Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-09


that they we're sisters, and that in that silent
chamber both their parents slept. When
they were gone | walked away in dreamy
bewiderment, and at the nearest house
made enquiry concerning them. | there
learned only what had gathered from their
words, and that they were perfectly recluse,
and almost unknown. Of course they are
after all sweet little rustics But if there are
women on earth that can realize your fan
cies, the Misses Southmayed are the very
material
Here the conversation was interrupted by
the entrance of being Of fashions fairest
daughters but Mr. Piersol, altho' apparent
ly the favored Adonis Of the-party, was abb
sent and thoughtful, apparently specializing
on the idea of Willow Dell, aud many a sly
glance was banded at his expense by the
knowing ones.
Time had gathered her grey evening
dress around her, and was DOMINIC her
sprigs of diamonds, amethyst and rubies,
while her flowing veil lay darkly over all
the Haunting coors of the day. The lone
Edoleo sat lulling her sister seraphs with
her flute like melody to which all creatures
seemed to listen as to a hymn of heaven
The soft breeze came fitlully in at the white
draperied windows, bearing the perfume,
and sometimes the scented leaves of the ro-
ses that clustered around it into the cham
Der, and on the couch of a fair young suf-
ierer, whose black curIs lay disheveled
over her pillow, contrasting mourniully with
the white neck aud forehead, and fever
crmsoned cheek. Beside the couch sat a
watcher, who might have been deemed an
angel, but for the anxiety depicted on her
face, aud the tears that dripped in large glo-
bules from her silky lashes. A domestic
opened the door.
Miss Hannah, she said, "a stranger de-
sres nights lodging
why wonld he lodge here ? enquired the
watcher.
lie says he is not well, and can proceed
no farther
Let him stay then. The doctor will not
leave us tonight replied the sad girl and
the servant Withdrew, leaving her TO watch
and weep on. And bitterly did she weep
over her last remaining relative, and iervent-
ly did she suplicate her Father in heaven for
the restoration of her sisters health. How
could she resign her inseparahle compan-
ion from infancy, her only conhdanr, her
lovely and loving Francisco. She pleaded
with an earnestness amounting TO agony, and
her voice was heard, for ere morning the
fever subsidized, the delirium passed away
and Francisco spoke and smiled, and kissed
her fond nurse, and won her TO lie down
and sleep, while the doctor should watch
over them both.
! Morning found Francisco so much bet
ter that Hannah reminded of her guest
went to breakfast with her family. Ralph
! Piersol, for it was he, although prepared
to see vision of beauty, was astonished by
her exceeding loneliness enhanced as it was
! by the languor that so well became her gen
tie spirit.
He watched her closely, and was forced
TO confess that although not trained in the
school of fashion, she possessed native grace
and dignity surprising all acquired manners
She said that although her own attention
was engrossed by her sister who was dan
gerousIy i'll, he would be welcome TO re
main as long as he found such lonely resi-
dence agreeable. He replied that he woult
no longer trespass on her hospitality, bu
should locate himself somewhere in the vi
cinity, in hopes that the pure mountain ali
would prove a restorative TO his impaired
health Modestly intimating that her hous'
was the most eligible situation in the vicin
ity for such purpose, she repeated her in
yitation, which he gratefully accepted Ill
spoke truths when he complained of il
health, for his constitution was much EN-
leebled by the confinement of city life
aided by late hours, and succession of vi
olent colds. But it was the fame of limo
cent beauty that led him to her bower
notwithstanding all the romance of feeling
which he had thrown into the idea of tn
lovely orphans, he had never fancied augh
half so enchantingIy lovely as Hannah South
T mayed He felt to worship her as the per
lection of female excellency. As Francis
+ ca recovered, her sister was forced by tn
good doctor to seek exercise, and to diver
her long and painfully occupied mind
And then she was much in Pierso's compa
n.y. Their communing was all truths, 70
she knew no disguise, and he found it i'm
possible to hatter one who was richly desery
ing of all commentator. If he had at frs
worshipped her beauty, he now found him
self obliged to worship her purity, aud won
der at the extent of her knowledge, and tn
holiness of her sentiments. lie felt for he
emotions which he never experienced unit
then but with his admiration was blende
an awe which forbade all familiarity.
Need say that Hannah Southmayed 500
felt that he was lord of her heart, and thu
with such consciousness came an unde6nabl
reserve of manner, dread of being alon
, in his company, timidity which kept tn
soft eye yelled, and sunk the sweet tone
: of the voice to a breeze like melody
: Bright and rich as the first beams of ri
diant May morning to the dew spangle
beauties Of the verdant earth, as the dawI