The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-20

leys of a rapid and eager knocking; and
lrst she deemed the noise a matter of course
like The breath she drew next. it appeared
a thing in which she had no concern and
lastly, she became aware that it was sum.
mons necessary TO be obeyed. AT that mo-
inent the pang of recollection darted into
her ind the pail of sleep was thrown back
from the face of grief; the dim ligh, of the
chamber, and the objects therein revealed,
had retained all her suspended ideas, and
restored them as soon as she Enclosed her
I eyes. Again, there was a quick peal upon
the street. door. Fearing that her sister
would also be disturbed. Mary wrapped her.
self IN cloak and hood, took the lamp from
the hearth, and hasened 10 the window
by some accident. il had been left unhasped.
and yielded easily 20 her hand.
"Who's there % asked Mary. trembling
as she looked forth.
The storm was over, and The moon was
up; II shone upon broken clouds above, and
below upon houses black with moisture, and
upon little lakes of The fallen rain, curling
with silver beneath the quick enchantmenl
OF breeze. young man in a sailors
dress, wet as if he had come out of the
depths OF The sea. stood alone under the wins
dow. Mary recognized him as one whose
livelihood was gained by short VOYAGES
along the coast; nor did she forget that pre-.
vious TO her marriage, he had been an I'M
successful wooer of her own.
What do you seek here Stephen % said
she.
"Cheer up, Mary for seek to comfort
YOU" answered The rejected lover. You
must know that | got home no, ten minutes
ago, and the first thing my mother told me
about was your husband. So without say
ing word to the old woman, clapprd on
my ha'. and ran out of the house. | couldn't
have slept wink before speaking 10 you,
Mary, for the sake of old times"
Stephen, thought better of you'll" ex-
claimed the widow, with gushing tears, and
preparing 10 close the lattice; for she was
no whit inclined 10 initiate the first wife of
Zadig.
1" But stop and hear my story out" cried
the young sailor. >. tell you we spoke
brig yesterday afternoon, bound in from cd
England. And who DO you think saw,
on deck, well and hearty, only bit thinner
than he was five months agor'
Mary leaned from the window, bu. could
not speak.
Why, il was your husband himself
continued the generous seamen. "He and
three others saved themselves on a spar,
wheh The blessing turned bottom upwards.
The brig will beat into the bay by daylight,
with this wind, and you'll see him here to-
morrow. There's the comfort bring you,
Mary, and so good night"
He hurried away, while Mary watched
him with doubt of waking reality, that
seemed stronger or weaker as he alternate.
" entered the shaGe of the houses, or i'm
merged INFO the broad streaks of moonlight.
Gradually however, flood of conviction
swclled INTO her heart, in strength enough
10 overwhclm her, had lis increase been
more abrupt. Her fist impulse was 10
arouse her s'ser.in-aw, and communicate
the new. born gladness. She opened the
chamber.door, which had been closed in the
course OF the hight. though not atched. adj
vanced TO the bedside, and was about 10 lay
her hand upon the slumber. RS shoulder
But then she remembered that Margaret
would awake 10 thoughts of death and wo,
rende, not the less bitter bv their contrast
with h,r own felici'. She suffered the rays
u: The lamp to fall on the unconscious form
of the Dereaved one. Margaret lay in IN
qaiet sleep, and the drapery was displaced
around her; her young cheek was rosylinted,
and lirs half opened in vivid smile an ex-
preston ofjoy, debarred lis passage by her
sealed eyelIds, struggled forth like incense
from The whole coun.enance.
"My poor sister! you will awaken loo
soon from that happy dream !" thought Ma
ry.
Before retiring, she set down the lamp
and endeavored to arrange the bed.clothes,
so that the chill air might not do harm TO
the feverish sumberer. But her hand !rem.
bed against Margaret's neck, tear also
fell upon her cheek and she suddenly
ayoke