Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-24
ed temper of our feelings, or offer contrast
of any dignity 10 the gloomy influences with

w
of any dignity 10 the gloomy influences with
in.
Snpper was already prepared for me when
returned from looking after my horse
The coarse bacon and hoe cakes were pa-
ced before me without another word being
spoken between my hostess and myself.
drew rude stool to the table, and was in the
act of helping myself from the wooden plat
ter
Stop hear them comng!" cried the
woman.
Hear them who = said I, turning round
sharply as some new, though undehnable sus-
picion flashed upon me.
Them as will have to share that supper
with We, strannger-if how's bet they lie,
ye eat any of it,
l had no time TO weigh further the mean
ing of her words, for at this instant there was
sharp flash of lightning, the door was DASH
cd suddenly open and three armed men
strobe into the apartment, the storm pelting
in behind them as they entered, and terrific
thunder-burst followed instantly the light
ming amid whose glare they crossed the
threshold. The paor of their countenances,
set of by their long black dripping locks,
seemed measurably to pass away when that
lvid light was Withdrawn but from the mo-
ment that the door was flung open there was
an earthly smell in the room, which, wheth-
er coming from the rocking soil without or
from the garments Of these wild foresters,
was most perceptibe. Those less familiar
than myself with the raw-savored odors
which sometimes travel out with the rich per-
fume Of the woods, would, am persuaded,
have identified it with the grave-damps which
our senses will sometimes take cognizance of
in old churcl-yards.
The aspect of two of these men was suf-
ticiently formidable, though in point of stat
ure and an appearance of burly strength they
were inferior to their companion. They
were square shouldered, black bearded fell
lows, armed both with Ratchet and bowie
knife, in addition to the short rifles which
they still retained laid across their knees as
they settled themselves side by side upon a
bench and looked coldly around them. The
third was full checked, heavy featured
man, of about eight and twenty, bearing a
strong resemblance to my hostess, both in
complexion and countenance, save that his
eyebrows, instead of being square and coal
black like hers, were irregularly arched and
of faded brown. His mouth also lacked
the firmness ofexpression which dwelt around
her thin and shrewish lips.
This man bore with him no weapon save
huge old German piece, Tyrolean rifle
as it seemed to me, from the enormous
length of the barrel and the great size of the
bore, as well as the outlandish and cumber-
some ornaments about the stock and breech-
ing. 1t was evidently, weapon intended
for the great distances at which the chamois
hunter claims his quarry, and though service
able for long shot on our western praires,
was ill suited to the thick woods of the Apa-
lachian mountains. Inconvenient, however,
as the length and size of the piece might
make it in some hands, it seemed to be no.
thing in the grip Of the sturdy mountaineer,
(who had probably bought it from some pas
sing emigrant from the old world, for OBJ
served even as he entered that he held the
gun vertically at arms length before him.
Still he seemed glad of relieving himself of
the weight as soon as possible, for he Instant
ly advanced to the farthest corner of the
room where he placed the piece with some
care in an upright position against the wall.
well! what for now 7" said the virago,
'why do you stand looking at the gun after
you've sot it down !-you think She walk
off herself, do yer
The youth looked gloomily at her-took
a stool on the opposite side of the hearth to
his ompanions-leaned his head doggedly
upon his hand, but SAID nothing.
thought had never fallen in with more
strange set of people.
what! Hank Stumpers, haint ye word
I to fling to dog?' cried the woman, advance
ing toward him; Is that the way you treat
yer dead fathers wife 2
The young man looked up stupidity at her,
gave glance with something more Of intel
llgence at the gun, but still said nothing.
'Yes-yer nateral-born mother-ye
chuckle. headed, ye-and she widder.-
Can't we speak up to her-where's the deer
the turkeys?-the squirrels l-haint we got
even squirrel to show for your days work 7
speak you, John Dawson, what's the mat
ter with the boyl He be Mt drunk, be he 2
1T S matter of five hours, Mother Stun
pers, since either of us touched Drop re-
piled one of the men briefly, and he, too,
gave furlive glance at the old frelock.
Well-well, why don't yo go on is any
one dead ARE ye all distraught jackson
Phillips, you--you've felt the back of my
hand across yer chaps, afore now, for yer
importance know we. man, and that sober
possum-look means something Do we think
to gum il over me afore this Stranger
speak up, and that at onst, or it VI be the
worst for some ofy e, or my names not Me-
linda Washington Stumpers!'
Il did not smile, reader, as you do, at Mrs.
SIS sponsorial digni,y-l did not dare to
smiley
you know we would mt offend you, no
how, Mother Stumpers, depreciatingly re-
piled the man whom she addressed as Phil
lips. Hanks misfortune, you see, has made
US dull-like, as it were, and
And what in the name of Satan is his
misfortun = interrupted the mother, now for
the first time moved with concern as well as
anger.
| That, ;,-thatss IL mammv' cried