Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-06-05


Clara sat one evening alone with her mo-
ther, her head bent over her work. When
ever she was thus situated, her secret weigh
ed heavily on her heart, and the dread of
detection was never absent from her mind
Ii Mrs. Stanley addressed her suddenly, she
would start and turn pae-if she looked up
on her ntently, she would tremblc and
blusli--and sometimes would talk at random
and commit thousand Inconsistencies. She
rcioiccd at the entrance of aneghbor, for it
saved her the trouble of talking, and left her
to her own thoughts. Mrs. Morton, the lady
WHO now made her appearance, was only de-
srous Of listeners,tor as she came laden with
news she was eager to impart before she
could be tjrestalled in the Office.
This is IL very unplcasat affair about tina,
young Pcdar,' said Mrs. llorton-llavc you
heard of itl'
Clara's cars tnglcd at these words, and she
held her breath to listen. Mrs. Stanley ex-
pressed her ignorance, and Mrs. Morton pro-
cocded.
You recollcct that a shocking murder
and robbery were perpclrated not very long
since in an adjoining town, and that great re-
wards were offered for the apprehension of
the murderer. 1t seem, they have discover
cd gang OF pcdlars, who are going about
numbering and plundcring in every direction.
Some one who knew the gentleman who has
been lately murdered, says he can swear to
one OF the watches among>tlc Jewels of the
young pcdlar who has been sauntcring about
here. lie says he has seen i. in the gentle
mlns, possession, tS has no doubt he is both a
robbcr and a murderer. They have taken up
the young man upon suSpicion,and he is now
confined IN Jail. The probability is Inc will
be hung
at is indeed shocking to hear Of such
crimes replied Mrs. Stanley, when the ac-
tors too are brought so near our own HON s..
thought there was something very suspi-
cious about that young man, and feared Inc
might be troublesome to US
She looked at Clara as she spoke, but she
seemed to take no interest in the conversa-
tion, remaining perfectly still, with her head
bowed, so that the lamp shonc brightly on
the ringlets that shaded her face, leaving her
features in still deeper shade
" uilc Mrs. Morton went Oh with earnest
ness and voIuhiliv, describing all that she
knew OF the event i'll exaggerated colors, Cla-
ra rose softly and lief; the room. Sho step
ped cautiously through the passage, s. down
tho steps, opened the gate with noiselcss
toHch, and then ran like lightning through
the street. 1t was a moonlight night, and
she could see her own shadow tliilnr on eve
~ wall, lcngthcning into spectral dimensions
as she flew on, as if the avcngcr of blood
were behind She slackcncd not her pace.
even while ascending the hill on which her
brothers house was situated, nor paused till
she reached the avenue of trees that stood in
long, stately lines in front of the nansion.-
For moment she stopped, and looked back
at the light that glimmerccd from her moth
cr's window, like Il solitary star, Turing the
wanderer homc-thcn renewing her llicht,
she found herself all at once in the presence
OF Gertrude, who was sitting alone in her
chamber, little dreaming of SO strange an in
tcrrnption. She rose in unspcakabe alarm
at Clara's entrance, whose appearance fully
Justified the feeling. Her face was of a,l,y
pa!cncss, her lips parted and quivcrinC, and
her long hair hung unbound over her Shout
dcrs in damp, clngng masses.
CLARA, dear Clara exclaimed Gertrude.
tell what has happened! You know Moth
ing of Edward p! Speak =
rs Edward gone Thank Heaven -
uttered Clara, and sinking into a chair she
around her, and held her sobhinu head upon
her bosom, I'LL like wcaried child she grad
ually ceased her tears. The hot pressure on
her brain seemed loosencI, but there was
anguish in her heart. There was but one
sound in her cars-'lIe will in all probability
be hung +! There was but one image before
her eycs-ltover, dying victim to a false
accusation. She believed him as euiIlIcss of
tho crime as her own brother was, and the
Conc strong purpose of her soul was to Iibcr-
ate him, at the hazard Of her own liberty,
and life itself, ifit were necessary. She had
read Of Helen Mar, who followed into cap
tiyity the Scottish chicGain, of the devoted
Lavallcttc, who effected the escape of her
husband from the walls of prison, by co-
thing him in her own garments, and assuming
his bondage instead. Impulse and action
were almost simultaneous with Clara. She
stopped not to think Of the ccnsure of the
world, the rcproachcs of her friends. Ro-
yer in prison-oxposed to an ignominious
dealll-alonc filled her mind. Til. circ,m-
stance of Edwards absence, who had been
called away upon some unexpected business,
was favorable to her design, for she was sure
OF the co-operation Of Gertrude.
Dear Gertrude said she, q cannot tell
sou the cause of my grief, but if you love
mo 40 not refuse what am going to ask
you
i do love you, Clara, for more than YOUR
own sake, and mysterious as you are tonight
! am ready to promise lllat whatsoever Won
ask shall be granted, assured that it will be
nothing but what justice may require and al
lection bestow.'
Thanks, thousand thanks cried Clara.
'Ihcn quick, dear Gertrude, lend me the
cloak, hood and Mon Car, which YOU wore
when Edward first met you, and say not a
word OF what you have done, to a human
being. Oh! Gertrude, you look as if Won
were going to deny me = and Clara casped
her hands supplicatingly together as if her
life depended on the boon.
Il would do any thinn In. n.