Page:Tragical history of Crazy Jane, and young Henry.pdf/22

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HISTORY OF

their native dust. The former, by his will, had disinherited his son. He bequeathed considerable legacies to farmer Arnold, and his two surviving daughters, Lucy and Annette. The rest of his property (which was very considerable) he awarded to Rosetta and her affectionate husband.

Mr Percival had not long departed from this transitory world, when, to the great surprise of the inhabitants, Henry arrived at Rosewood; pale and emaciated, a living skeleton. The first intimation he received of Jane and his father's death's, was from the mistress of the inn; and the intelligence appeared greatly to affect him.

With a palpitating heart he repaired to the farm; and prostrating himself at Mr Arnold's feet, besought him to pardon the seducer and murderer of his daughter, who was impatient to join her in the silent grave. The anger and indignation that the old gentleman felt at the first appearance of Percival, soon gave way to pity. After their first emotions had subsided, and they were tranquil enough to converse, Mr Arnold learnt from Henry, that for a length of time after he arrived in India, he had formed the resolution of becoming an alien to his family. His affairs were so prosperous, as to render it next to an impossibility that he should ever want any pecuniary assistance from them; and; for the purpose of estranging himself from them, he never answered any of the letters he received from England. Indeed, the reproaches with