THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 629 



sought everywhere for Lukasenski, both at Warsaw and at Zamock 

 no traces, either of his existence or his decease, could be found. 

 Some time afterwards some Russian prisoners deposed that, in their 

 flight, the guards of Constantine had dragged after them, beyond the 

 bay, a man in rags, chained to a gun-carriage, and heavily ironed. 

 His eyes were hollow, his features contracted by suffering, and a long 

 beard blackened his face. This man was Lukasenski the hero the 

 patriot the martyr ! 



THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 



IN a wild and retired spot, in one of the southern states of North 

 America, there resided, many years ago, on a small plantation which 

 he had purchased, a gentleman of very secluded habits, but of most 

 amiable and prepossessing manners. Nothing was known of him, 

 further than that he was a skilful practitioner of medicine and sur- 

 gery, whose advice and drugs were always at the service of his 

 neighbours, and their domestics and slaves, whenever other assistance 

 was not at hand. A two-years' residence, however, had procured 

 him, unsought, the whole practice of the extensive district; and, 

 although he had been thus brought into the closest contact with all 

 about him, and was generally known for many miles beyond the pre- 

 cincts of his labours, no one, in all that time, had been able to dis- 

 cover the cause of his seclusion ; or, in fact, any thing more of him 

 than appeared on his visiting card, which bore the name of " Mr. 

 Clinton." He was about thirty years old, of a tall and graceful 

 figure, with highly intellectual and dark handsome features, seldom 

 enlivened by a smile, and which were evidently " o'ersicklied" with 

 something beyond the mere " pale cast of thought." His mild and 

 unobtrusive manners and conversation rendered him a favourite 

 with old and young, the whites and the blacks, while they secured 

 him from the open pryings of a curiosity which he seemed, in no one 

 instance, to be desirous to gratify. 



About this period Colonel Ashe, a gentleman of large property 

 and of distinguished family in the state, came to reside for a short 

 period on an extensive plantation which he owned in the neighbour- 

 hood, and which was situated near to Mr. Clinton's, from which it 

 was divided by about four or five miles of pine forest. He was 

 accompanied by his wife, a lady of great attractions, considerably 

 younger than himself, and two children. As the Colonel was one of 

 the greatest land and slave proprietors in the district, as well as in 

 the country, and was, besides, a senator in the Legislative Assembly 

 of the state, his arrival on this portion of his property was the signal 

 for all kinds of festivities among the planters and their families. 

 Among those invited to his first entertainment was his unknown 

 neighbour, Mr. Clinton, or the Doctor, as he was generally desig- 

 nated ; an invitation, however, which, as had been predicted by the 

 neighbours, was most respectfully declined, on the score of ill health 



