The Litchfield County post., 1827-07-12

hand, or pressed its cheeks upon her snowy
 neck such a gleam of joy seemed stealing from the recesses of her bosom and mantling her cheeks, that I could not but silently ex- claim, there are no recOIlecti0ns of guilt as- sociated with the being of the darling child; 1; she lowest adOres it as an innocent mother.
 The violence of the storm increasing as the long afternoon wore cheeFlessly away, and
 when the shades of the evening approached.
 withdrew from the rude freside, but fre-
 quent sighs broke the silence that sealed eve-
 " tongue for finding my attempts tO lead
 my hostess or her daughter into conversation
 on the subject in whicliI felt most interest,
 vain, | sat so long silent that my bosom canght
 portion of the disease which was so
 evidently preying upon them, and with a sad
 and heavy heart took my seat at window
 and looked out upon the forest, as they grew
 darker and gloomy every moment. The wind had died away, but the snow now fell in large heavy flakes the sky looked more dense with clouds than before. and l was breeding over my misfortlnes in being over
 taken by such stOrmin such place in the worst possible humor, when my eyes caught
 the form of a traveller who, though well
 mounted on large and beautiful steed, came
 slowly winding down the pathway from the rode, evidently much fatigued with the jour ney he had made. 't
 In better moods should have been over- joyed at the idea of other and more cheer
 ful company than my present for, the night,
 but as felt at the moment, rather viewed the coming unknown as an intruder, about whom Twas indifferent, and without saying
 word, gazed al him as he alighted, and <ha hws11n %I.nm >F hso
 maj, approached the door. A loud rap | was the first intimation the family had of the coming of a new visitor. The stranger asked for permission to remain in the house through the night, adding that he should give them
 no trs uble, as he was provided with provis- ion and blanket, & would lay on the floor {;
 the request was granted, and having taken care of his horse, he entered the room ; and
 without taking the least notice of any one, ! or saying a word, he sat himself down by the fire, shook the snow from his hat and dress, and dropped his cheeks upon his hands, as in deep and solemn thought. Al'wa silent as before; the pine fire burn l ed rather dimly. and could not clearly dis
 cern the features of the stranger, who for at least an hour sat fixed as statute in his po- ! sition, without believe, at all observing me, or being conscious of the existence of any be- ing but himself and our hostess within the
 room: and had fallen in a half sleeping re-
 verie when was aroused by deep hollow grean. which issued from knew not where.
 I shuddered, and drew nearer the fire. Mrs. Hubert. I observed, started from her seat, and walked the floor rapidly while Ellen
 convulsively clasped her arms around the babe ] that lay slumbering in her lap, and pressed
 her cheek to its forehead. The stranger re- mained motionless, but again some voice as 1 if from the bowels of the earth, sent up that
 hollow groan. could not determine whence it came, and dared not ask, so agitated did the two females seem to be at the repeatal;
 but it caught the ear of the traveller, who l slowly raised his head, and asked in, calm I voice, "who is sick 2" The old lady clasped
 her hands and turned pale, as she endeavOred ] to initiate the sound and replied that she
 felt unwell. There was a mystery in all thls
 that was observed by the stranger; he turned to me and repeated the question. I. shook my head in silence, and he again rested his
 forehead on his hand. Again and again in
 rapid succession, the noise was heard. It sec med te come from beneath the floor, and the stranger as if electrified, started from his seat, and cried-" for Gods sake what means this! say madam, do not shudder--this mystery must be unveiled" then drawing from his bO-
 som pistol he seized with the other hand a
 blazing torch. Fl will search the house',.- = said be :. something smells of murder" Mer- ciful heaven ''--screamed the elderly lady,
 {. we are undOne' '--,-ss Undone [" we repeat ed in utter astonishment- -s'what means this?" The groan continued, and Mrs. Hubert fal- ling upon the neck of he daughter,both were
 instantly dissolved in an agony ofweeping.
 Without noticing this the stranger led the
 search, and on examining the tioor, some loose
 boards were discovered, which being remoy-
 ed revealed dark cave beneath, and from it
 as from sepulchre those sounds almost too
 full of anguish to be human, came; the stan
 ger surveyed it, and then cautiously entered. On couch of staw. at one corner of this dis
 mai abode, we beheld a gray headed ghastly
 figure cioathed in rags and exhibiting the ve- " image of human wretchedness, stretched out at full length. He raised his dim eyes as
 the light approached him.--'' What,you have
 come at last,'' said he in a haggard tone ;-
 "well you are welcome 1.-the grave will be
 more quiet, less dreadful repOse than this!
 I am Irwin Hubert Y and reached out his
 shrivelled hand to me; '.you will not need cords" continued he, ''tbis ftame is all feeble
 ness and vol shall give you no trouble"
 By this time Ellen and her mother had came down and noticed, for the R rst time,
 the signs of trepidation steal over the stern
 features of the stranger, he withdrew with a
 n. u1 LII .a