Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-09-04
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THE STOLEN MINIATURE.

1t was near midnight on one of those be9atltll
summer evenings that brood over our western
Land, as some fair spirit hovers pear paradise
and which can be realized only by those VIII
! have witnessed them-that one OF the numerou
steamers that throng the waters of La Bell
Riviere,' had paused upon its upward cours
before small town that lay upon the bank o
the aforesaid stream. When the boat had el
lected landing, few passengers, who, either
blind to the charms of Morpheus, or more allied
to those of sundry packs of cards that strewed
the tables of the social hall stepped upon shore
to enjqy moonlight view of the village A
monG the number was "a group of three indivld-
uals, who Withdrawing from the rest, strolIed
carelessly along one of the principal Streets UNI
til they arrived at a cross turning down whose
short but secluded walk, several large buildings
evidently the residences of the most wealthy por-
ton Of the inhabitants. were situated AS they
nassed into this beautiful and peaceful retreat,
SLIGHT whispering, which presently broke forth
into loud and angry words disturbed the slum-
herring echoes ofiAenight. ag.sts
I tell you, Layt6sl, it rs ihipOsslbiet 4 hE'll
nol--Oannvt do IL, '+'ar' '7sfa 7 r. sEssgs
Spoken like sdeel !, and a milkscp, as you
are; there is a wayffystos, yga5 whining scruples
and curse me ifs .. s.4aa-is-.sssstd<.. ---rsss
quick as thought, thetirstspeakertu
nnnSonted his companion, saying ia asz0idg
trembed with passion 'Ay, there is way Z
rouse the sleeping devil, even in my cowmc
frame, but your threats fall unregarded on m
ear, while have this good blade to protect me,
and long, glittering Bowie knife flashed be
meath the soft rays of the harvest moon.
By heaven, believe you both to be mad
Put up your knife, Bradley, and you, Layton
keep your internal tongue between your teeth
unless you want this goodly town about you
ears This soothing speech was spoken by tn
third, and hitherto silent companion, and Will
the alteration is progress, in lower tones, you
my gentle reader, shall have a Daguerreotyp
sketch of at least one Of the party.
Bradley Spencer was the son of one Of tn
most wealthy and arstocratic planters in Louis
lana; but maternal affection he never knew, q
least, was not conscious of it, his mother havin
been snatchcd away in his early childhood,
one of those fearful epidemics peculiar to tn;
portion Of the south. His father, high prime
pied, undetermined man, richly endowed wit
the warm blood and the chivalrous feelings
the southerner, having thus lost that which i
considered as the better part of life, gave his III
divided heart to this sole scion of his stock
and for his boys sake, no second lady darkene
his hall, or cast a shadow over the golden sui
light of the young heirs youthful existence =
Thus fondy nurturcd and cherished, every wi:
INDUCED to the utmost, the young Bradley gre
apace; but with all his paternal prejudices, Il
elder Spencer could but notice the wavering &C
aaaORaR H. bctokc
ID the ma
- aQnseq uenc
enxd blow, h;
n0 to oppo
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