Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-12-20

The quarter chirned, then the half honr, then
three quarters, aud at last the clock struck ten,
and still hs had not come back. Theobald WINS
sent to the winners over the way, TO inquire whe
Their the senator might not have turned in there
and met with friend who had detained him but
he came back saying that the winner assured him
he al not seen his mnsler. Catherine oked
bout this sudden disappearance Of her husband,
but nobody joined in her mirh, especially as the
venerable grandmother assumed SO serious look.
For some days past she had felt uhwell.
1T is not right for him 10 go Just now said
she Il am liable to be called from one moment
to another; and il would grieve the much not 10
| see him once more
| Catherine scoded the grandmother for this ex
preston, and told her that she ought not to tnlk
in that manner. The old lady said her prayers,
and Catherine led her to her chamber.
I The children were put To bed, too young
Rhuberg retired, and Catherine was Jeff by her
self She took us some work, and sented herself
near tie candle, resolving not 10 go TO bed till er
husband came in.
II struck eleven, il struck twelve, and not q
football was heard out of doors. The streets
were deserted aud silent: the wnichman's horn
was heard at great distance and from cur
tained back window OF neighboring house
sounded the low mournful tones of a woman
singing while they watched with corpse. The
sky was overcast, aud here and there few solia-
ny stars, so few, that Catherine could count them,
peeped forth from behind the clouds. She stood
at the window, and she made sure that every
shadow which glidcd along either side of the
street was her husband coming home at last but
still he came not.
| When she returned to her work at the table,
she was seized with dependency and nlarnI. She
now behought her that it was not Sebald's way
to go out so suddenly without saying a word, and
to stay out SO late. IL he had changed his mind,
and been obliged to 20 out that evening" lie would
surely have said word to that effect TO his wife,
who was sitting rot fur from HIM. Never did he
90 out for single hour without ucquainting her,
and desiring her to save his supper for him; and
now he was away the whole night she turn
ell over in her mind his behaviour during the
day. uneasy as she was, she fancied il had
not been altogether usual but on closer ex-
amination she could not adduce any particular
circumstance. The anxious wife tried to recol-
lect whether any petty jar had arisen between
them, but she soon said to herself
How could forget quarrel so serious AS to
drive Il husband away from his wife Besides il
was not Sebads disposition TO bear such violent
grudge.'
GATHERINGS thoughts then turned to his crcum.
stances but as far AS she knew, these were pros
porous: indeed, had they been ever so deranged,
the senator, man universally beloved and es
eemed would have had no need to abscond by
night on that account, for he had friends and
wealthy relations who took an interest in his wei
fare.
Amid these musings, day dawned and Cathe
rine extnguished her lamp Weary as she was,
sleep kept eoof from her eyes. By degrees the
family began to stir, doors opened and the short
ory cough Of the grandmother gave notice that
she WAS awake. The children came, and Ca!he-
riDe said not word to them TO the old lady
bout the absence OF her husband. But she could
not long couceui it.
People came upon business the messenger of
the senate wanted him; friends asked TO see him ;
aud at last she was Obliged 10 confess that she
knew not where her husband was.
day was suffered to pass aud then it was
publicly reported in The city that Senator Beer
ein had disappeared, and nobody knew what had
become Of hun. Some now pretended that a
nnnss hat aud stick had been found on The bank
of the river others declared that "A report of fire.
arms had been heard AT night in npighboring
wood, aud II was whispered that the corpse of the
suicide had been carried very early in the morn.
ing TO the city by charcoal burners, secretly hired
for the purpose.
| Still more extraordinary rumours were circulat-
ed ii was alledged that Mr.. Beerlcin had been con-
Quoted ny an escort over the frontiers to be pun
ished for some crime suddenly discovered iu q
neighborlng country. 1t is easy to conceive what
Catherine and her family must have suffered when
they heard these reports.
The poor iorlorn woman still believed that her
husband would come back daily, hourly. but she
WAS disappointed.
month passed away, two months, three
months, and not a trace Of the senator was to be
discovered. Advertisements in the newspapers
proved trlltless and private inquiries indefatga-
bly, prosecuted were equally unavailing The man
was as completely lost us il he had sunk into The
earth. Nobody had seen him 60 out at the door,
nobody had observed him in the street infinitely
as his dress, face, and figure were described, no
where had his person been seen in any of the
neighboring places.
Three years elapsed, and the lost senator had
ceased to he talked of when, late one evening,
likewise in the middle of summer, man knock
ed at the door of Beerlens house. He looked
pale and fatigued. lie was asked what he want
ed The stranger was evidently astonshcd at
this question.
'Who are you 7? said the young man who OPP
ened the door. 'What brings you into my
| house,?
'Your house = exclaimed the youth, scrutiniz-
ing the interrogation from head 10 foot. This
house belongs 10 Mr.. Van Peters, the wine merch-
ant, and um his clerk
! van Peters ! exclaimed the stranger. - What
n silly onf you must he to crack such n stupid
joke AS if did not know where the wine
merchant lives, and where my own house is
With these words lac pushed the young fellow
roughly aside, and assembled the well known siur.
case. He went along the passage; here he
saw furniture and pictures that were strange to
nm. He was about 10 open the door Of the sill.
} llng-rOom, when bursts of obsreperous laughter
the clang OF glasses, aud voices Of men in loud
dHputatlon met his ear.
is 1t possible !" said he TO himself 'has Cath
er'he company anu especially such noisy COM
pany as this I?
Tie oprned The door gently, and thrilled with
horror on seeing number OF drunken Iaces a.
round public-house table. The apartment
} which used to be kept so neat, clean, and So
comfortable, looked dirly, and was filed with to-
bacco smoke. The wanscot was damaged and
In I,n;.
The window where his grandmother was accus.
toned TO sit, was occupied by sleeping 'noun.
tain OF gross flesh But the evening sun shone,
MS II did when he was there last through the win
} dows, and It's golden radiance cut the returned
senator TO The heart like dagger. fIe stood up