Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-04-13
TUESDAY, April. 1871.

Now, who would have thought! 1.-THE youth could 2
have and am to blame for that he never learn
ed 10 swim OF surety am not And then did De 4
not f his hand against gifted Elder of Gods church
And moreover, have not saved the family boat, which
he about to puroint Verify, have done good /
thing, though think will not name the matter To the
people, lest it lead the temptation Of evil speaking
against rulers, and peradvcnture get ~ the world
magistrates. And them again there Is tho youths
property which he iroward and porversc about
relnquishing to the church Nay, will not let tic az
fair be known bu, go TO work right cunninGly and Sc
cure it all for Gods heritage Yea verify, have done
a good thing
Thus strangely reasoning, and thus desperately
graspng sayos for his troubled feelings, the terror
syllable Of what had happened 10 any one, immediate
y betook himself 10 his solitary lodgings not there to
end peace and repose but to wrhe and turn under the
scorpion sungs of conscicnce-that unacceptable hell
of the guilty which reiribuve Heaven has planted IN
the bosom Of Man for the certain punishment OF his
crimes
Meanwhile the lovely and conscientious Martha,
wholly unapptsed of what mad befaen her lover,
tired to her peaceful pillow, and endeayored to reflect
calmly on the new and interesting subec, which her
recent interview had opened to her mind but, finding
herself unable to do this from the thousand crowdng
thoughts and sensations which contributed to swell the
gentle tumult OF her BOSOM she dscreety deferred the
task for cooler moment, and, having pously com
mended herself to the protection Of her Maker yielded
herself TO those quiet and peaceful slumbers that
sttue not the least among the rewards of virtue and
thoughts Immediately REQUIRED to the Jet that
pied her last waking moments and, she now fig
ured in her mind her lover far his way from the
place, rejoicing in his freedom the oppression he
had at length escaped, she again and again recalled
the tender professions he had made and the
arguments he had advanced in urging her TO leave her
present situation, and go forth with him into the world
as his companion for veal or for wo. The more she
thought of the proposed step, al first startling, the
less fearful did it appear The more she weighed his
with those she found herself able bring up
in reuiaton, lighter and lighter grew the objections
which had caused her hesitate even in giving him
definite promise of acceding to his request when
they should again meet and as her scruplcs yielded
and gave way, the unchecked pleadings of her
heart came in and decisivey turned the already
incning balance, leaving her free to wander
hesitangly the and bright field of destiny
4 which had been presented to her view.
After indulging in her pleasing reveries long
inclination prompted, the maiden arose, dressed and
was on the point Of descending from her chamber to
Join in performing the domestic duties Of the morning.
4 when her attention arrested by unusual corn.
!. motion among The family below, which she
tanned, from words that reached through the par
TALLY opened door, to be caused by the discovered alb
4 sence of Seth, for whom search had already been
i made, but in vain. The consciousness that within her
own bosom she harbored the secret OF the missing
absence which she might reveal, made her for the
: rst time IN her life, feel like guilty one and, dar
ing not to go down lest her appearance should betray
the agitation she felt she paused at the head of the
stairs, and stood some time endeavonng to compose
her feelings and gain command Of her Countenancc,
which should save her from showing any excitement
that might not be natural to the OCCASION but, while
doing this the poor girl little dreaming of the
thousand times difficult task in reserve for her
that of controlling her feelings under the heart crush
q ing blow which she was destined the NEXT to
4 receive. The appalling announcement now passed
from mouth to mouth among the family that Seth was
n drowned IN the pond, the evidence of which, in add-
il ton to his unaccountabe absence, found IN the
q circumstance that his hat had been discovered floating
tlta glt. ila ltttla ,f
q shoes had been espied sunk the bottom, shed up
q and identified.
"A 1t can better be imagined than described wha, were
a the feelings OF Martha on hearing these momrnu It'd
"A ings. No word or sound, however escaped her lips
y on the occasion. She turned deadly pale indeed and
u for moment leaned her head for support against the
q decreasing; and this succeeded by quick heav-
a ing Of her BOSOM while with casped hands and closed
= eyes her trembling lips moved rapidly, il earnestly
81 engaged in silent devotion. But the next moment as
81 she opened her eyes and with firm step descended
81 from her ROOM spectator could have detected moth
a ing more IN her placid though mournfu counenauce
than he might have in the faces OF the rest Of the
q slslefhood, among whom she Immediately ming
81 led
II Most Of that day was spent by the Shaker men in
81 dragging the pond in search Of the body. from which
"a operation Elder Higgins kept studiOusly aoof though
N the nervous restiessness he constantly exhibited THO
the day, and the many anxious and inqu.rng gauces
n he frequently cast toward those thus engaged plainly
ID told that he felt painful interest in what was going
FL did not lead any TO doubt that the young man.
~ fate any different from the first supposed
81 the body il coniectured, had hoated OF and sunl
81 IN some Of the deepest parts Of the pond But, aho
~ all were unanimous IN the opinion that Seth had me
u ms death by drowning yet, with regard 10 the
IA which the casualty could have happened, there or,
81 many and various minds supposIng that be
"a must have waded In 70 something which be saw
81 floating near the shore others that he had ia h
e sleep and gone IN, while others considered either 81
n these supposons to be highly improbable since SOM
y OF the young now made known The fact ,la tht
IA deceased was expert swimmer. These and MANY
III other Conectures equally formed 70
Ii speeding the mysterious event uI, weaned with iht
II iuess discussion il was given up a entfcl
IA hopeless Of any further eucldaon and therefore per
II mltte1 70 rest.
n Seth had been a peculiar hyor,e with the iamli
generally, and bis loss Tor many days deep gloon
over the minds Of the liitle community who u.u
Il Unexpectedly called to mourn his premature decoa5e
Il The impression, however, like all others Of the kind
wore gradually away from the minds Of all except th
q bcreayed Martha and the conscience smtten Eldci
= from whose bosoms the memory Of The lost one, ~
reasons peculiar 10 each, not. may well be
q posed, SO easily 20 be erased.