Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-07-13

er BY the way the Oft told tale was repeat
ed, and her consent to their future union
gained, AS they slowly made their way
through the tangled forest, he beguied her
with descriptions Of the pleasure they would
ENJOY when he took her to Portsmouth,
There cottage, a garden and COW await
ed her. She was already in Imagination,
their happy possessor and enjoying the fine
sights Of Portsmouth.
She had received her wages from the
Colonel and with all the confidence of un-
suspecting love, insisted that he should take
it, TO purchase articles for their anticipated
housekeeping. 1t needed little pressing to
induce him TO receive that which he had al
ready appropriated TO his own selfish put
poses. After some little show of reluctance,
he gladly received the coverted piitance.
Arrived at Lancaster, he left her with ma
ny charges TO be in readiness when he came,
promising TO return when the Colonel was
ready to set out. and take her with him to
Portsmouth, there to be married. But her
heart and her money his, he had little inten-
ton Of fulfilling his promises. A simple
country girl was no wife for the town bred
waiter of Colonel
A week had passed, and her little prepar-
atoms completed, she began anxiously 10
look for her lover. Instead of him, one of
the workmen from the farm comes. She
enquiries the news. What is her surprise TO
hear tina, Colonel and Swindell had set off,
with the first gray light that morning for
Portsmouth
The first feeling was that of Indignation
OF his treachery The base, heartless
wretch, TO pretend to love me, get all my mo-
ney, and then go and leave me-" But in a
moment woman's con6ding love spoke
" Perhaps he could not come 1t may be
that he had not notice tina, he was going,
and was obliged to leave me behind. I'll
follow him il he loves me how glad he
will be 10 see me. If he send me back, | will
, at least tell him Of his business, and get my
money back to buy me coffin, for cannot
live ifhe has served me s"
With the thoughtlessness OF desperate
haste she scarcely allowed herself time tc
provide warm clothing. The traveller had
three or four hours the start Of her, besides
the advantage Of the eleven miles that lay
between her and the farm, by which she hat
to pass on her way.
With her cloak thrown on her shoulders
and stuffin her hand, without morsel o
food, she set off on her perilous journey
/, 1t was the latter part OF November. Win
Ter commences in these cold regions much
earlier than even a little farther south
Already deep snow lay upon the ground
The piercing cold, and the cheering ant
desolute appearance of the gloomy forests
+ might well appall stouter heart than usu
}, ally dwells in woman's breast. But goadet
, by agony. and led on by hope, she resolves
10 brave every peril
= They who have never penetrated thu
depths ola tangled forest, can form no con
cepiions of the horrors that lay before her
: Fancy cannot draw a picture, the darl
shades of which can compare with the gloo
: nv reality. After passing Colonel Whip
i !, pies cleaing, thirty miles of unreclaime'
y wilderness lay before her. ere she coul'
: reach the habitation OF man. This who'll
{ distance there was not path, not track 4
. guide her uncertain way Her sole depend
9 epce were notches Gu, in the trees, 10 serv
. as marks to the few travellers that passe
= through these dreary solitudes, The silenc
of which is seldom broken, save by the how
e of the wolf, or the cry of wild cat or bear
:, Yet alone, on foot. no support but her slai
y and her undaunted resolution, see her st
out on her hopeless errand.
a Imagine, if you can, the mingled feeling
- of misery, that led to this state OF desperi
,s tion love conlendng with fear, doubt WI
!. certainty, and pity her wretchedness Will
: YOU condemn her guilty imprndence. n
j.. doubt the thought OF the cruel suspense sh
r. must endure, at least, till summer brougl
:, the Colonies annual visit, was insuppoiti
~ BILE. No mails, no post roads, no travellln
y made communication easy between the wv
places. She must now execute her purpos
20 or resign all hope of hearing any tidlngss
=, him for months. Anything was preierabl
: to this. and her strong desire TO overlake MI
~ persuaded her it was possible. Love, IN
Of deceiver, beguiIed her too, with the promls
" that she would be welcome TO him, who's
IF sudden departure she was sure had not le
u him at liberty to fulfil his promise
.. The sun was already past meridian. whe
= cold and weary she reached her iorin'
rs home. The men were still there, and urge
=. her TO 90 no farther. The travellers had s
" off at day Break and it was impossible th
y. she could travel on foot as fast as they
!, horseback Besides the snow was SO dee
ID that she could not get through It and woul
=. lose her way and perish in the forest
= But she was not to be turned from NJ
10 purpose They would have to stop ir
!, ouenty to lead their horses wherethey cou
A. not ride them, or to lop the thick brancn'
40 that would impede their progress besih'
Ia thew would beat a path in the snow ana
;e !, was moonlight, she could follow the
:" ,racLs oil n;oht and overtake them whe