Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-03-15

hers, and looking at the other ha nd. said
to him in q deep whisper-'How that ring
Of yours g%|itters in the darkness! | feel.
TOO, as it there was a wondrous life and
spiritual presence around Us. But tor
weeks past | have had something Of this
feeling, and more than ever.s since you have
been staying with us. 1t is now a month
since | have heard any thing of n dear
friend, and his image has been haunting
me at intervals all the time.
She felt his hand relax, and that he
trembled while she spoke. She too now
trembled, for never to any one before had
she spoken of her love. But the previous
idea still possessed her, for tho potent
strife Of nature had elevated and freed her
soul, and broken down many an old barrier
Of reserve.
Often she continued. and especially
when you are with me, he walks vislblv
before me. and turns his head as if to
look at me, but never so much that | can
catch his eye. There she cried. there
now he secs me and she drew her hand
away convulsivcly, and pointed into the
darkness. A keen flash now came, and
showed Walsingham that there was M
one where she had looked. The astound
ing thunder followed and Maria, Mt the
same time. fell back with n long Sigh
Walslnghan, too, was much agita'ed, for
what he thus learned OF Maria's affections
bitterly disappointed him but he com
manded himself sternly. Another flash
now spread around them, and the the thun-
der followed so rapidly as to show how
near to them was the explosion; but before
1t vas heard she again opened her eyes,
and both she and her companion saw once
more the fated ship, which now lay strip
ped and dismasted, and seeming to Ia Ike Its
. final plunge into the deep. They kept
their eyes fixed upon The spot. but even
!, when some fainter electric lights did play
over the view, the sea was now invisible
, through the black sheets of rain. The
streams from the stceple above them, and
-, from the remaining portions of The roof,
. were heard rushing down with n con,lnu'
! Gus uproar, while the rattle aud the mur-
, mur Of the rain itself spread all around.
/ and the wind howled and beloved as if
r the universe were given over to its wrath.
, Except during the moments Of the light
ming, 1t had long been pitch dark. Maria
felt that she could speak more boldly than
. if she had been seen by Walsingham, and
J she SAID, in a low voice, Il have been talk
ing very wildly: but this tempest has filled
me with strange md stirring thoughts,
, and | felt as if we knew each other better
than | should ever otherwise have believ.
ed
Dear friend = he answered gently and
sadly-'such hours as these set atoat much
, that was aground, and open much that was
clOcoI What uvnn1ar mh,n croh hloctu
=, are beating on the gates of our caverns,
that they should burst open, and aparilions
[ If long hidden truth come nut. and lean
4 with inspired frenzy in the wild commotion!
When the storm passes, the dark gates
close anew, and the shapes sink back into
3 their cells, perhaps forever. Tomorrow
we shall wake as inhabitants Of calm day.
I light the involuntary and painful disturb.
ance will have ceased and the sense o.
what has been will remain as lasting Joy
strength
Quiet passed INTO her bosom with hi:
u words. and she took his hand again, but
scarcely had he received and returned this
token of good will, when they both were
smi'ten by a fearful shock. Their ewes
a seemed scared and blinded, and their ear:
filed with an overwhelming noise. The ali
y they brealhed was thick with dust and tas
:, ted sulphureouS. For some seconds the
monstrous clamor continued, and the rack
= ing bewilderment ulI WaIslnghum exclaim
: ed, Are yon hurt =
'No, no. she answered. what is il a
The lightning has struck the church
but we are now probably safe.'
They were nearly stuffed by the dust, blu
they could see, lmperfectly, for they were
! no longer in total darkness. lie looked
up and saw a blaze high in the splre Ma,
% ria, too, perceived the fact but she be
came at once calm and steady, and said,--
what are We to do In the da. kness out,
side we could not find our way, and if W,
; remain we may be injured by the flame
Il and ruIns.'
a They looked again. and saw the fame
had spread wider among The old WOO
r work. though the rain Kissed on them loud
ly. Walsingbam gazed for a minute fix
eddy upward, and then said, . we are il NJ
RI danger. You must continue here in thl
recess where nothing falling from allow
70 can hunt you; and there are, | think, mean
If of obtaining help. See here' and he point
ed out TO her the rope of the church bel
still hanging near them. This he seized
and began to ring it with all his strength
20 The loud alarm doomed out through The
: storm, while the cracking flames blazct
70 and smoked around the sp,re, but had no
N yet reached the bell rope.
~ He paused in his work after a time. ant
a, said--'l wooder how it happens that hi
III bell is left here, when the building Is 9th
IS erwise so entirely Abandoned
Il think | nave heard replied Maria
If that the parish to which the church be
m longs, but which has now a modern plac
IN of worship nearer the village, holds som
an land on condition of having this bell run,
h for an hour every st. Peters day, and lha
or it is never sounded at any other time Q
Of the year.