The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-11-08

to her and clasping her around, :: | will hold
you in my arms all night. | am young and
can lmpart my own warmth to your frame
Cheer up dear MOTHER she continued
though In voice of alarm, for fright and
the bitter chillness Of the atmosphere were
rapidly producing a fearful change in the
parents countenance, Il will put on the
other fagot-we will eat our scanty supper
and you shall drink the last cup of wine.
We kept 1t for an emergency, and when can
we better use IT. Tomorrow will be clear
Il know i'll feel it; and then we can
get all we want, for will beg for it sooner
than see you thus. Dear mother, see the
fire burns brightly now. Eat-and we will
seek rest--and you shall all night sleep
warmly in my arms
God bless you, my child said the moth.
er, and the tears gathered into her ewes,
but fear the worst she continued, with a
responding shake of the head. The storm
looks as if it would last for days-then what
will become Of us1
Clara shuddered. Her heart felt as if
oppressed with mighty load, for, as she
listened, she recognized those deep tones
in the tempest which always forbode du.
ration of some days. Had it not been for
the presence of her mother, whom she felt
the necessity of encouraging, she would
have sat down and wept in despair.
Suddenly there was knock at the door.
( Both females started and looked at each
other. Clara hesitated 10 move. A voice
was nov heard asking admittance from the
awful storm, which the traveller said sur
PASSED any he had ever witnessed. Fear
was no part of Clara's nature. Her heart
was ever open to pity. Without further
/ thought she unbarred the door. A tall fig.
ure, wrapped in knights cloak, followed
by servant, entered. The intruder lifted
his cap as he came in, displaying weather
beaten face, surmounted by thick locks of
gray. He shook the snow from him, adj
vanced 10 the fire, and then with surprise
in every feature of his countenance, gazed
around the room.
you seem lily provided for such wealth
en- he said, turning, for the first time, to
Clara, have you fagots 2
The poor girl shook her head.
'One can't expect stoup of wine in such
place as this he said apologetically.-
Clara gave silent gesture of dissent as she
returned his gaze, then, Henry, we must
thank the saints there is some left in your
flask. Give these good people portion,
for they seem to need it.
Since the stranger had entered, both Cla-
ra and her mother had gazed at him, with>
out removing their eyes for an instant; it
might be at his free demeanor it might be
from some other cause. Now for the first
time Clara turned back to the servant. who
hitherto remaining in the back ground, ad-
vanced at these words to the fire. The
eyes Of the girl and those of the follower
met.
'Henry!' 'Clara = were the mutual ex.
CARNATIONS, as they fell upon each others
| bosom.
My husband = was the simultaneous e.
jaculation of the mother, as she family O.
pened her arms to the older warrior, who,
starting at her voice, rushed to her, recog-
nizing in the tones the bride of his youth.
BY our patron saint said the earl, when
the mutual surprise of the parties had been,
in part, dissipated, this beats the roman
ces Of the Round Table; | never thought
to find YOU hele. By what foul wrong,
and his brow darkened like thunder-cIoud,
have YOU been brought to this pass
Clara, for her mother was unable to CON-
pose herself sufficiently to become the mar
rator, now related The story of their expul-
sion and subsequent suffering.
BY st. George said the rrascble earl,
starting up with flashing eyes and shaking
his clcnched hand fiercely, i will pull the
beard from the miscreant for this outrage.
Richard has returned, know We, my sweet
daughter his mood changing, ard he &C.
companied the words by drawing Clara to
his BOSOM the king shall have his own
again, and we will rout this villain from my
fathers castle ere fortnight.
The lover now for the first time interpo,
sed.
Should we not, before we talk further,
he said, procure fuel for the fire. Happi-
" | noticed a ruined shed, about hundred
Yards distant will 60 and tear enough of
il down to keep up roaring fire until
morning.
well said, and will assist YOU said
the bold earl.
In a short time they had brought to the
hut and piled up in one corner the neces-
sary fuel. AS the last load was cast down,
the earl turned to Clara, who was weeping
and smiling by turns at this great change in
their circumstances.
There, now that Lord Henry has won
it, 90 to him with kiss ypu weeper,' he
said, with almost boyIsh spirits, and he will
tell you how he did not perish in battle, but,
stunned like myself and buried under the
slain, was made prisoner by the Saracens,
and how, after long confinement, we es-
capped together. and have finally reached
home. Twill tell the same to your mother
go, sweet one, but first give your father a
kiss
That was happy night in the hut on
the hearth. As the old earl said afterward'
never, in the proudest halls, had he spent
one like it.
Little remains for us to tell. The next
morning saw the sun shining brightly on
LII Al l. l.