Page:Youth's warning-piece, or, The tragical history of George Barnwell.pdf/10

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imaginable; and though he was ſenſible to the minuteſt degree of the horridneſs of the fact he was going to perpetrate, and made ſeveral efforts to return, yet his infatuation for her who ſought only the deſtruction of every man in her power, in revenge for the loſs of her own reputation and peace of mind, hurried him on to his own ruin, in the murder of his dearly loving and beloved uncle.

Being at length arrived at the village where his uncle lived, he waited in a ſecret place till the he time knew he would be by himſelf at his meditations in the garden, (as was his daily cuſtom to ballance accounts with heaven, that he might always be prepared for that moment in which he might be called) and then maſking himſelf, went to meet him. George preſented a piſtol, and was going to ſhoot him, but his concience gave him ſuch a check he could not do it, but threw away the piſtol; the uncle hearing it fall, and ſeeing a man ſo near him maſked, was going to draw his ſword, which George perceiving immediatly, ſtabbed him. The old man prayed heaven with his laſt breath to bleſs and proſper his nephew, and to forgive his murderer. George, overcome with his goodneſes, discovered himſelf. The reader may imagine what aſtoniſhment the