Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-07-04

still there, and lay scattered over the room.
The new corners now set to work to adjust
the furnitur. and to give the house as much
the appearance Of being inhabited as posi-
BILE, which arrangement was scarcely COM
pleted when another party arrived. Will
liam thought he heard the sobs Of a female
as they approached the door, aud as they en-
tered the room he saw them bearing young
girl with them. Her face was covered with
both her hands, and she was weeping bitter
ly. He now examined the printing Of his
rifle, as he was confident he should have oc-
casion to use it, and then turned his atten-
ton to his unwelcome visitors, TO solve if
possible, the mystery their appearance and
proceeding had impaired to him. Three of
the party came near enough to where he lay
to admit of his hearing their conversation,
which was held in an under tone.
I'VE must proceed Immediately to bust
ness said one of them, and if she hangs off
little at first, she will become reconcled to
her situation, when she finds herself really
married, as she will suppose herself 10 be
but if the Captain should miss us, and find
our track soon enough to overthrow our
plans, we shall never have another chance,
and the sooner it is done the better
Obadiah had been chosen for the BRIDE
groom, and as every thing was now ready,
he approached Helen, and CALAMITY offering
her his hand, informed her of their inten-
tons, and politely offered TO conduct her to
that part of the room where the ceremony
was to be performed. She replied not to his
insulting speech, but as she was now aware
of what their plans were, she felt that her
weeping would not protect her, and that her
own personal exertions, would be but feeble
among such gang, was all the hope that
was now left her. Obadiah again offered his
hand, which was scornfully refused by Hell
en-, and she arose, and casting hasty glance
around at her tormenters, her dark eye fash
ing fire at every turn, and then looking stern
ly at Obadiah, she exclaimed
Base wretch is it not enough that you
have defrauded and robbed the honest of
their hard earned gatherings-s it not e.
nough that you have too well succeeded in
duping the unwary and unsuspectng, and
practised your schemes of yillainy, time and
again, unchecked-is it not enough that you
have plundered alike the rich Of their boun-
teous store, and the poor and needy of their
scanty plttance-is it not enough that you
have become outlaws and outcasts from So
ciety, despised, hated, feared, and condemn
ed-the authors Of all the crimes which the
inventive genius of your nature could sug-
gest! Is not this enough to satiatc your de-
sire to enact wrong, and wickedness, and to
quench your thirst for the ruination of that
which is holy and virtuous. Must you now
take advantage of poor female that happens
to be in your power, to fill up your catalogue
Of crime? | am in your power. am far
from friends and home, with no protection
but that which my Heavenly Father will al.
ford me, and Him never will distrust, MOI
do believe he will forsake me in this hour
ofperil, or suffer me TO be prostituted to the
service of these base and designing wretches
that now surround me like wild beast ca.
ger to clutch IFS victim. This step which
you propose, shall never take. am ready
for death, any thing but this. believe
have father among you in the person o
Charles Arson, and now call upon him, i
he has spark of humanity left in his bo
som, to stand FORTH and guard his daughter
from the danger that now surrounds her.
He will, he will,' exclaimed voice from
the door, followed by the report of rife
from behind the chimney, and groan from
Obadiah as he fell to the floor, a corpse
just as he was laying his hands upon Heller
to force her into compliance with their wish
es.
A scene of confusion and excitement fol
lowed that is not easily described All eye
were turned towards the door, where stood
Captain Arson with his loaded rifle by hi
side, ready to deal the same fate 10 any on,
that might offer any resistance TO his com
mand, that had just ended the ignominiou
career of the wretched Obadiah. For
while all stood motionless. Presently, how
ever, one of the gang more bold than tn
rest, undertook to wrench one Of the leg
from off the table to hurl at the Captain, blu
before he had succeeded in this, blow from
the butt end of Williams rifle laid him pros
trate on the floor. The robbers took ad
vantage of the confusion created by thi
movement, and escaped. The house wa
now left in the possession of Captain Arson
his daughter, and her betrothed. 1t woul
have drawn tears from the most hard-heart
ed wretch ever known, to have witnesse
the scene that now followed. Helen, hal
bewildered with Joy at her unexpected de
livery from the gang, grasped William
hand with warmth, at the same time beg
gng her father to approach her and acknow
edge her as his daughter He, however
stood motionless with the tears flowing dow
his sun-burnt cheeks.
will YOU said he with voice scarceI
audible from emotion, 'own me as father
Me the most wretched, polluted and unwo
thy of mankind Oh! that should hav
brought such misery upon the head of bein
nf unlr N afnra y md ANIL m hir kr,no. M,