Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-02


Sooner would suffer all that wicked men
could iHtlict than lead thee astray. think
it mean II for thy good as much as for my
own happiness. 1t Is not temptation it is
but the pleadings Of wisdom and love. Fly
with me, then, this night and this hour-hy
with me from the dangers and miseres
that here bcsct thee ~ safety and happiness"
may, nay, Scth," replied the maiden
calmly AID firmly, after appearing 10 strug-
gle moment with her conflicting feelings.
"Thc proposal is a bad and startling one;
1t IS also new and unexpected. I have not
considered and may not now accent j.; and,
moreover, may not longer remain with
thee. must return to the buildings"
"And am | never to see thee more ~
asked the other sadly.
"Why, il inc will indeed leave u.s." she
replied, lingering and hesitatng, unless.
pcrhaps-unless thee could return at some
appointed time and place"
"Wili thee, them" eagerly inquired the
youth twill thee meet me here four weeks
from this nigh! ?"
"If permitted, l will, Seth
"And be prepared to 60 with me -
again may not promise but 1 will
weigh the proposal with kindly intent. Faro
thee WE'LL Seth"
"Fare thee well, beloved Martha-if thee
can stay no longer, fare thee well, with many
blessings; but remember, oh remember ~
Fondly and anxiously gazed the youth
aftcr the nader, till her rctreaing form was
lost TO his vcTv among tn. intervening shrub
berry, when he appeared to rouse himself
from his tender rcverie TO the purpose rev
remaining to be accomplished; and, with a
firm step and resolute air; he bent his course
towards the pond, where he knew skifl be-
longing to the Shakers was moored.
Although the Shaker leaders manly de-
pend for retaining their subjects upon the
Impressions OF aversion and hatred of the
world which they SO sedulousy implant in
the bosoms of their youth, aided by the cx-
IRENE ignorance IN which they are kept for
the same purpose, and by which they are
generally rendered as helpless and passive as
could be wished, yet force, whatever may be
sad to the contrary, is, or at least was form
crly, not untrcquently restored to for the
purpose of restraining those detected in at
tempting to escape. Seth, therefore, with
the view of avoiding collisions growing out
ofany attempt that might lie made, in case
he had been suspected and watched, to pre-
part IN a direction and manner which the
Shakers would be the least likely to suspect
him of taking. In pursuance Of this plan he
had determined to take the boat and cross
over to some point which was to place him
beyond the family possessions, wlhin the
| boundaries of which the pursuit of their flu
gitives was usually confined. Congratu-
> lating himself on the result of his interview
with Martha, which, besides filing his bosom
| witt. the bissful consciousness that his love
was reciprocatcd, and inspiringhls mind with
the joyful hope that the prise Of lis affections
! would soon be his, had passed over, as he
supposed, undetccted, he pursued his way
| with light and rapid step along the path lead
0 ing to the water. He had not gone many rods,
however, before, to his utter surprise, his old
c prosecutor, the slecpless Higgins, stepped
r out from behind a covert and, with look Of
/ malicious indignation, confronted him in his
t path. Deeply vexcd, but neither daunted
nor turned from lis purpose, the young man
paused and threw back look of indignation
and scorn on hls detested opponent; for per-
C ceiving the Eldcrto be alone and conscious Of
; this own bodily power he dsdained either to
c cover or flee, but, with an air%af cool def
0 ance, stood waiting his movements "Ah
= thou vile young hereto - at length exclaimed
0 the Elder, taunlingly; II have caught thee
: at last, then, in thine own nquities, ch
S What was thee saying to the maiden %
e "What thee will not be likely to be much
i the wiser for Indignantly replied Seth,
S who felt confident that, whatever the Elders
luck had been as SPY, he could not, from
d the distance ofhis position, have gained much
!, in the character an cavos-dropper.
e "lla dost ihol defy thy appointed rulers =,
f young man! Confess thy sins unto me, lest
/. | make an example Of both the and her in
i punishment for thy hcinous Offences
"Hypocrite, know thee, and for myself
, defy thee bat bid the beware how thee shall
Y further pcrscnute that innocent girl for, as
sure as thee Injuries hair of her head. | will
9 hunt the while live, and haunt thee Wien |
am dead
"Gei-get-oct thee back TO the build
G ings ~ at length he sputtcrcd in exploding
rage. "Get thee back, thou audaclous-
= thou-thou God-forSaken reprobate Get
6 thee back, | say instantly ~
"Alan, shall not obey thee!" said Seth
n in cool, determined tone. 81 no longer ac-
!, knowledge thy authority and, from this
hour, am no longer one of thy blinded and
=, NSiuucu ptoplc' 20 ncHCc, liC auueu,
:, turning out of the path with the view Of pas
sing by the other.
81 will dctain thec-I will seize thee-I
will curse thee, and, verify, Twill smitc thee
again exclaimed tie Tuning Elder, sprneing
, at the other and making dcspera'- rasp
at hls collar.
> The Young man, however, was not taken
- unpreparcd for the onset, and the next in
=. slant the wrathiul Quaker was SPRAYING up
on the earth.
Bounding forward tor the pond with the
object of getting out upon the water before
- his discounted antagonist could recover
y himself and reach the shore in pursuit. Seth
; quickly gained the landing, hastily uniastcn.
: cd the skIil and leaped aboard but, before
n he could succeed IN clearing the boat fairly
from the shore, and as he was stepping back
wards with handled oar IN take L;s sa,, m