Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-04-28
THE TWICE Welded.
ny Ans P. W. BALL.

ioned piazza, were inhaling the rich odor q
me Josamine and sweet boney-suckle tina
completely tapestried the time-worn cxterio
OF the building, when a stranger appeare
al the gate and received the customary wei
come OF a Virginia gentleman The travel
er, tor such he announced himself was
tall, gaunt man. with a heavy leathern Wis
age and that peculiarly Of contour abou
inc head which told, to praciiced eve, o
Hessan descent. His speech, however, wa
perfectly American. with deep intonatj,
WHICH sultedw witbtho expIessjop Of 81 Z,
lTfy tiat sal on bis features His horse wa.
noble one, and as Jim led him 10 the sta
Die, his native love of good crilturs" in
duced him TO give the fine coal black animal
unwonted measure both of food and dress
ing Mrs SeIden rang the bell and gave or
ders Tor ham and chicken to be added to the
sight evening meal customary in that sec
uon, as the Ohioans say, while the master Of
NE house offered brandy and ice water TO his
guest, which was briefly and sternly re.
fused
Mr. Selden's family consisted of himself
and lady and two children, The eldest n,
whom' hne young man, had been recent.
y married, and whose young bride was sit.
ting with them. To the few courteous re.
marks addressed to him. the stranger repli-
ed sensiby but briefly, and evidently seem.
ed IN no mood for conversation. His dark
merry eye was necessarily CHANGING towards
the lair young bride of Frank Selden with
a troubled expression. and even when she
arose TO obey her iather-in-law's wish for
music, his eye still fingered on her rich
daniask cheek and parian brow, with an un.
stated gaze Isabelle Selden, the sister OF
Frank, watched with girlish curiosity the
pertinacious gaze OF the stranger, and as
The unconscious bride sang with taste and
feeling, little Swiss air, The blood rushed
TO the strangers dark brow and tear trem.
bled for moment in his restless eve. Al
an early hour he retired to his chamber.
lighted by servant. and the family sepa.
rated for the night.
Isabelle lay in her room. musing on the
strange manner Of the traveller and the in
lerest her sisler.n-law seemed TO have awak-
ened 10 his apparently stern bosom, until a
drowsincss stole over her senses and her
eyelids closed in sumber. Blessed, yea,
thrice blessed is that season Of life, when the
deep sieep OF quieude fsts on the brow Of
innocence The song OF the redbreast was
mingling with the shrill notes of the lark
as Isabelle awoke and drew aside the cur
lalns TO admit the morning breeze laden
with the fragrance of awakening flowers
The stranger was hurriedly walking thro
the orchard towards The house, and his dis
ordered dress and haggard countenance told
OF a restless night. When Isabelle descend
ed TO breakfast, she mentioned her obserya-
lions of the travellers strange manner to her
mother, who was finishing her toilette, at
tended by her maid
NINA has just been telling me-" she re-
piled, "a tedious fol de rol story of his walk
ing all night around one oak tree and NUT
tering and throwing up his arms. The
foolish girl believs that he is a coniurer,n
she added, smiling, as she led the way to
the breakfast parlor MIR Selden and his
guest were already there and Frank and
his beautiful wife soon entered Isabelle
watched the stranger as her sister took her
seat at the table, and saw that his eye was
following every glance Of hers. He ate
but little and as soon as politeness permitted,
rose 10 depart Mr. Selden courteousy in
viled him TO prolong his stay.
NO." said he, Il may not longer abide
the probing of cureless wound. Lady,"
he continued, turning abruptly towards the
young Mrs Selden, II must tell your for
tune Perhaps" he muttered to himself, lit
may avert the catastrophe of evil"
The beautiful girl smiled good-humored-
ly and extended towards him her white and
dimpled little hand. II thought" she said,
glancing archly towards Frank, my for
tune made"
The stranger seemed not to notice her ex-
tended hand, so intently was his gaze riyet.
ed on, her fair young brow. A mournlul
tenderness was in his voice as he SAID sol
emnly-"L Lady you will be toice welded r.
"Never l' exclaimed the young wife, the
crimson current flashing over neck and
brow
"Neverln cried Frank vehementy, grasp
ing the hand which hung at his side and
drawing the beautifully rounded figure clos
er to himself as his dark eye filled with
humid lustre. The stranger surveyed the
young pair moment-a rush of deep emo
ion seemed to pass over his features for an
instant, and then all was calm. He thanked
Mr. Selden for his hospitality, bowed coldly
% the rest, and walking rapidly down the
lawn TO the gate where jim stood with the
horse, slipped half dollar into the walters
hand, and galloped off Jim looked at the
,oin, half wishingly, half doubtingly, and
hen after the stranger. "Gemini may be
i is the DEVILS money" said the negro, and
hurting it into an adjacent clover-6eld, he
to the kitchen to tell his tale. But