The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-04-13

,,cip,ocaed, and inspiring his mind with The Joy.
Tl hone that the prise OF her ahectlohs wou'd sooi
he his Ind passud over, as he suppoied, undelect
ed. he pursued his way with light and rapid seI
along the path leading TO the water lie had no
gone many rods however, before, To ms ni,er sur
prise, his old prosecutor, the sIeePless h'sS'"s
stepped out from behind covert and, WIN INK
mr. malicious ignaon con ionted him ~ ms pain
Decpiy vexed, but neither daunted nor turneu from
his purpose, the young man pnnsed ana threw
hack look of indignation and sC0rn on his detes-
cd o,nonant for perceiving tho Elder 10 be alone
md conscious of his own bodily power he disdain-
ed eith,r - cover or flee, but, with M air of cool
Jefance stood waiting his movements ''Ah! thou
sne young her.tic!" nj length exclaimed the Elder,
tauntingy; i have caught theo NJ last, then, in
thine own inilui'ies. chr What was thee saying to
the maidenS" ..
GWhat thee will not be likely to be much the
wiser tor Indignantly replied Seth, who fut con-
fdent that whntever the Elders luck had been as
a spy, no could not, hom the distance of his posi-
ton, have gained much in the character OF an cave
dropper.,
man! Confess thy sins unto me, lest make OK
ample OF both thee and her in punishment for thy
heinous offences"
HIIypocri,c know ther and for myself def,
thee, but bid the beware how thee shall further pc
secute that inn ocont girl; for, as sure AS thee in
jures hare OF her head, will hunt Thee while
live, and haunt thee when nm dead!'
"Gct-get-gct thee b1ck To the building>!" n
back thou audacious-thou thou God forsalen rep
rebate! Ge, thee back. say Instantly"
"hian, shall not obey thee said Seth in
cool, determined tone Il no longer acknowledge
thy authority: and, fiom this hour, am no Longer
one Of thy blinded and doludcd people, lgo hence,
he added. turning out ofthe path with the Wow OF
passing by tho other.
II will detain thee-I will seize thee-I will curse
thee, and, verify, will smile the again excIam,
ed the tuning Elder, springng at the other and
making desperate grasp Mt his collar.
,obo
pared for the onset, and The next instant the wrath
iui Quaker was SPRAYING on the eurth,
Bounding forward for the pond with the object Of
getting out upon tho water before his discount ed
antagonist could recover himself and reach the
phore in pursuit. Seth quickly gained tina land ng
and hastily unfhstened the skif and leaped aboard;
but, before he could succeed in clearing the boat
fairly from the shose, and AS he stepping back
wards with handled oar, to take his seat in the
stern, tho iniura,od Elder putting in hol
haste down the bank and dashed into the water up
his knees after the rcceding boat, which even al
that moment had just passed OUT of his reach Es.
pyinP however, the end OF tho tic rope, which, in
The hurry of uniasiening, had not been taken up,
and which was dangling through tho water
within his reach, he instantly seized il and gave il
sudden and furious jerk. Unconscious ofthe owe,
sight he had committed aud, therefore, wholly un
prepared for this movement the young man los
his balance in the violent shock, was preeipItated
back wards ovei the SIX iff into the water, and IN
stanty disappeared beneath tho surface. With q
desperate effort tho Elder first drew the skf uT
high aud dry on tho shore, ihen hurriedly catching
up ar oar and sprnging back to the waters edge
he held the formidable implement uplifted over his
head as if in readiness for fatal blow the instant
his victims head should reappear on the surface
In n few seconds the young man came up just ont
of reach OF tho weapon; when, percciving the
threatening attitude Of his antagonist, apparently
determined on his destruction should he come a.
shore, he seemingly became panic struck and con.
tnsed; and after giuring wildly around him and in.
slant with gugling sound sunk beneath the surface
TO rise no more 10 tho Wow.
With look o f still unmtigated malice and Zero
city and with tho same monacing attitude, the rutl
less Elder stood waiting for second appearance OF
his victim full m Iment, when he began to exhib.
ct tokens Of surprise and lowering his weapon lii
tie, still keeping, however, his eye keenly fixed on
'he spot. After waiting in vain nearly another mo
ment for the drowning man 10 rise, The Elder be.
came thoroughly alarmed and throwing down his
oar, hnrrlcdy rsiroated rod or the bank
Here no turned and threw another anxious and
troubled look upon and around the fatal spot. a
few faint bubbles rising cessvely TO thegsrriace
alone answering his inquired gnze-nnd, reading in
them conclusive evidence Of tho horrid truth, he
gave convulsive start and He'd in terror towards
the buildings fast his quasing limbs could ca
ny him, mumbling and chat,oring TO himself as hei
went:
snow, who would have thought If tho youths
could have swam;-and am to blame for that heE
never learned to swim? OF surety I am not 1
And then did he not lift his hand against gilt /
cd Elder of Gods Church? And moreover. have
{ not saved the families boat which he was about
to purlon?-Verily, l have done q good thing l
though will no, name the matter before the peo-
ple lest il lead to the temptation of evil speaking
against rulers, and peradventure get to tho world
magistrates And them again, there is tine youth =
property, which he so frownrd ami preverse a.
bout reIInquishing to the Church. Nay, will not
iet the affair be known, but go to work right Gun.
ningly and secure it all for Gods heritage. Yes,
verify, have done a good thing
Thus strangely reasoning, and thus desperately
grasping at salves for his troubled feelings tho ter
ror stricken Elder, reached home, and without ut.
tering syllable OF what had happened 10 any one,
Immediately betook himself to his solitary lodgings,
not there to find peaco and repose, but To writhe
and turn under the scorpion siings of conscience =
that unacceptable hell of the guilty which retributive
Heaven has planted in the bosom of man for the
certain punishment Of his crimes.
~ concluded ne xt week. I
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