The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-09-30

hand that nurtured them; and the opening buds as
they expanded their leaves to greet the morning
sun, etlased delightful odour on the breeze, as
if in grateful return for the care they had received
Such was the state of things on the evening Of
the delightful spring day on which we commence
our narrative. The sun had set in cloundless maj
esty behind the extensive forest, on the edge of
which was situated the cabin OF William Wilson;
(he name by which the Squatler was desisnuted)
and the heightened shadows Of tho lofty trees
reached Ear above the praire-like the thoughts of
age "repinins towards the past, The family
group was assembled round the door of their huul-
Bile dwelling, convesng in tone that seemed to
par'ake somewhat Of the twilight soliness oflhe
hour. The mind of the Squatter. like the shadow
Of his own person, Of struggling geme of the sell
ting fell on il. stretched itself far back towards
the morning of life. and his brow wore an express
ion which plainly told that the subject of his med-
tallons was not altogether Of a plausible kind
He sat on long step which led to the door of his
rude hnbaon, his face partly concealed in his
hand, on which his head was resting. His wife
was beside him, her delicate arnl-whi,e in the
twilight as the silvery bark of the lofty poplar trees
which surrounded their cabin-geny wrea,hed
| around his neck and her swee, voice conversng
with him in low and soothing tone, rs if DESTROYS
to display the memoirs that were throngns through
his mind. The sister Of William was n, little
distance from him, engaged in teaching the young
or OF the boys, while the elder jus, beyond the en-
closure. was playing with huge mastifT, called
Pompey, which was so much par, of the family
that should not omi, him in my enumeration.
"Look yonher, look yonder, aunt Susan'' cried
the merry urchn who was romping in the prairie
grass with the dog addressing himself to The sis
ter of the squa'ter--"I.ook yonder comes Square
Blandly TO see you"
The cheek of the consciou. girl REDEEMED a, the
annnncalon, and she turned fnrliye glance in
glance in The direction pointed on, by the merry
boy, succeeded by deeper inge of crimson on
her face, as she perceived that there was indeed u
traveller on thu prairie. who had left the road 10
The settlement beyond and was cantering along the
path that led TO their secluded abode
Wilson started TO his feet as the horscmcn ap-
preached; for viewing him with II s,eadcr gaze
than the linid eye of love dared venture 10 give,
he recognized in him, no, Il @ welcome visi,er
whose his rosy son had announced but prn, ing and
pclllloggins lawyer who resided IN the same viii.
age, and who, with degree of impairment curosi.
ty peculiar TO the lowest members Of hi, profess
ION, had several times endcavored TO penetrate the
mystery which shrouded the circumstances of the
Sqnaltcr.
Course on the quibbling wretch" h. mnl,crcd,
she comes 10 rack my heart ngnin with his idle
questions, md make me trcmble for the safety Of
my dreadful secret. Eleanor" addressing himself
TO the gentle being beside him, whose conntenance
had already assumed saddcned expression;
Eleanor, cannot wait here TO meet his nQuisi-
tive eye, and answer to his willy in,crroga,ions -
My heart of late seems to have lost its iirmness,
and my nerves are shocked by the most trivial &C.
cuncnce, fear that even the deep solitude of
this wilderness country will no, long continue to
afford me conceamen,.
"Look not so wildly, William" replied his
wife, "nor attach so much importance to the aim
less curiosity Of yonder lawyer. Iii. visit viii
doubtless be brief; and whatever be his object, il
cannot be possible that any suspicion--."
ado not name tina, dreadful, ,ha. hateful occur
renee" said he. iniennping her, "do no, name
i, les, the wind, should reveal the secret, and
should yet meet the fate so narrowly avoided |,
is not for myself-no, on my own account my best
beloved, that my hear, has grown so (everish and
faint But when ] think of Won, and these dear
pledges Of our love, the ndelible ignoniny which
would fall upon their names. land pursue them with
a kissing mockery through life, experience de-
gree of trepldaion which is not in the power Of
reason to calm But no, will not avoid the face
Of this talking fool will not hide myself from his
sight; bu, will rather confront him, eye to eye.and
irown the inqnisvness Of his petty soul into 81
lence"
The object Of The S1un,ter's biting remarks had
by this time drawn near 10 the lnclosurc. Tie was
shof'' uih man, OF ra'her cnhave'ous complex
ion, with blue eyes, which turned aside with
qnick and restless expression. Ills face was lean
aud wrnkled, his nose long and sharp, and his
hair of reddish cast, closely slmven, and combed
down with the utmost precision. In form he was
muscular his shoulders were broad and square ;and
his legs, which were clad in panialoons that fitted
tightly to the flesh, were long. bony and dispro-
p"rloned. On his head he wore hat which had
evidently seen much service for il had been in con-
slant use until not fiber of the nap was left, and
had acquired, from long exposure to wind and
weather, hue alnos, as red q, the hair il covered.
lie was dressed in suit of coarse apparel, which
seemed scarcely more modern than the beaver,
exhibiting as it did in every seem, and indeed in
every part of the threadbare surface, the ravages