The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-10-01
CHAPTER Y.
Such tricks hath strong Imagination.
The dread orcyn IS the worst orir, p

SHAkSPEARE
The dread orcyt /, the worst ofill PRocroR.
Busy occupied throughout the day, and know
ing that the young man did not intend TO return
until evening, Ellen did not at first regard their
prolonged absence; although as the afternoon wore
away and the shadows began to leugihcn, she cast
lrcquen, glanccs towards The entrance of the cove,
momenlly expecting the return of the boat, As the
sun Went down and the shades of evening deep
encd into twilight, she began to experience an
anxiety, which grew stronger and stronger as the
hour grew later TO relieve her mind she visited
the promonIory, known rs the Hawks Nest, in
hoping to catch sigh of the absentees,
4 strong feeling of apprehension filled her mind
ms she cnst hasiy glance in the oiling without per-
ccNing the object Of her search A slight smoky
haze hung around the shore and prevented her see
ng flr in the distance, yet at one time she thought
she caught Il glimpse of Il sail in the direction
whence she expected the fishermen. 1t was but Il
transient glance, aud van'y did she strain her eyes
to obtain a second, Nothing met her sight but the
dull waste of waters
Tho anxiety Of the wrcGker's daughter moment
" increased She could not account for the pro-
lOngcd absence Of the Young men. The weather
had been pleasant and uodrHte-he breeze which
had lreshencd considerably since nghl-rall, and
the tide was directly in their lavor-what could
delain them Some accident must have bclalen
demonstrating or other have TRANSFERRED to keep
them out so late. What could it be?
A fearful though, now flashed upon her mind;--
strange that i, sunlbcred 50 long, She remembered
her interview with Anlonio--she remembered his
threatening lunguuge-lhc terrible warning Qor it
reached her cars) uttered in moment of passion.
The whole sccnc--,hc fiery aspect of the ''plniard
the sardoui, ionG--alI, all came freshly TO her
mind. MercilUl Heaven. what should prevent the
execution Of his Jealous vengeance when such an
opportunity olicrrd-aIonc with his intended VIC
tim--away from all human he'p--with no Scrutlni-
zing eve - mark the deed bahbling tongue to
tell the tate! 1t was hut blow unnwarGS aud the
deed was done. lie fears thus HrouSed the whole
minulia of ,hi dreadful scene was pictured TO her
excited fancy. She saw the little boat floating
lone thing on tho wide oCcan-She caught the dark
glance Of The Splnlyd watching for the most favor
able mcmon'-Uh! the murderous blow was gwen:
she bche'd her lover wc!lG ring in his gorc-his
impoicnt slrugg'cs--nay, 50 much was her imagl
nation wrought upon, she thought she heard the
sulcn plashas the bleeding victim was thurS into the
sea- and the last huhbliug cry rs the waters closed
over him! Shrieking almost with the intensity of
feeling excited by the scene thus conurcd up, she
darlcd from the spot and fastened home, deter
mined TO prevail on her father TO 20 out in search
Of The missing
The old man laughed ut the fears of Ellen when
she Informed him Of her suspicious of AntonO's
lrcachcry and tried to ridiruo her out Of her fool
ish within as he termed it,
My word for it, Nell, the lads honest I've
known hin l,om hoy, and though he is quick
tempered aud ready To take olcnce,' said the old
man, he'd never commit so foul Il crime. No,
no, girl, you wrong Iim-i1ar has made you UNI
just.
But, father, whrt should keep them so late =
cnqui,ed i.i,cn, net ut all relieved by her parents
assurance the san went down an hour ago and
still they ARE not IN sight,
'Wht of that, my chi.d--pcrhap3 the fish did
not take the hook freely, and moi wishing TO come
home without bringing some tokens Of their skill,
they did not leave The ground quite so early us they
otherwise wouId--or perhaps they found the sport
so good the time slipped away unnoticcd. Cheer
up, Nell, your lover is safe enough, and will be
here hctmcs'
Not vet satisfied, I'ilcn still urged her rcqucsr--
Shehjl never mentioned TO her parents her rrlcc-
ton of Anlonos suit. \ natural feeling of deli
cary had prevented her making it known; but her
anxiety new grew 80 great, she determined on re-
lic,ing IT, She told the old man the whole circum-
stances Of The nlcryiew--of the rage Of Antonio
and Of his l,arlol dcnuncnlon.
All, there is something in tht-he girl has
reason Tor her leans, though hINo too good opn-
ion orlho lad TO disrust him, muercd the wreck
or 10 himself
Ills wiI,, who did not coincide in her husband 5
favorable estimation Of Antonio character, on
healnE Illan's story caught some Of her alarm, and
joined N prr'uldmg him 70 20 out.
Welding at last IN l.. II united opportunities and
to the too evident distress Of Ellen, hG consented
10 90 in search oil the boat
'Thn hrrpIn il Fastening fast said he and
blowing right into h' cove, and by the time we
have worked our way out, no doubt we shall fall
in with them, and be laughed nj for our pains.-
However, the young fellows shnll not know our
crrand,' and the old man started to muster a crew
and get underway. 1t was not long ere the mpa-
ient girl WAS in some slight measure relieved by
the sight ofIhr schooner stretched across the cove,
making short iacks as she slowly worked her way
into the open sea.
70 be contnucl