Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-10-18

A TALE OF NEW ORLEANS.

Some seven years ago, a funeral train
swept through the wide avenue of one Of
the most beautiful mansions ia the southern
part Of Maryland The tall poplars on Ell
ther side, stirred by light breeze, bowed
their heads as though for the last time they
were paying a mournful obeisAnce TO the
hearse that bore the mistress of the villa to
the grave. At the window, the curtains of
which we're drawn aside, the pale face of
beautiful girl was seen. Il was Marie, and
she watching with fearful eye the mournful
baud that bore her mother to the tomb A
few hours after this, at night, young man
and maiden were kneeing, hand in hand ).
beside narrow hillock of fresh EARTH
They we're Marie Dunbar and Henry Bar
bour--the orphan girl and her lover, and
there, upon the dust lightly piled upon the
dead mothers breast, they prayed that Hea-
ven would heal their wounded hearts. That
parent, then cold and ifeless, on her death
bed had placed her daughters hand in Hen
RVS, and blessing them babe him to be her
guardian. Upon her grave her dying words
we're recalled, aud Henry vowed that while
life was his, he never would desert his beau
tiful Marie, Silently they rose from that
narrow mound, and though their hearts were
chastened with affection, and the fresh mem
cries of the virtues and affection of the last
one, and trusted with all the buoyancy of
youth to the future for JOY and happiness.
Marie Dunbar was wealthy, and she pla-
ced the whole of her fortune in the hands
of her lover, who resolved TO invest it in
property at the South. In the section of
the country in which they resided, Marie
had no relatives, and it was finally determin-
ed that Henry should visit the South, and
after he had established himself in business
they would be welded. With the promise
for the hundredth time that he would write
to her twice every week, Henry tore him
self away from his beautiful love, and after
a short voyage he arrived in New Orleans
For time every thing went on smoothly,
his prospects we're brilliant, and in the tho't
Of enjoying the luxuries of life in company
with Marie, brilliant rainbow spanned his
vision Of the future.
One evening he was induced by friend
to visit one of the gaming houses licensed
in the city, and with very little difficulty he
was persuaded to play small amount. He
threw the dice and won, and being pleased
with the feversh excitement which gradual
ly grew upon him, he tried his chance and
won again. Wine was ordered, and TO the
gamester wine is like pouring oil upon fire.
"A large bet was offered, and scarcely know
ing what he did, he took it up He lost
and then, and not till then, he recolected
that it was Marie's money that he was gam
bling away. This thought almost madden
ed him, and as desperate resource he re-
solved to throw again, in the attempt to re-
irieye his fortune. He did so, and lost, and
so he went on until he at last rushed from
the ''hell' beggared and dishonest man,
That night was passed in misery He re-
collected how he had wronged the conf
dence Of the orphan girl; how they had
kneIt together OH her dead mothers grave,
and every word then spoken rose up and
tainted him with the thought of what he
was then, and what he was now. Goaded
to desperation, he resolved to break the last
tie that bound him to honor, and in an evil
moment he forged check on merchant
in the city to large amount He present
ed it at the bank for payment, and was de-
tected and thrown into Jail. His trial came
on at the criminal court, and there his guilt
was made so clear that he was sentenced 10
five years Imprisonment in the penltentia-
ry. Heavily ironed, he was placed on
board the steamboat which was to convey
him to Baton Rouge. In the middle of the
night plunge was heard, and the state room
which the convict occupied was found emp
". Every one on board came to the con-
clusion that he had thrown himself over
board and was drowned.
"a Maria was sitting alone in her chamber
She had been weeping, poor girl, and in her
lap lay her mothers miniature and one Of
Henry's letters. She had not heard from
him for months, and his silence was the
darkest enigma that ever her young heart
had tried to solve. He could not be dead
no, no! Like the wife of the gifted Ra
leigh, she believed that
''Livng or dead he would not tarry from her"
q At this moment servant brought her a
letter and single glance told her it was
from Henry. A glad cry escaped her lips
she hastily opened it and instead Of the
warm outpourings of lovers heart, she
read Henry's confession of his guilt The
servants heard shrek, and when they came
in they found their mistress lifeless on the
floor. For many weeks after Marie Dun
bar was a maniac, and when she recovered
her beauty was like that of lilly which had
been crushed by storm. With calmnes:
that savored not Of earth, she announced
her intention of quitting her place of birth
forever. The old homestead was sold, and
the servants, many of whom had grown
grey in the service of her family, crowded
around her with fearful eyes. as she bid them
farewell Again, and for the last time, Ma