We had a terrible struggle. He was younger and stronger
than I was, and as I felt that I was growing weaker I called out
loudly for help and shouted "Murder!"
The landlord himself came running into the room; I succeeded in
tearing myself away, from the grasp of my assailant, and the
landlord felled him to the floor with a chair. He then ran to the
door and called to a servant to bring a policeman.
"No, don't!" I exclaimed; "Don't arrest the villain, for I can make
no complaint against him--he is my son!"
But the landlord was bound to have some satisfaction out of the
affair; so he dragged the young man into the hall and kicked him
from the top of the stairs to the bottom, where, as soon as he had
picked himself up, a convenient servant kicked him out into the
street. I have never set eyes on my young man since his somewhat
sudden departure from that hotel.
And when I went to visit my poor Henry a day or two afterwards, I
can hardly say that I was surprised, though I was indignant to learn
that his brother and sister had never been near him at all since he
had been in Massachusetts. They knew where and how he was from his
letter's to his mother; they knew, too, from the same letters-for I
had notified Henry-at what time I would be in Boston, and with this
information they had come on to swindle me. I have no doubt, when
the young man came the second time to rob me, he would have murdered
me, if the landlord had not come to my assistance. And this was the
youngest son of my first and worst wife!!
I found Henry in better condition than I expected, and I took him
back with me to Augusta.
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