Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-02
ICON cluAeA from fourth peuc |

fused anu, alter glaring wildly around nm
an instant, sunk again, with gurgling sound,
beneath the surface to rise no more to the
view.
With look of still unm,gatcl malice and icroclty
and with the same mcnacing attitude, the ruthless Ell
der stood waiting for second appearance oi his VIC
tim full moment, when he began to exhibit tokens
OF surprise and lowered his weapon little, still keep
ing however his eyes keeuly fixed on the spot After
waiting in vain nearly another moment for the drow-
ming man to rise the Elder became thoroughly alarm
ed and throwing down his oar, hurricdly rctrcacd
TOD or two on the bank. Here he turned and thew
another anxious and troubled look upon and around
th fatal spot. few fam, bubbles, rising success lively
toho surface, alone answered his nquirng pazc-and,
reading in them conclusive evidence of the horrid
truth, he gave convusvc start, and fled in terror to-
wards the buildings fast as his qliaking limbs could
carry him, mumbing and chattering to himself as he
went
Now, who would have thought If the youth
could have swan land am to blame for that he
never learned to swim Ola surety am not. And
then did he not lift his hand against gifted Elder of
Gods Church And moreover have | not saved
the iany's boat which he was about to purloln -
Verify, have done good thing, though think will
not name the matter before the people lest it lead the
temptation of evil speaking against rulers, and perad-
venture, get to the worlds magistrates. And then,
again, III re is the Youths property which he was
frowarl and peryorsc about rclnqushng to the
Church Nay | will not let the affair be known, but
60 to work right cunnngly and secure all for Gods
heritage. Yes, verify, have done agood hing
Thus STRANGELY reasoning and thus desperately
graspinr At sayes for his troubled feelings the terror
stricken Elder reached home and without utterng n
syllable ofwhat had happened to any one immediate
" bctook himself to his solitary lodgings not there 10
find peace au repose but TO writ hcand turn under the
scorpion sllngs OF consclencctlat uncscapahlo hciI
of the guilty which rctrbutivc Heaven has planted in
the bosom Of Man for the certain punishment OF his
crimes.
Mennwhi. the lovely and conscientious Martha,
wholly unapprisc of what had bcG,l,cn her lover,
tired to her peaceful pillow and cndeavorcd to reflect
calmly on the and interesting subject, which her
recent interview had opened TO her mindbut, finding
h,rscf unable u do this FROM the thousand crowlng
thoughts and sensations which contributed to swell
the gentle tumut of her BOSOM she discreey defer
red the task for cooler moment, and, having pously
commended herself TO the protection of her Maker,
yielded herself to those quiet and peaceful SAUNDERS
that constitute not the least among the rewards of
virtue and innocence. On awakening the next morn
ing her thoughts immediately recnrrcd to the subject
that occupied her last waking moments and, she
now figured in her mind her lover far on his way from
the place, reolingln his freedom from the oppression
he had At length escaped she again and again recalled
the tender professions he had made, and ran over the
arguments he had advanced in urging her to leave her
present s.tunton and 20 forth with him into the world
ashis companion for veal or for woe. The more she
thought of the pr posed step, nt first so startling, the
less fearful did it appear. The more she weighed his
reasons with those she found herself able bring up
in rcfutnton, lighter and lighter grew the objections
VIII oh had caused her to hesitate in giving him
definite promise of accedne to his request when thy
should again mcet-and as her scruplcs yielded and
gave way, the unchecked plcadng- of her own heart
came in and soon dccisivc turned the already incl
ming balance leaving her free 10 wander unhosi-
tatingy the and bright field vi stlny which
had been presented 10 her view.
After lnduIgng in her pleasing rcycrcs ~ long as
inclination prompted, the maiden arose, dressed and
on the point of descending from her chamber 10
join in performing the domestic duties OF the morning
when her attention arrested by an unusual COM
motion among the family below, which she soon as
eertainc, from some words that reached through the
partially opened door, to lie caused by the discovered
absence Of Seth, for whom search had already been
made but in vain The CONSCIOUSNESS that within
her own BOSOM she harborod the secret Of the missing
one absence which she might not reveal! made her,
for the first time in her life feel like guilty oneand,
DARN! not to 90 down lest her appearance should be-
tray the agitation she felt, she paused at the head Of
the stairs, and stood some time endeavorng to COM
pose her feelings and gain command of her counle.
nance, which should save her from showing any ex-
element that might not be natural 10 the OCCASION
hut VIII lie doing this the poor Girl vas title dreaming
OF the thousand times more difficult task in reserve
for her-that Of controlling her feelings under the
heartcrushing blow which she was destined the next
moment TO receive. The appalling announcement
now passed from mouth to mouth among the family
that Seth was drowned in the pond, the evidence of
which, in addition to his unaccountable absence, WAS
found in the circumstance that his hat had been dis
covered fl lanc near the shore, while at little dis
lance one of his shoes had been e-pod sunk tho
bottom, tishcd up and identified.
1t can be better imagined than described what were
the feelings of Martha on hearing these mournfIl IT,
dings. No word sound, however escaped her lips
on the occasion. She turned deadly pale indeed and
for moment leaned her head for suppoi, against the
door, ,sng-anl this was by quick hca-
wing of her bosom while with cllspad hands and cIo-
ed eyes her trembling lips moved RAPIDLY as if ear
nestly engaged in silent devotion, But the next mo-
ment she opened her eyes and with firm step de-
seconded from her room, spectator could have de-
tscted nothing more in her placid though mournul
countennnce than he might have seen IN the faces OF
the rest Of the sistorhoOd among whom she now i'm
IN lately mingled
MIST Of that day was spen, by the Shaker men in
dragging the pond in search Of the body, from which
operation Elder Higgins kept aloof-tho the nervous
reS,essness he constantly exhibited through the day
and the many ANXIOUS and inqalrlng glances he Ire,
quenty cast towards those thus engaged plainly told
that he felt painful interest in what was gong on
The search proved vain one. This however, did moi
lead any one to do ih that the young mans fate was
nny different from the one first supposed, as the body
il was concctured had ioated of and sunk IN sonlf
of the deepest parts of the pond; But though al
unanimous in the OPINION that Seth had met Ms
death by drowning yet with regard To the manner II
which the casualty could have happened, there were
many and various minds-some surprising that hC
must have waded in to secure something when ne
saw 40 ting the shoreoth hers that he had riser
in his .leep and zone in while otheTs considered ethel
of these suggestions to be highly lnprob1hIc since
some Of the young men now made known the fac
that the deceased was an expert swimmer These ant
many other conicctures equally erroneous form
ed respecting the Mysterious event, I'LL, wearled VIII
the fIuirlcss discussion, was given up as case en-
trey hopeless of any further eucIdatlon, and there
permitted 10 rest.
Saith had been peculiar favortc with the family
generally aud his loss for many days cast n decl
gloom over the minds of the little community wh'
wrrc thus Unexpectedly called 10 mourn his prcma'ur
dcs,ase The IMPRESSION however Ike others Of Tia
kind, wore gradually away from the minds of all ex
copr the beroavcd Martha and the conscience stei
Elder from whose bosoms the memory Of the los
one for reasons peculiar to EACH was no as may wei
J be slrp1scd, SO easily TO be- erased
! Although The circumstances in which Martha wa
epaea fjlbale any manifestation OF her peculiar grel
and wholly prcc!ud,d her from communicating then
10 others and receiving IN return those ailc'ia'In
sympathics which it is the privilege OF orhnHry Sor
row To receive vet none the less heavy for that io
this blow of affection, and none the less keeny wa
felt the anguish that now in secret wrung her 't
less and faithful bosom. Young Love was bognnln
10 shed his sweet and happlying influences over he
pure and gentle heart, and his twin angel Hope ha
lust showed his snowy pnlon 10 her unacca''olne
vision, pointing her TO land OF earthly ieA'i,y VINE
ncyer before even in her brightest dreams, had bee
pictured to her mind but all! these grateful feeling
Ind been suddenly chilled and frozen II the curTei
that was 50 blissfuly waiting her Away to me prom
sed haven of happness-a these bright, visions hn
vanished leaving her future not only blank and cee
less but dark with porrents Of persecution aud wo
H.. nal a