess that he is not
bad looking," returned Isabella, after a
pause.
"I have, to tell you the truth, sister,
seldom seen a worse looking man
than this same farmer of yours; aod
how you can discover any beauty
about him is a mystery I cannot ac-
couut for. Placó Mr. Wágstaíf beside
him, and mark the difference. Hear
them speak also, and see the con-
trast between vulgarity and refine-
ment."
"There is a marked difference be-
tween the two persons, but it does
seem to me that it is all in favor of
the individual now with us," replied
Bella.
"My French is exhausted," said Ro-
sabel, "and the subject must drop for
this time."
"And I believe we have made
shocking bad work with our French,
Rose. I'm heartily glad there is no
person present who knows the lan-
guage, for I'm sure we should be
laughed at."
" You may make "bad work" with
it, but / always had the credit of pro-
nouncing French beautiful, and it is
painfully evident to me, Bella, that
you are shockingly envious; though
it grieves me to say so, having, as I
do, the misfortune to be your sister."
Time rooled on. Bella daily saw
more to admire in Mr. Spike, and
more to excite her contempt for the
new student, Mr. Wagstaff. It was
very strange, to be sure, that the two
former often met. These meetings
frequently took place in the garden,
sometimes during her solitary walks
in the fields, and were, apparently,
purely accidental. At first a few com-
mon-place words were said; then
short conversations followed, which
finally were portracted a length which
neither appeared to be aware of. She
was surprised beyond measure at the
knowledge displayed (without any at-
tempt to do so) by the man who was
not ashamed to work on a farm.
She found him able to converse with
fluency on any subject that happened
to be the theme of remark and not only
to converse, but to explain and instruct,
and open to her view afield of acquire-
ments wholy unlooked for. And what
pleased Bella still more, she discovered
in him no pedantry or affectation.
"What a pity,'? she would say to her-
self, after an interview with him, "what
a pity that he has such an unfortun-
ate name! He is fitted by nature for
almost any station in life; but with
that shocking name clinging to him, I
fear tye will never be able to rise
above his present position."
But Rosabel saw through another
medium, and perceived nothing to ad-
mire or respect in the character of her
father's "hired man." Oa the contra-
ry, she affected to see much that was
"plebian and low" in all his words
and actions.
Meantime, Mr. Wagstaff was rapidly
growing in her favor. She talked,
walked, and sang with him; but the
singing not being of the best quality,
we shall say nothing about if for 'Con-
science sake."
It was noticed from the first that
no
Mr. Spike with
the opinion of
a gulf between
possible means
Bella lost a port^
vacity. ismíteí
Sir. Wagstaff
supreme contera^
the former, theie
them that could
be overstepped.
The student gúw tender toward
the elder Miss garden; and the
young farmer greW more respectful,
and attentive to tjie younger. The
first, during his wimbles with his fair
one, talked about "foine prawspects
and deloightfúl scenerah;" while the
latter, in his accidental meetings with
Bella, grew more taciturn and thought-
ful- I
>n of her native vi-
_ , frequently, and
sighed"ofteher.' K~ greatTaind power-
ful struggle was going on within her.
She began to learn something of the
true state of her feelings towards the
agreeable farmer. That she loved
him, she could no longer conceal from
herself. This important discovery
caused her to shed many tears in se-
cret, and lent an air of pensive melan-
chol)'- to her unusually cheerful coun-
tenance.
She was well aware that such a
state of things would produce most
disagreeable results in .her father's
family, and that they would not wil-
lingly consent to an intimacy be-
tween her and the objectof her regard.
And if it were not so, how could she
ever consent to be called Mrs. Spike,
providing that that gentleman should
deshe such a change. The idea, des-
pite all her native goodness of heart,
made her shudder. The thought of
the ridicule resulting from such a
connection she could not well endure.
At this juncture, the following con-
versation occurred between the par-
ties alluded to:
Bella was walking in the garden,
while the victim of the unfortunate
name was busily engaged, with a
small garden hoe, in cutting up sun-
dry weeds that grew in the walks.
As Bella approached, he threw down
the implement, and advanced to meet
her. She met him with a blush.
"Good morning, Miss Warden; you
see I am always busy," he said, with
more embarrassment of manner than
usual.
"And always useful, you might
have added." said Bella, quickly;
"and now, while I think of it, allow
me to ask why you did not choosq
some profession, inst^d~0T"1!kkin*g to
the earth, like a grovelling insect."
For a momcn t a faint smile was
perceptible upon the features of Mr.
Spike.
"Professionable men are not much
needed as a class at the present day,"
he answered. "The three grand pro-
fessions are already full, and even
crowded."
"But it seems to me that Law, Med-
icine or Divinity might have afforded
you a place."
"Law I always detested, Divinity
is overdone, and as for Medicine, Mr.
Wagstaff will finish that, and jostle
the whole profession, no doubt, with
the elbows of his superior attain-
ments."
"Malice, nothing but malice!" retor
ted Bella, wiih a smile. "He'll make
a foine practitionah /"
"Unquestionably! if one may judge
by his Latin."
" What is the matter with his Lat-
in, Mr.—!"
Bella hesitated; she hated to say
Spike.
"it goes upon all fours," replied the
latter, laughing. "Villanous Latin is
that of Dr. Wagstaff. But let me
change the theme, and speak of a sub-
ject nearer my heart. Do not deem
me presumptuous, Miss Warden, be-
cause /address you thus boldly; love
knows no distinction of rank or condi-
tion; it is blind to all. Do not leave
me until you have heard me, and, I
entreat you, be not hasty in your judge-
ment. You already anticipate what I
am about to declare. I love you; as
you value the happinesss of a human
being, be not angry at my boldness.
Listen; it was not you who first attract-
ed my attention; it was the beauty of
your sister that dazzled me But / dis-
covered she had no heart—no true
woman's soul within her. The tem-
ple was fair, but no grateful incense
arose from the altar within, /turned
with pain and sorrow from the discov-
ery. To whom did / turn? to her sis-
ter, who possessed all her personal
beauty, allied to a soul kind and gen-
erous. /t was then / began to love
you, and as / had ample opportunity
of studying you, that love was height-
ened, and rendered strong and undy-
ing in its nature. To be near you, /
have toiled here upon these lands, and
been what you have seen. I know
that my station is obscure and humble
but it is not always station that con-
fers happiness and contentment. Y es,
/ am but a poor farmer's boy, un-
known to the world and to fame. /
labor with my hands to earn bread to
eat, clothes to wear. Am / less re
spectable for that, or am / degraded
by using the hands which God has
given me for the purpose for which he
gave them to me? O no! you cannot
say so; you would wrong your own
judgement by giving utterance to
such a sentiment. Labor is ever hon-
orable. You should see, not a per-
son's occupation, but the soul that
nerves the hand, and guides the eye;
it is that which is the man in reality.
It does not inevitably follow that an
individual is humble in his aspirations
and hopes, because he pursues an
humble calling. But why do / speak
of this; your own heart knows it. /
have availed myself of this opportun-
ity to reveal my love, /ask you not
to decide to-day or to-morrow; but to
weigh well the subject before reject-
ing a true and devoted heart."
While the "farmer's boy" was speak-
ing, the breast of Miss Warden was
the seat of many conflicting emotions.
To say that she was not happy in be-
ing beloved by such a person, would
be to assert what was not true; for her
heart bounded with an inward joy at
the declaration For a moment her
pride was forgotten; but before he had
ceased, she thought of his unfortunate
name, and covered her face with her
hands.
How could she become Mrs. Hezeki-
ah Spike, even if her parents would
consent to such a union. How shock-
ingly it would look on a card! She
knew it was but a foolish prejudice;
but it was a prejudite that was natu-
ral, and for which there could be fram-
ed some excuse, notwithstanding
Sfcakspeare's famous saying about
a rose smelling as sweet by any other
uame.
While thoughts like these were pas-
sing rapidly through her mind, she
timidly raised her eyes, and they rest-
ed upon the handsome, intelligent
face of the man who loved her; she in-
stantly averted her gaze, and replied in
a voice choked by emo tion:
"This declaration surprises me. I
know not what to say—/—I—am agi-
tated. You are bold."
" Yes, I know I ain bold; but it is
the boldness which men feel when they
have made up their minds to an act
which decides the destiny of their lives.
If I have failed to make a favorable
impression upon your heart, failed to
excite even your pity, then am /indeed
unfortunate, and it will only remain
for me to bid you farewell, and look
upon your face no more."
" Desist, sir, / beg of you. This is
painful to me," replied Miss Warden,
her agitation increasing.
"Then 1 hate failed to' awaken aify
kindred emotions in your bosom. But
/ thank you truly for all the little kind-
nesses / have received from you since
/have been near you. Your gentle-
ness and goodness shall long be re-
membered." returned our hero, sorrow-
fully.
" Let me reflect—let me collect my
senses; nay ! do not detain me, for we
shall meet again ; but do not hope—do
not—/know not what I would say."
With a crimson blush, and a heav-
ing breast, Miss Warden bounded away
just in time to avoid a meeting with
Mr. Wagstaff and Rose, both of whom
were approaching at that moment.
" She loves me," said our hero, with
a glad smile, as he returned to his la-
bors. "Her confusion and blushes have
told me all more eloquently than
words. Now for the grand struggle
between love and pride. She will not
readily consent to become Mrs. Spike,
for /perceive that the name fills her
with dread. Well, time will bring
about all things; and if / marry, I
will wed the woman who esteems me
for myself alone. She who is only
dazzled by wealth, rank, or condition,
can never fulfil the sacred duties of a
true and faithful wife. Ah! here comes
Dr. Wagstaff—that is to be. His ex-
pression is ominous indeed; what can
be the nature of his errand?"
Dr. Wagstaff had left the side of
Rose and was approaching.
" Look-ah here, you Spike !
from the elder Miss Warden.
sires that you will nevah again pre-
sume to address her sister on any oc-
casion whatever. Do you hear, fellah?"
said Wagstaff, with an air of supreme
condescension.
The face and brows of our hero grew
red and hot.
" Stand aside; I may injure you!"
he replied with an effort to be calm.
" You are an ill-bred fellah; return-
ed Wagstaff.
" Stand aside!"
"You're a puppy !" -
" Stand aside!"
" I am tempted to punish your inso-
lence as it deserves."
" Stand aside!"
" I shall be obliged to send for my
cane ; foine times !"
Human nature could endure no
more ; our hero sprang upon his^ tor-
mentor with the strong bound of a tiger
about to rend his prey. Seizing him
by the throat with a grasp that para-
lyzed all his efforts, he choked him
until his face grew purple.
At that crisis, his eye happened to
rest upon a stout limb which he had
that morning cut from an apple-tree.
Availing himself of this offensive wea-
pon, he proceeded to inflict summary
punishment upon the mortal frame of
Alexander Wagstaff. The blows rein-
ed fast and heavy, and the victim
mingled his frightened chorus with the
I come
She de-
sounds thereof. The domestics heard
the outcry, and hastened to witness the
somewhat novel spectacle.
As for Rose, she was dumb with
amazement; and not until our hero
had finished his flagellations, and laid
Mr. Wagstaff not very carefully into
the basin where the fountain was play-
ing, did she utter a single cry; then,
and not till then, she shiieked and
fainted.
At this stage of affairs Isabella ap-
ÍTe
er sister, saying in a low and tremul-
ous voice as she passed our hero:
" O, sir, what have you done!"
%j^Gsr=r*i-sed - &n insolent puppy,5'
replied; "and'yet, I may have" been
too "hasty."
Rose was borne into the house by
the domestics, while Alexander Wag-
staff, after some splashing in the water,
freed himself from his embarrassing
position, and made himself invisible
as soon as possible.
It would be impossible to convey an
adequate idea of the sensations pro-
duced by this incident in the Warden
family. It was agreed by all parties,
save Bella and the domestics, that
"Hezekiah," was a monster of wicked-
ness.* None was stronger in this "belief
than the student and Rose, and they
solemnly averred " that they really
supposed there Was no crime which
their hired man would not commit up-
on the slightest provocation."
But our hero was not discharged as
he expected. The doctor had engaged
him for a given time, and a month of
that period yet remained; and he was,
to tell the truth, loth to part with such
a steady and indnstrious young man.
Besides, his good lady thought it would
not be policy to offend such a danger-
ous and vindictive person; "for who
knew but he might come and set the
barn on fire,- and burn them all up
alive! It was very evident to her jhat
that, would be the very first thing he
would dp." So Mr. Spike was still re-
tained in the service of the doctor,
which state of things was to continue
until the- stipulated time had elapsed.
It was now that the sufferings of
Bella commenced in good earnest. Her
familiar bearing toward Mr. Spike, was
made the subject of the severest ani-
madversions.
" Well, Mrs. Spike, what do you
think of y^u^ifinsible young man'
>iofl? 7 ',saiu' i!ose, the same-da" on
which the incident we have Íelateuí
occured.
" My opinior Ur,r" ^ot-changed, Rose.
I still think him a person of uncommon
talent.'
" I suppose you will say that he is
well educated, next—a gentleman in
disguise, perhaps." -
" Well educated he certainly is."
" I really believe you love him, Bella.
If I was sure that you did, I would
disown you as a sister."
Bella answered only by her tears.
" Crying, as I live !" O, Bella, you'll
disgrace us all! I am truly ashamed
of you ; and if I was father, I would
keep you on bread and water one
month, if not two! I would, I solemnly
declare. 0, that I should live to see
you love such a man as that terrible
creature. I know you love him ; you
needn't deny it, for those tears tell the
humiliating tale in language too plain
to be misunderstood. I'll see my fath-
er, and a stop shall be put to this, I as-
sure you, Miss!"
But we will not dwell upon this
theme. The result was, that Isabella
was rendered completely wretched by
the ceaseless persecution of the other
members of the family. Her only so-
lace was in tears, and those flowed
abundantly, unseen by all eyes save
His who keeps a record of human sor-
rows.
It was at this date that a stranger
and startling discovery was made. A
dead body in an advanced state of de-
composition, was found in a brook near
Dr. Warden's residence. In clearing
the brook of rubbish, it had been dis-
covered covered with leaves and brush-
wood. The excitement consequent on
this discovery was immense. Every-
body was anxious to penetrate the
secret, and arrest the murderer; but
there was no one on whom to fix sus-
picion. There was no person acquaint-
ed with the melancholy circumstance
of the finding of the body, but fully
believed the jinknown had been mur-
dered for his money.
For a time no light was thrown upon
the subject; but at length it began to
be rumored that our hero had been
seen with large sums of money in his
possession ; that is, large for an indi-
vidual in his circumstances.
One of the domestics of Dr. War-
den's, affirmed that in doing Mr. Spike's
chamber-work, she had, on more than
one occasion, seen large amounts in
gold and silver in his room. At one
time she felt a very commendable curi-
osity to examine his pocket-book,
which he had left in his coat pocket,-
when lo! to her infinite surprise, she
beheld several huudred dollar bank
bills and a check on the State bank for
a thousand dollars. This she had
wisely kept to herself, for fear some
foolish person might blame her for be-
ing of an inquiring disposition; but
she guessed sb® knew what was what,
and who was who.
Mr. Wagstaff «hook his head and
said several times, "that he didn't wish
to tell all he knew ;n but despite this
asseveration* he was always talking
of the subject, and throwing out dark
hints not at all fivorable to our hero.
It waa not long before Dr. Warden,
and some few others, began to talk
seriously of having him arrested and
brought to trial. Hesecretly rejoiced
ared, and hastened to the relief of [at this rumor, for he believed it would
folly" ^4
" uot fail to
: but
serve to "ptire Bella i)f i
This infamous Report
reach the ears of tnb li
* £? ||MH
it arousec
in-
ignatic
"WHlties
jugery
hur to declare *boldly her full belief in
the innocence of the suspected person.
Like a true and noble woman, she for-
got all her prejudices in relation to his
name and occupation, and with becom-
ing blushes, averred that she loved
him. .
O woman! it is adversity that proves
the strength of your affection ; it is ad-
versity that makes your virtues shine
with celestial beauty!
Fearlessly did the younger Miss
Warden remonstrate with her father
against the injustice and folly of fasten-
ing suspicion ot a foul crime upon a
worthy individual, whose character
had been without a staiu since he had
been among them.
One day while the doctor and his
family, including Mr. Wagstaff, were
seated in the sitting room* our hero en-
tered to receive sOme instruction in re-
lation to some work he was doing.—
The doctor at that moment was trying
to puzzle out a Latin formula in an old
pharmacopoeia 4 but-it was evident
that he Would 'make a failure.
" Perhaps Mr. Spike, can assist you,
doctah ! "He's been foinely educated,
I believe !" said Wagstaff, ironically,
casting at the same time a triumphant
!ook at Rose.
" I shall be very happy to, I am
sure," replied ou^bnner, with a smile.
" Yes, do assist us, by all means,
Hezekiah, if you've got time," addc
the doctor, entering heartily jnto^a >r.
spirit of the joke.
Hezekiah took the bool
distinct, mellow voi
hesitation, read
luis impoisu
y^ice^ bHssu^
\Viggléb> nei^
doctor suffered his"
a singular mann^f l
" Here is a FrfcVliJ> „ ,
which I have never been ablbrtó reach*,
pereaps you will be so good as to read
some interesting extracts from it, just
for the notion of it?" said the doctor
in the same tone of mock politeness,
endeavoring to recover his usual as-
surance. 4
" With pleasure, my dear sir," re-
plied Hezekiah; and in the same man-
ly tone he read a chapter on fractures,
translating as he went. His pronoun-
ciation and rendering were perfect, and
it was evident to all present that he
was a complete master oí the langaage.
The doctor ahemmed; Mrs. Warden
wiped her spectacles, and took a fresh
look at Hezekiah .Spike; Rose grew
red in the face; Bella smiled with
pleasure; Wagstaff saw something out
of the window that engrossed all his
attention.
" Don't stop, sir, / pray you ; here is
a Greek testament; I daresay you can
manage it!'' said Warden, still incred-
ulous.
" /am in your employ; I'll obey you
of course. It's much easier than trim-
ming apple trees," answered our hero,
casting a side-long glance at Wagstaff.
Without further remark he took the
Greek testament, and read with an ease
and fluency that shew him quite as
conversant with that language as with
the French and Latin.
" There! there! that will do, unless
you will sit down to the piano and play
the last new opera and sing it!" added
the doctor, once more.
" As you please !" said Hezekiah;
"it is easier than garden work." *
The folding doors were open. Heze-
kiah walked deliberately into the par-
lor and sat down to the piano.
" Its shockingly out of tune," he re-
marked, as he ran his ñngers over the
key board.
A very difficult opera by Mendela-
shon was lying upon the rack, which
had defied all the effort of Rose, and
her music teacher also. This piece
Hezekiate proceeded to execute in a
style perfectly astounding to the War-
dens. They had heard .drumming,
but they had never heard a master
hand touch it till that moment
He concluded by singing an opera
from the Bohemian girl: and then ris-
ing and bowing respectfully, left his
auditors speechless with amazement.
Where was Mr. Wagstaff, th€m ? He
had sunk into an atom so insignificant
that he could scarcely be seen; and
not one present could faH to see how
much he had lo6t by comparison.
" He has all the assurance of a rich
person," remarked Mrs. Warden, wip-
ing her glasses once more.
" Strange that such bad men some-
(Centinued • Fourth Page.)
/
*
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The San Antonio Ledger. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 16, 1851, newspaper, January 16, 1851; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth179353/m1/1/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.