The Democratic Press, 1860-11-08

the weapon from hi in and dealt him a fatal thrust that prostrated him also. 'i We fell together, alike unconscious, I in U swoon, he dead.. When sense anl feeling returned to me I was in ' you house.. You, Hiram Mould, hid the body where you can find its'ire'mains to convict mc. The public -believed that Charles Harper was.murdcved j.you created that belief; but to use me all my life you took successful care that the finger of suspicion should not point to me, lest the law might kill the goose that lays the golden While the tortured man was sav saving - ing saving all this, far more incoherently than wo have written' it, the un unmoved - moved unmoved conspirator had rapidly sketched a picture of a gi beted felon, find as the merchant conclu concluded, - ded, concluded, Hiram Mould placed the in insignificant - significant insignificant sketch before him. Such shall be your fate, if Ka Ka-ehael - ehael Ka-ehael Agmoor refuses to become my wife," said he, pointing at the hideous picture with his long, lean fore ringer. Again the merchant yielded be before - fore before the terrible threat, and his head sank upon his bosom. "Now call in Thornton Clair and dismiss him at bnce," said Hiram sternly, "he loves your daughter she perhaps lores him. You have foolishly allowed him to visit at your house ; it shall be my care that he Shall find other employ employment - ment employment in this city." "I am in your power," groaned the unhappy man, rising and open opening - ing opening the door; but as he did so his daughter Rachael stepped quickly from the side of Thornton Clair, with whom she was eagerly con conversing, - versing, conversing, and said : "'.'I wish to see Hiram Mould im immediately, - mediately, immediately, dear father," and glid gliding - ing gliding by her astonished parent, she entered tho private office. The merchants closed the door and turned to address his child. Tall and queenly in person, a love lovely - ly lovely brunette of eighteen summers, with large black eyes, usually full of softness, as became her amiable and affectionate nature, but her red lips curled with scathing contempt, Kachael Agmoor motioned to her father to pause for a moment, and bent her gaze upon Hiram Mould He seemed ill at ease as those su perb eyes slowly scanned him from head to foot, bathing him as it were in wordless scorn. He rose to his feet, and recovering his nat ural coolness said : "I am happy to see that Miss Ra Rachael - chael Rachael Agmoor considers so humble a person as Hiram -Mould worthy of so continued a gaze." "This is the thing that dares to hope to call mc wife!" said Ra chael, and though the words were cutting, the tone and manner pene penetrated - trated penetrated to the marrow of the rascal's bones, ami flashed bitter words to his lips. "The thing is honored in being so called, my haughty damsel. You are proud, now, Rachael Ag moor, but the tune shall come when you shall humble before me as the trembling man who stands near you." "It I reject and defy you, you will attack the life and reputation of my father," said Rachael. "Yon must be very confident of your power, to send such a message to the woman whom you wish to make your wife." "I am conscious of my strength ; do you desire to see a proof of it '(" sneered Hi ram. Rachael bent her head contempt contemptuously. - uously. contemptuously. Hiram Mould was at a loss to comprehend this unexpected defiance, but sure of his ground, he said : "There is a young man in your father's employ whom' he loves as his own son. Kather than harm a hair in that voting man's head. James Agmoor would willingly lop mi iiisngiib mum, a veiny oeueve, if the sacrifice could aya'd'eithcr. Mr. Agmoor, call in Thornton Clair." He looked to see Rachael i rale and trembling; but she was calm and collected. The timid father timid before the cashier alone, obeyed, and Thornton Clair stood iii tho party, but his blue eyes were blazing: with a menace bo profound and deadly that Rachael laid her soft hand upon tho strong arm that was 'swelling as it tor y 4 ; suddcu blow-to be dealt at the serpent eyes of the encoring cashier, and" whis whispered - pered whispered : "Wait for my" sake." "Air. Agmoor,; said lliram, -but recoiling somewhat from tho reach, of that -arm,- "as thia vounir-iiian dared to make love.to ono bo ini- meiis'ely above him aa 'your daugh-1 teri ana l wopoaoj myeclt as her lineband, his presence in our efctttb';

Tho proud . and wealthy James Agmoor, silk and velvet ilnerchuut of Broadway; New York, was ,jiwt entering his superb bazaar, a8 one of his clerks respectfully, saluted him, and started to pass out. :.:, "Mr. Clair, 1 shall desire your presence in my office ere long,", said the merchant ; "do not leave the store until 1 have spoken with you." . There was an ominous sternness in his tone that attracted the quick ear of Thornton (Jluir, and an he gazed after his pompons chief, who strode on with unusual haste, his eye caught that of Hiram Mould, tho cliAHhior, peering with uncon unconcealed - cealed unconcealed malice through the mahog mahogany - any mahogany bars of his desk. Thornton Clair had arrived in New York four months beforo from some city ot the fur West and upon applying to James Agmoor, his manly and intelligent face hud sj pleasctl that gentleman that his services were immediately accepted, and ho was given the responsible post of col collector. - lector. collector. This was by no means agreeable to the envious Mould, nor did his vexation diminish as he saw that James Agmoor daily grew more and more attached to the youth. "While Cluir stood awaiting the expected summons, and as Mr. Ag Agmoor - moor Agmoor entered his private ollice, the cashier moved from his Beat, and following his principal, carefully closed the green baise door after him. ' . ,r It was strange to see the proud and pompous air of the lordly mer merchant - chant merchant change to one of ill-concealed fear and disgust as the cashier bade him good day and seated him himself - self himself near him, fating him, and hav having - ing having tho office table between them. "You have considered my prop propositions, - ositions, propositions, James Agmoor," said he, in a smooth, soft voice, sleek and silky as the precious fabrics that were nbout them. James Atrmoor buried his face in his hands for a moment, and then sweeping bnck his snow white hair, said, huskilv: "I have, Hiram Mould, I have!" and his face, pale and red by turns, again sought the cover of his teinbliiig hands. "I have told my daughter that you demanded her lor a wuc. Mie told me to tell you that she would rather be a beggar in the streets than the wire oi Hi ram .Mould. "I told her all," burst from the quivering lips of the merchant. "1 told her that Hiram Mould was the master of her father; that ero 6he was born I had committed a crime a crime that has blanched my hair before I have numbered my Uorty-htth year. "And then she relented?" "She asked me to tell her of that crime," replied Agmoor, and as he spoke his eyes grew bright, and looked Hiram .Mould full in the face. "I told; her. She said the deed was not a crime that the blow was dealt in self-defence that killed diaries -Harper. And so it was, Hiram Mould ; you know it wad:".' "Were we in court, I tho only witness of the act, James Aermoor. I would swear that it was premedi premeditated - tated premeditated murder." James Agmoor's eyes closed with a shudder, and aeain the trcmbline hands hid his pallid face. "1 would swear, resumed Hiram Mould, as his Bharp white teeth bristled from his sneering lips, "and the jury would bclievo every word, that one summer's evening, some twenty year3 ago, 1 saw James Agmoor, who had refused to fight in fair and open combat with Charles Harper, crouching amid the bushes that bordered the highway through Jersey woods; and as Charles Harper was riding unsuspectingly by, I saw Jamt's Agmoor spring trom his covet and strike him to tho earth with a club I -would swear that James Aar- moor; then and there murdered Charle? Harper, and buried the body where Icould find the bones; aye, find the watch that Bhould identify the body." f All false!" cried the merchant arousing himscli a ' moment. " 'Twas Agmoor who dragged from his .'horse " Charles Harper! 'Twjai Hiram Mould who prompted tho'assault for purposes of hts own because ho hated each with a deadly hatc.Yoii, lIir'anv Mould hrstmade us, who w'cro till then; bosom friends; bitter enemies. He-ruck-rhe--I returned the WoWj he drcV his knife and'sfabbod me." btiv Dofcrfe I fell senselees I "wrwt,eu

Hlscharge The wretched merchant paused in torturing -suspense, and the cashier pointed at tho sketch that lay upon the table. "Mr. Thornton C lair," began the filth or "My true name is not Clair," said tho ypnn man quickly, unwil unwilling - ling unwilling to see tho father of Ms Rach ael so humiliated. "I am the son of Charles Harper who lives in Ore gon, and assumed the name of Clair because he believed that he had slain" James Agmoor. My name is, in fact, Thornton Harper." "Young man!"' cried James Ag Agmoor, - moor, Agmoor, almost gasping, "do not de deceive - ceive deceive a most wretched man. Does Charles Harper, who married my cousin, Helen Agmoor, still live? was he not killed?" "On my honor, Mr. Agmoor," said Thornton, "that diaries Har Harper - per Harper is alive, and still thinks that he killed James Agmoor. Until this morning, I was of the same belief; for my father, who, siuce that un unfortunate - fortunate unfortunate combat has concealed himself under an assumed name, in the wilds of the West, while my mother followed him, has often told mo sorrowfully of all that transpired. Hut he never told me tho name of the man he deemed he had slain, nor that of the man who, when he arose after a moment of unconsciousness, pointed at your bleeding body, said you were dead, and prevailed upon him to seek safety in instant flight, upon the very horse you had ridden. Your daughter related to me what you told her last night, a few minutes ago, and we immediately concluded upon the truth." "Out of my sight, Hiram Mould," cried the enraged merchant. "Double traitor, begone ! or I shall make myself what you have forced nie for years to think myself a murderer!". While Thornton was speaking, the guilty cashier had sunk into a chair and seated his head upon the table, hiding his face, as he for ten years delighted in torturing his victim to do ; hut when James Ag Agmoor, - moor, Agmoor, no longer a crime bound serf, thus addressed him he stag staggered - gered staggered to his feet, groped blindly tor the door, tottered feebly through the bazaar to' his desk, where he had so long ruled with the magic rod of gold, and pressing his hand to his head, groaned, reeled, caught himself erect, opened his private drawer, placed a pistol to his tem temple, - ple, temple, but fell dead before he could press the trigger. Tishmcnt 'is nn insult him at once."

The old fashioned mothers have nearly all passed away with the blue check and home spun woolen of a simpler but puror time. Here and tinge one remains, truly "accom "accomplished," - plished," "accomplished," in the heart and life, for the sphere of home. " - Old fashioned mothers God bless them who followed us with heart and prayer all over tho world lived in our lives and Borrowed in our criefsf Hiifil-i nn flliilnr.t but p j-i. love : never iirenclied nor Arnndorpfl ......... made melody with their hearts, and sent forth no books but living vol-! umes, that honored their authors I ami blessed the world. The old homesteads! we wish wc I paint it for you, as it is no, we dure not ns it ix n it u-iw Mint I .... 7 ;, " we could go together iroui room to room, sit 1V the old lionrtli rnmwl which that circle of light and love swent. and there limr,.r till nil . i e those ampler, purer times returned, aim wesuouiu grow young once more. And how can we leave the spot without remembering one form that! occupied, in days gone by, "the old arm chair," that old fashioned i mother one in all the world, the juw oi wnose mc was iovc ; one who was the divinitvof our inf-innv. nnd the sacred presence in the shrine of our nrst earthly idolatry; one whose heart is far below the frost that gather so thickly on her brow; one to whom we never grow old, but, in the plumed troop, or .the grave council, are children; still one who welcomed us comiusr. blessed ns going, and never forgot us, never. And when in some closet, some drawer, she finds a garment or a toy that once was yours, how does she weep, as she thinks vou may be suffering or sad, And when spring "leaves her robe on the trees," docs she not remember your tree, and wish you was there "to sec its glory ? i !

Everybody remembers M'Donald Clark who was so well known in New York, a few years since, as the "mad poet." During the last years of his life, Clarke was made freeattlieAsterHoii.se table, and oftentimes this erratic man of ?pti- ius could be seen accepting its hos pitalities when other doors were closed on his fallen fortunes. Ev Every - ery Every one knew Clarke by sight: and one day, while quietly taking his uinncr, two southern men, seated themselves opposite, eoninienccn a conversation intended for the ears of Clarke. One said: "Well I have been in New York two months and have seen all I wished to see with one exception." "Ah, what is that?" "M'Donald Clarke, the great poet,v said No. 1. Clarke raised his eyes slowly from his plate , and seeing that the attention of the entire company was directed to him, stood un, plac ing his hand over his heart and bowing with great gravity to the southerners, said: "I am M'Donald Clarke, the great poet. ' The southerner started in mock surprise, gazed at him in silence for 1" ... , i,i a iey moments, ana then, amidst an audible titter of the comnnnv drew from his pocket a quarter of a dol dollar, - lar, dollar, and laying it beforo Clarke, still lookinsrat him without a smilo. Clarke took the quarter in silence . , i . ...... ami uignuy, Destowecl it in. his pocket, drew thence a- Rhillino-. which he deposited before the southerner, with the words : "Children, half prico." The titters chnusred to a roar. and the southerners sloped.

Lore is a faithlos'sTOcean, . ii;.;i'; Upon its tide awhile ' - 1 Oor way is cho'cred by sunbeams bright, . . And Summer's gentle, smile.-' . '-. . Oh, would its waves always rcfloct Tho beams of hope's pure soul ; ' .. , My 'tears would never have been shed For thee, mv long'lost one. ..a.'4 . . i - . . Fow; fevf the;ro ore who comfort mo, ..Within tliis world so vain, And', oh I how little they du hood A lover's joy or pain ; . But for thco, love, I mourn alone, - My tears shall sacred bo ; I Will not ask a tear but mine To be poured out fur thee. . Thy form of passing beauty -1 seo beforo mo now ; I see the seal of intellect Stamped on thy lofty brow ; , I saw in thee with love's pura eve, '.' Tho germ of noblest things, But now the thought that thou art gouo A kconcr anguish brings. Oh, Oodt I never can forget When thou wcrt placed below ; My heart my heart sinks ovon now Beneath its' weight of woo ; Tho very thought exalts my pain, As time his race doth run ; Death pnrtod us, alas! alasl My lost, my long loved ono. Why should Love's chair be sovered ? Why woro its links not fast? .' Why should our hopes so richly bloom To wither in the blast? -For thou wort all I over craved, And this fond heart of mine Wished for no other happmens ' Thanlhat pure love of thine. But fur beyond Life's ocean . Thoro h) a bettor shore ; ... And its s soothing thought to know That 1 shall meet thco thero; And when my lamp of love burns ow, Whon my swift course is run, ' Thauk God, thank Ood, I shall be joined - To thee my long lo.it one.

Pitts is a fast man, a sharp man, a man ot business tact. And when Pitts goes into a store to trade, he always gets the lowest cash price, and he says, "Well I'll look about, and if I don't find anything that suits mc better, I'll call and take this." . Pitts, liko all fast men, is partial to w'omen, and young ones in par particular.' - ticular.' particular.' Now, quite lately, Pitts said to himself, "I am getting rath rather - er rather along in years, and I guess I'll get married." . Ilis business qualities would nt let him wait, 'so ojf he travels, and calling upon a lady friend, opened the conversation by remarking that he would like to know what she thought about his gettiug married. 'Uh, .Mr. 1'itts, that is an aflair in which I am not so greatly inter interested, - ested, interested, and I prefer leaving it with yourself."-. , "Hut " says Pits, "you arc inter ested; and,' my dear girl, will you marry me?" ' ' - ' 1 ho young lady blushed very red. hesitated, and finallvyas Pitts was vorv well to do in the world, and morally, financially and politically of good standing in society, she ac accepted - cepted accepted him. "Whereupon tho mat ter ot tact, 1'itts responded:- "Well, well, 1 11 look about, and if I don't find anybody that suits mc better, I'll comc back." ;