Miscellany

(Concluded.J Afíer tea Pendergast rcliredloa room, apart from the famiïy, tliat lie might be alonf. The presence of his wife and chüdren oppressed hi.-n. ín halfan hour his lawyer called to see him. 'Things look very darkj do t!ey not?' Pendergnst said. ' Rather. Bat I have thought of a wa)1, by which we may bring Petéis to terms.' 'VVhat is itt' quiek'y asked the cliënt, a light passing over his face. The prosecutop is, of course, onlv his tooi. That's all understood. He furnishes the means fóf carrymg on tlie snit. - If he says to the Prosecutor, ' The suil mu.-t be abandoned,' all proceedings wil] ofcourse stop.' 1 Yes ; I understnnd that. It is a mere process of retaliation ; in fact a part of a system of prosecution to which this man has delermined to subject me.' 'Exaotly; and there's where we've got hirti. Since the court odjourned to-day,! have found a man who is ready to sware thnt lie has heard Peters say, over and over sg.iin, that he meant to ruin vou, and woukl do it before he was done with you; and that he was the prime mover of the present suit, and the prosecntor only his agent. He says, moreover, that he can point to at least three others who can swear to the same thing. In fact, this man called upan me and stnted this, becnuse, he snid, it was a shame to see you driven to the wall in the malicious manner in which Peters was doing it. - We must inbtautly havo liirn indictedfor a conspiracy to ruin you. Í will see iliat the writs are served on him as earlv in the roorning ns possibie, and also see his laivyer, ond give him as cleara view of his client's position as I am able. - As I am to address the court in the morning, 1 wil] consume ns much time as possiblo in order that he may have full space for refleciion; and then I will make an effort to keep the matter from ihojurya day longer,by calling n these witnesses with their testimony, which will have great weight with the court in fixing low damages, if the trial should proceed and the jury find you guilty. - But 1 am pretiy well convinced, by this move we shall 'conquer a peace' instanter. I don't believe Peters will be willing to stand a suit in which, if casi, he runs a chance of six months' or ayear's imprisonment, besides damages.' All this did not produce much effect on Pendergast. The light that had flitled over his countenance died avvay, and the old dark shadow feil upon it. He shook his head after his awyer had ccased speaking, and said half sadly, yet m a fïrm voice: 'No; I have had enougb of law. 'Better :o bear the ills wo have, than fly to others that we know not of.' I am sick of antagonism - sick of the court house - sick of law. Let the worst come if it will, I am passive. I will bow rny head to the storm and stand still.' 'But, my dear sir, - ' Before the 1 awyer could finish his sentence another visitor was announced, and Mr. Goodyear entered. This gentleman had been walching the progress of the lawsuit between his neighbors,ith much regret, and was pained to see tbaf the issue wtrs likely to prove most disastrou lo Pendergast wliose liasty lemper hac involved him in a serious difficulty. - He Jiad called in, from the kindness of h heart, to talk over the matter with him and see f some mode of adjustment coiil notbe. suggested before the worsf came to the worst. He was ready to do all in his power as a mediator. Aftera few allusions had been made to the state of affnirs, the lawyer said, - 'Thcre is one way to escape and only onp, thatlcan see.' And then he remarked upon the posilion in which Peters was placed. 'A soit for conspii-ücy,' he continued, would 'conquer a peace' instanter. There 'would be no more fighting unless we choose, which, of coqrse, we would not if he came to terms. But my cliënt seems apatbetic on 'the subject. He is unwiüing make triis move.' 'Whyso?' asked Mr. Goodyear. The lawyer Iooked at Pendergast, meaning (hereby that he should answer for himself. And he did so, saying- 'Because I have had enough of fight■ing, and want peace at any sacrifice. - I wasto blame at first. My suit ngainst Pelers was an unjust one allhough I ihought I was right. But if I bad kept cool, waited a lillle while and heard reason, I should have acted very diflerently. 3ut bünd passion led me on; and here is he result. As to 'conquering a pence,' as my counsel says, that is a mnch easier liing to talk about tlian to do. Pride, pasion, and confidence ofsticcessj may lead n yoiir enemy to resist, month after monih, and year after year, and both at ast be compelled to retire from the field, because unable any longer (o contend. No, no ; I have done fighting. - Let the suit go on. Let my enemy glut his vengennce ; and hen, I trust, he wül he satisiied. 1 deserve punishment for my folly; though hardly more than I have already received. Dut 1 suppose Peters thinks diflerently.' 'The caseagainsi Mr. Peters s certainly quite clear,' suggested Mr. Goodyear. 'He has laid himself open to a proseculion.' 'No doubt of if. But Í have no feelings of letaliatioli left ïri :;u. to ptinibh him is gone. Let liim finish liis worlc of revenge, andthen, [ trust, Ishall have peace.' '1 will see you again this evening,' said Mr. Goodyear, rising suddenly, and léaving the room before Pendergast had lime to oppose his hasty departure. Nol long afier he stood at the door of Peters' dnelling. He found the owner in the mirlst of his family. Afler silting with him a short time, he asked to have some prívate con versatfon with him, and thev retired to another room. As soon as they were alone, he said - 'You must pardon my interference in a matter that you may think does not concern me But yourgood as well as the good of the man you are perseculing so bitlerly, has led me to slep forward, in the hope Ihat you will accept of ny mediation.' 'You allude to Pendergast, I presume,' said Peters, coldly. 'I do.' 'I have nothing to do with him. He slandered a witness that testified against him, in one of trials we had, and that individual is justlv defending hbcliaracter,' 'You may not be awarí.' replied Mr. Goodyear to this, 'that it is not only well nderstOod that ou are the instieator in thismatter,butthatyou furnish the means of carrying on llio su!t.' Peters looked a little surprised, and a Hule indignant, at this allegation. 'I have been nformed to night,' resumecIMr. Goodyear, 'thai there are tvro or ihree men ready to come forward,and not only prove you to be the real prosecutor bOt to prove that you have been henrd to declare that you meant to ruin Pendergast totally Lefore you werc dotie wi:h him. []s lawyer has this matter cleai-ly before him, and. is no.v urging iipon his dient to comrnence n suit ngainst you for conspiracy, which, you areaware, isa very serious matter.' 'Let him do it. He'll not frighten me. He'II iind ihat there ia no back out in Thomas Petéis. I didn't commence Ihe game, I was Torced into it: and PI! fight till I die rather than yieid an inch.- When he commenced this business he ought to have been more sure of the ground he stood upon; and ought to have known his man bitter. His bill for trespass was an insult, and his suit ïo recover it rank injustice.' 'So he now acknowledges.' 'What!' Peters Iookocí half blnnk with asonislmient, and elo-vnted his eye-brows. until they formed bold arches on his foreíead. 'He sayr.,'continued Goodyear, 'that it is now clear to him that ho was wrong.alihough he then thought he was right; but he was blinded by passion to do what he has since a hundred times regretted having done. He thinks, and so do I, thal he has been sufficiently punished for the error he committed, and that to push him on to ruin, and his family to beggary, savors more oí persecution tlian of Juslice.' 'Why has he not said thisto me!' 'You must make some allowanco for a man's natural pride. Tln'nk how impossible it would bi for' you togo and make sucli an acknowledgemfnt to an enemy who was pcrsecuting you as you are now )ersecutinghim!' Peters did think, and he feit the force of this presentaron] of tlie case. 'When did you hear him say this ? he asked. 'To-night. His lawyer was urging lim to commence a suit against you for onspiracy, saying that he had all the roof necessary to fix the charge upon on, and make conviction sure; but he id, No.' 'Why!' 'He said he wanted peace, not war ; that he had commenced the war unjus'.ly, from nn error of judgment and ignorance of fncts since brought to his notice; and now he meant it shnulcl termínate, even though he was striciien to the earth never to rise .ngain. He said he felt no resentmen! towards yon. That had died in his bosom. He would nither do you good than harm. In faet the poor man seems completely humbled and broken down in spirits, and no wonder. He has a young íamily to whom he is fondly attaclied. Ilis wifeyou know to beone of the test of women. All acknowledge that. The prospect of having all these turned out of their plcasent home is onoiigh to break any man down. It would break your spirits. It made my heart sad to look in his face, and hear the tone of his voice. Th lawyer urged the snit against you as his only hope, but he said, ' No, na.' Ah neighbor Peters, ifyou hadseen bim as I saw hirn, it would have touched your feelings as it touched mine. Be mercïful, then, and have this suit nbnndoned. I atn sure I no vi) moto any jtist acknov!edgment to the man who tliinkshischaracter j i rijn red.' As Mr. Goodyear ceased speaking,the farmer rose f rom his chair and commenced walking the floor hurricdly. This was conlinuoJ for the space offull five minutes. Evidently there was a ful struggle going on la his tnind. At lengih lie carne and set down in a chair, whicfi Le drew up close to that of his visiter. The expression of his face was changed, and thcre was a rapid play of the muscles about his lips. He began speaking in asubdued, unsteady voice. 'Idon't think Mr. Goodyear,' he said, 'iliat I am a cruel minded man. But I have been exasperated. Pendergast began tobluster in theoutsef and sent me severa! very insolent messages. I v.-s very naturally provoked; for I can neilher bear inlimidalion nor insult. I did not Teel myself to blame. If he had come to me at firsf, and complained of the damnge be had sustained f rom my oxen, I would have done all in my power to repair the inj'ury. One of my men should have replarjled the corn. But no; he must make out a bilí, and demaml is payment in an insulsing n-ay. Tlien l.e calis in the aidofthe Iaw, and pats me to two or three years' Iroub! e, and considerable expenses.' 'Bu? all that he has been required to pay back to you," said Mr. Goodyear. "True. Bot the worry of mind. exeitement, exasperation of feeling, and all that, he cannot atone. Tho fact is, Mr. Goodyear, I have sufíered in this thing severely and without a cause." "But hft has suffe.-ed more ihan you have, ten-fold- certainly enough Tor his offbnce. Do not,therefore, put your foot upon his neck, and hold htm to :he earth, now that he is down. Let the pure spirit oflbrgiveness, whisper its gentle voice in your heart." ' Don't misunderstand me," said Peters quickly ; " I do no; say this as a means for future action, but ns an e.xcuse for the past. I will pause where I am. The suit shall bo withdrawn to-morrow." Mr. Goodyear caught the hand of the farmei-, and pressed it warmly. "May I say this to him to-night?" he eagerly nskeeJ. liBy all means. I would not prolong his wretchedness." "May 1 say t ia him as from you?]' " Yes. Tel] himlhat I too, ha 3 been wrong in carrying things too far. That Í ought to have been satisfied long ago. fhat I would most gladly bury the past n oblivion.if that could possibly be done. Alas into how much ef wrong and ing do our passions belray us! Jfl had kept cool when he broughi against me his peremptory demnnd fordamages, and, in stead of treating the matter roughly shown to him his errnr, all this miglit have been avokied and ve might still have been warm friends inatead of bitter enemies. 1 arn afraid that I am more to blame than I imagined; that I have some of the responsibility of tbis serious matter to bear as we]] as he bas." Mr. Goodyear di-J not linger long after the farmer had' attained lo so good a stnte of mind, but returned to the house of Pendergast. He (ound the lawyer still there, and urging his cliënt to 'csnquer a peace' by bringing a snit aeainsï Peters' agent ifor conspiracy to ruin him. But Pendergast was fïrm. He had not changed his views in the east. "U'ell," said the lawyer, rising to reire,aí'tív moments after Goodyear carne n. 'J hope to find you in befter mmd to-morrow ; for that, I har, is your onIy hope.' As soon as he was gone, Goodyear said, 'I am most happy to inform you. friend Pendergast.that I havesucceeded in 'conquering a peace' for you on beiter principies tlian yourlavOyer proposcc and much more, I trust, to your salis faction. I have just left Mr. Peters to whcm I freely related wlmt 1 hac heardy. usoy to-n'ght. It took him a by surprise, and deeply disturbed him. A little reflection enabled him to se Ihat he was somelhing to blame, as we as you, and that he was carryingmatlers much toofar. He wishes meto say that all proceedings shall be mmediatey stopped ; that he sees that he has been wrong in car.-ying things so far ; thathe ought to have been satisfied long ago; and Ihat he would most gladly bury the pastin oblivion, if it we re possible. Mr. Pendergast appeared to be stu pified by intelligence so strange and un expected. He looked, for some time n a bewildered air, into the face of Mr Güorlyear. At length, as sH became clea-r tohis mind, he covered his face wilh his bands to conceal his emotion, andsat sil&nt for thespace ofmany minutes. Then ríslng up, he fcok the hand o" his visito;-, and snid, with much feeling, yet with manly dignity, 'You have acted nobly Mr. Goodyear. You have indeed 'conquered a peace' that can never be broken. Ah ! sir, kind words are powcrful. Tliey effect more than opposition and passion. W.ould that I had learnod this truth yenrs ago - how much of error and gufTwiog it would have sa ved me.' Many days did not pass before Mr. Goodyear managed to bring togcther the tvvo men whom passion had severed for years; and now (he strife betwce thm s a ütrtf'e ns to vvho shall most fuily compénsate the other for the wrong he has suffered ai his hnnds.