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

a nervous impulse continually caused he
10 lift her head from the pillow, ard gag
into Marv's chamber and the in,ermedal
apartment. The cold light of The lam
threw The shadows ofthe flu niiure I'D az aims
the wall. Stamping them immoveably there
except when they were shaken by the sud
den flicker Of the fame. Two vacant arm
chairs were in their old positions on oppo
SITE sides of the hearth, where the brother
had been wont 10 sit in young and laughing
dignity, rs heads Of families two humber
seats were near them the true thrones O
that lille empire, where Mary and hersel
had exercised in love. a power that love hat
won. The cheerful radiance of the fire ha,
shone upon the happy circle, and the deaf
glimmer Of the lamp might have befiret
their reunion now. While Margaret gfoan
ed IN bitterness, she heard knock at III,
street door.
"liow would my heart have lept at iba
sound yest"rdayl'' thought she, remember
ing the anxiety with which she had long
awaited iidings from her husband. 81 care
not for |, now; let them begone, for will
not arise"
/ But even while a sor, of childish freful-
ness made her thus resolve. she was breath.
ing hurr;edly. and siraIning her eyes to
catch repetition of the summons. II IS
difficult TO be convinced OF the death Of one
whom we have deemed another self. The
knocking was now renewed in slow and reg
ular strokes, apparently given with The sof;
end of "a doubled fist, and was accompanied
by words, family heard through several
ihicknesses of wall. Margaret looked 10 her
sisters chamber, and beheld her still lying
in the depths of sleep. She arose, placed
her foot upon the floor. and slightly arrayed
herself, trembling between fear and eager
ness as she did so.
Heaven help meI' sighed she. 81
have nothing left to fear, and meihinks
am ten times more a coward than ever"
Selling The lamp from the hearth, she
( FASTENED 10 the window that overlooked the
street door. Ii was a lattice, turning upon
hinges and having thrown it back, she
stretched her head a little way into the moist
atmosphere. A lantern was reddeuing the
front of the house. and melting its light in
the neighboribg pu1dles, while deluge of
darkness overwhelmed every other object.
As the window grated on its hinges, man
in broad bfimmed hat and blanket coat,
stepped from under the shelter of the pre-
jeciing story. and looked upward TO discov.
er whom his application had aroused. Mar
g,ret knew him as a friendly innkeeper Of
The town.
"What would YOU have goodman ParkerP
cried the widow.
LACK a-day, is il you, Mistress Marga-
ret = replied the inkerpcr. 81 was afraid
it might be your sister Mary for hate TO
see young woman in trouble, when !
haven't a word of comfort 10 whisper
her."
For Heavens sake. what news do you
bring T. screamed Margaret.
Why, there has bee, an express through
the town within this half hour" said good
man Parker. travelling from the eastern
! jurisdiction with letters from the governor
and council. He tarried at my house 10
refresh himself with drop and morse',
and asked him what tidings on the from.
tiers. He tells me we had the better in the
skirmish you wot of, and that thirteen men
reported slain, are well and sound, and
your husband among them. Besides, he is
appointed of the escort 10 bring the captiva-
ted Frenchers and Indians home TO the
provice jal. Judged you wouldn't like tc
be broke Of your rest, and SO ] slept over &c
tell you. Good night"
So saying the honest man departed
and his lantern cleaned along the street
bringing TO view indsrinct shapes of things
and the fragments of world, like order
cimmering through chaos, or memory
roaming over the past But Margaret
STAYED not TO watch these picturesque effects
Joy flashed into her heart, and lighted Il up
at once, and brea,hIess, with winged steps
she flew TO the bedside of her sister. She
paused. however, al the door of The cham
Der, while thought of pain broke in upoI
her.
Poor Mary 7" said she 10 herself
4" Shall awaken her 10 feel her sorrow
sharpened by my happiness -? No; Wi
keep it within my own bosom till to-mor
row."
She approached The bed to discover
Mary's sleep was peaceful. Her face wa
turned partly inward to the pillow, and hal
been hidden there TO weep but a look o
motIonless conteu:ment was now visible
upon it, as if her heart, like deep lake hal
grown calm because its dead had sunk 81
far within. Happy it is, and strange tina
the lighter sorrows are thuse from whicl
dreams are chiefly fabricated Margare
shrunk from disturbing her sister-in law
and felt as ifher own better fortune had rem
dered her involuntary unfaithful, and as
altered and diminished affection must be thu
consequence of tine disclosure she had t,
make. With sudden step she turned ava,
Blu, joy could not long be repre,sed evel
BY circumstances that would have excited
heavy grief at another moment. Her MINI
was thronged with delightful thoughts, til
sleep stole on and transformed them to Wis
ions, more delightful and more wild. lik
the breath of winter (but a cold compar
ison y working fanastic tracery upon thu
window.
NUhor Tho ,iobt vae far adyanoad Mar,