Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-09-29


he could scarcely explain, that his presence
sesships, tina, he had Just as much ice TO break
in making their acquaintance as detri-
mental with f20O year.
| Piqued and out of humor at this refusal Of
his usual tribute, indifferent as he really was
to it when paid,) Powys turned towards a
conservatory, which not being lit, did mol
seem intended to be thrown open TO the COIN
pany, but the glass door of which was sci
ajar by Miss Lefevre at his approach, proba-
bly, for fresh air. 1t was crescent shape,
and filled with delicious flowers and sootl1-
ed with its fragrance and GOODNESS, the dis.
contented millionaire followed its course, ill
the shining rooms he had left were out Of
sight, and he stood alone with the moon shl.
nIng in upon him through the roof Of glass
The sudden interruption of the music of the
band made him aware at this moment, that
the door behind him had been closed again
and with a renewed feeling of pique at the
implied inatten,ion of Miss Lcfevrc, who had
seen him enter, he turned TO retrace his steps
Eilz = suddenly cried a shrl voice from
the other direction. 'Fitz! Fi,z!
POwys started. Could the conservatory
lead round again TO the ballroom ! Who
was calling him! Not Lady Sylvia's voice,
surely?
'Fitz Fitz!' called the strange voice,
with more impalien, emphasis.
The light of the moon just suficed 10 show
the alley of flowers leading into the dark
ness, and expecting presently to emerge in
the supper room, or lighted portion of the
house, Powv, turned toward the voice, which,
with strange iteration in the same shrewisfl
key, tempted him onward. Stumbling over
the raised Threshold of small vestibulc, he
now saw light cleaning through the slight
opening of door before him, and from the
room beyond, the call evidently proceeded
Using no ceremony, he pushed the door in
understanding that though it moved upon
noseless and easy hinge, it was unusually
massivc-and found himself in an apartment
which seemed, at first glance, to be chapel
'Fitz Fitz screamed the voice again
directly over his head. He had barely dis.
covered that it was a Gagged parrot which was
calling to him Justify, when, in the deep EN-.
brasure of a window opposite, he observed a
female busted in opening a shutter. As she
succeeded in turning heavy bolt, the OPEN
ed window let in rush Of air, and the door
by which he had entered was shut with a
loud reverberaton. The window he observ.
ed with surprise, also, was grated, and will
smile on his face at the aspect Of an adj
venture which every thing seemed TO wear
he advanced to the female, who apparently
unaware of his presence, stood looking GU
upon the night through the bars Of the gra'
ting.
A scream OF d,smay followed the first wore
he uttered, and Powys behcld, with amaze
ment face turned to him, folded in thu
close fitting Golf Of nun, yet Of beauty il
the highest degree impressive and striking
who are your she demanded in a voice
husky with terror, but at the same time draw
ing up her lofty person to its fullest height
With utterance scarce y more assured thai
her own, Powys began his apology, and aid
ed by the parrot who broke in with the shril
repetition of his name, was in the midst of al
embarrassed account of his travels through
, the dark, when the incognia sprang TO tn
massy door, beat upon it with her hands, III,
5 tered cries of rage and terror, and finally feI
5 upon her knees before the altar crownr,
, with crucilix, and buried her face in he
hands in paroxysm of distress.
Powys now began to fancy he had intru
ded upon the prison of maniac, and crosse,
to reopen the door, hut here again he wa
+ at fault, for it presented a solid mass of oak
without handle or aperture, and had eviden,
: ly closed with spring lock, at the gu.
: which followed the opening of the shutter
= Through a smaller door at the extremity {
n the room, he saw the head of narrow, whit
e bed, with crucifx against the wall abov
it, hut dclicacy forbade him to seek an ex
II there, and he stood still in fixed and siler
d embarrassment.
I The lady rose. Tears glistened upon he
J, long ashes, but her lips were curled wit
e pride and resentment. There was no mac
j. ness, Powys thought in those glorious eye
d and looking at clock which stood opposi,
d the altar, she said with a gesture of imp;
tience, take seat, sir regret TO say yo
IS are prisoner in this room till morning.
g Fatal fatal chance land again she b,
20 ried her face in her hands, and turned ava
t. to conceal her passionate emotion.
'e Powys though, he never had beheld mo-
t. exquisite form than that winch now NOV.
S, from him. The dress of spoiless white wi
re fitted simply and closely 10 bust of Il
j, youthful mould and divine outline of Heb
d. and the contour Of the whole figure, and Il
ID simple flow and dignity of her move,ner
r kindIed an admiration which for the nome
J. overpowered his surprise. In that inierv
r of silence he observed also, that, though ii,
RS nished as a chapel with oratory and alta
ID the room contained a harp, implements
he drawing, flowers, and other signs of consta
,g female habitation.
IN 'Fiz! Filz" screamed the parrot at ii
re inoDportune and delicate crisis.
~ Powys bit his lips. The lady look
round at the bird with glance of vexa,Io
as and encountered the half mirthfuI gaze
us the intruder She coloured angriIy for
as instant, but Powys' sense of the ludicro
P' getting the better of his gravity, he burst
a to violent fit of laughter, and. with I
us tears still in her eyes, the offended nun h,
g. tericaly followed him.
- Evidently enraged at the turn things h
ho taken, she made several attempts to cont
~ her own mrth and silence that of her COZ
p" nun;on Rnt with tho fret ,vord Of ,ll,,: