Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-01-20
MONTPELIER, JANUARY 20, 1910.

which 20 to confirm me. Yes, you may be right
in this, but wrong think, in judging Of the mo-
tives that have led to the visit
| 'fWhat other motive can there be but the one
assigned !? at lenglh asked Alma with an air of
perpexity, mingled with some uneasness.
Miss llendee, resumed Warrington with con-
siderable embarrassment at the effort your ques-
ton leads me to declaration, which my painful
" conflicting obligations as a citizen and US a
gentleman who has received much Kindness from
your family, will he some excuse, hope, for with
holding till now but which my feelings will al
low me to withhold no longer. Miss Hendee, my
name ~ not 1owardp 49,.
Not Howard! exclaimed Miss Hendee with
a look of uliieigned surprise. Not HowauIn
she repeated, the tall arches of her beautiful
brows slightly contracting with an incipient irown.
| Surely, surely, Sirp
| Nor is that. fear you will think, resumed the
other seriously and now with perfect composure,
the worst of the avowaI | am aware wha, /
risk what indeed shall probably forever lose
in your esieem lair lady. But duty to you, and
respect to my own character, compels me to The
disclosure Il am Charles Warrngton!'
| sharp, nartculne exclamation burst from
the lips OF ttf astonised and recoiling girl, mt the
announcement of the lame
| What Is the matter there, Alma? asked Cap
tain Hendee, in tone modulaed somewhere be-
tween the jocose and anxious, as he thrust his
head partly through the door, beside which he
was sitting, on the opposite side of the partition in
the other room, what is the case there, girl r
i Doctor Hunter IS not pulling a tooth for YOU is
he?
Perceivng, however, nothing but dumb shows
gong on between the pnrties, and satisfied with
the shot he had given them, he left them to anoth-
4 er embarrassing silence, which for many minutes
was broken by neither.
i Il am so surprised at this strange and unexpec-
ted deveopement,' at length observed Miss Hem
dee, though with mind and feelings still unsettled
and balancing between the former high opinion
n "a apio Hox uord
and the preconceved picture of the rufian- like
character with which she had been accustomed to
associate Warrington: so surprised that hardly
know what should say, or how should act to-
wards you Sir, in the new character in which you
now stand before me. Am 10 understand that
our quiet home here is now TO he made the thea
tire of contention in II dispute Tor possession?
Heaven forbid replied Warrington, eagerly,
, You have, Miss Hendee, my pledge already in
this respect, given to you at our last interview
can you doubt my will 10 redeem it? And you
now perceive with what authority could make
the assurance. But though you can have no ap-
prehenslons OF this kind of me, or my people, for
, whom can safely answer, yet what will be your
opinion OF one who made, and has since sought
your acquaintance under a disguised name? Ii
is that which troubles me, dear lady. And in that
you have an apparent right, at least TO condemn
me, tho Oh not acting for myself, but for those
who assigned me the part in which disguise was
deemed necessary
Oh neeu NOT lOreStaI your sentence, sir, SAID
the other, something very like smile again light
ing up her sweetly expressive countenauce, Il
know too little OF the merits of this unhappy con-
troversy freely confess, to feel sure of doing JUS
tlce 10 either party in any opinion nigh now
press, believe can still put trust in you-at
least, will 70: the present believe for it would
indeed be Illuminating to us all, to find ourselves
so much mistaken in one, whose character we had
4 so highly estimated Yes, in you,' she repeated
with emphasis, but in your party'-and she
fence, resumed, 'can you inform me who is that
fearful looking, and singular stranger in the other
room Tor was mistaken in Judging from some
, appearances noticed that you and he were ac-
quainted I?
'Your conjectures were true. His name, how
ever, cannot disclose. But this may say, that
Z he is not all that he may have appeared here TO
nght; ana yet he Is far more-a man OF many
high aud noble qualities, combined with extraordi
il nary powers of body and mimi, though now pla.
q eed here in circumstances as inauspcious as my
n own. These circumstances, as they will make lp
d an answer to the question you asked before | an.
: nouhced my true name, will now, with your per-
4 mission briefly explain
y His fair auditor signifying willingness at least,
4 10 listen 10 the explanation, Warrington taking
com rehensive glance ut the true grounds of the
% controversy between the settlers aud their oppo-
q nents, drew vivid picture ofthe wrongs and con-
4 sequen sutferings which the latter had endured
- and which led to the part he had taken ia their
n behalf explained the necessty of tile disguise he
had assumed, related his Subsequent career, and
J the consequences to himself and all those who
l. had taken conspicuous part in attempting to de-
n end the poor settlers against the rapacty of their
d oppressors.
=. is this, Mr.. Howard me, Mr. War
I ringon, should say, observed the other, evident
y Interested, and even touched by the recital she
e had just heard is this, indeed, impartial ac-
AZ count of this hapess contest? And are these ar.
e med men here TO drag you to prison, and an ig-
m nonnous DEATH for acting part like this? Why,
nj o. why, did you venture here into the very Jaws
ID of the lion and now, why DO you p1oment lin
n ger? why not escape while they at their noisy
20 carousals in the other room? -ihat door these
i; windows
~ 81 Have all been guarded ench by soldier with
III loaded musket, from the moment entered
az this room. An ear, practised in the forest has
NJ failed to catch the sound of their cautious and
r senltiy tread the occasional rubbing of,her
,ir kets against their buttons and indications of their
M presence and Object nCi 10 be mistaken
I'd 'Oh do wonder how you can he so calm
n, What hops~-what resource Is there left you, in
~, which YOU can now trust for escape?
n Many! be not concerned. They probably
n think shall remain through the night, and will
ca deem safest to defer any attempt to seize ill
m they suppose us asleep trust much in my friend
AN ever fruitful in expedlents, and now acting part
~ in the other room, nigh US | can Judge fiom
70. what occasionally reaches my ear, with reference
or to eecling this object. Neshobee is friend =
We and may not hope an acquiescence, at least
from you ?
~, Most certainly the latter, and if l could-bu
an what could do|
IA, Perhaps neutrality-suspicious. much. We mus
he act on circumstances. But had we now not bet
ter part: feel anxious to be cooperating will
,li- my FRIEND said Warrington rising and moving
M towards the door,
an. 'One moment longer-that is, if you no
too ANXIOUS to go observed Alma, motoning hin
ate to remain.
md what would my fair friend say p asked tn
other, perceiving her 10 hesitate.