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Show 96 RICllATW IJ UHDIS. before this discovcrecl thnt the power was not in her to c~dow him with it. Both parties 'IVC'rc compelled, wl1cn t.liCy (hsco~crcd the idiot girl to be awake nnd watchful, to forego then· di scussion of the subject for tho night; and when the woman did resume it, ·wl 1ich she did with a tenacity of purpose: worthy of n more ostentatious virtue, she was only successful m arousing that sort of anger in her companion, wl1ich is but_ too much the resort of the wilful when tbc argument goes ngamst th ~m. It was more easy for Pickett, with the sort ?f courage winch he possessed, to do wrong than right, and h:.w mg once rcsol_vcd to sin, the exhortations of virtue were only so man~ suggestions to obstinacy. 'Vith a warmth and propriety infinttely beyond her situation did the wife plead; but her earnestness, though great, was not equal to the dogg~d ness o: his resolve. She was compellNl to give up the cause 111 dcspmr. THE DLOODHOUND ON TilE SCENT. 97 CHA PTE R X III. TilE IJLOOOIIOU~'D ON TilE SC J.:NT. " Jii ~ WM the fault; Le Iris the punishment. 'T is not lheir own cri111es ouly, meu commit.; They lrnrTOW them into another's Ur·enst, And tlh'.}' ~Judi reap the J,iuc r· growth with pnin." THE messenger of blood departed the next day upon 1riB fearful mission. llis calculation was to keep due pace with Iris victim; to watch his progress; command his person at all times, nnd to avail him self of the first fitting opportunity, to ex· ecutc the cruel trust which he had undertaken. Such a pur· poi:ie required the utmost precaution and some little time. To do tire deed might be often easy; to do it secretly and successfully, Lut seldonr. He was to watch the single moment in a thousand, mHl Le ready to usc it before it was gone for ever. "You ·w ill not Lc gone long, Ben 1" said tile wife, as he busied himself in preparation. "I know not-a day, a week, a mouth! -I know not. It matte s li ttle; you can do without me." "Yes, yom wife can do wi thout you-I wish that John llunlis could do without you also. I do uot like this business, :Ucn, upon whiclr he sends you now." " \\' !rat business 1 what know you of it 1" he demanded lut sti ly. "\Vhy should you dislike the business which you know nothing about 1" " That's the Yery reason that makes me dislike it. Why should I know nothing about it 1 \Vhy should n man keep his business from his wife's knowledge 1" "Good reason enough, to keep it from the knowledge of cverybgdy else. You roigllt as well print it in the Montgomery 5 |
