Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-14

of the world she might consider it irrevocable,
and believe herself his wife. His own security
had rendered him blind. Her illness, and the
extreme weakness consequent upon it, had af-
forded so little opportunity to converse with her,
upon this agitating subject, that as we have seen
Neville had never been able to speak openly with
her and it was only within a very short time
that he had began to feel the necessity for so do
ing. When the thought first intruded itself up
on him that Laura regarded him with feelings
deeper than mere gratitude, he shook it off with
smile of contempt at the seeming vanity OF the
idea But as the suspicion from time to time
required he determined no longer to delay speak
ing with her We all know how much easier it
is to plan than to execute. Neville was no cox
comb, ana there were moments when he though
he had deceived himself, and with cowardce
singular in one remarkable for his decision, he
had shrunk, with a sensitveness almost equalng
her own, from touching upon their mutual posi-
ton. And now, when it was done, and his
worst fears confirmed he blamed himself bitterly
for results which it is impossible he could have
forseen
His situation, viewed in the most favorable
light, was an embarrassing one. The crcum-
stances which had thrown poor Laura upon his
protection, were of such nature that honor and
humanity--aside from the strong feeling of inter-
est her destitute condition inspired that
protection imperative upon him, These obliga-
tons, however, were trihes compared with the
difficulties now thrown in his way by his recent
discovery and he paced the deck for the great
er part of the night in toubled thought.
When he arose in the morning, he was told
by the captain that the poor young lady was
again very i'll, adding, as he shook his head that
he very much feared her delicate frame could not
resist relapse. Neville was shocked at this
information. He felt that there was yet but one
more circumstance which would complete the
wretchcdness Of his feelings; and as he dwelt up
on the probability of the poor girls dying with
out the aid of those comforts and that advice
which might preserve her life, he prayed feryent-
| ly that they might soon arrive in port.
Two wretched days passed over, however, and
Laura was rapidly sinking before land was dis
covered, when the wind, shifting in their favor,
they soon gained the river, and the next morning
early, Neville jumped ashore in his native city.
His first step was to drive to the house of ply
stefan, of acknowledged skill, whose immediate
advice he required for Laura he then repaired
to his fathers house The first greeting over,
and inquiries made for his wife, who was in the
country, satisfactorily replied to, he proceeded to
relate to his parents Lauras history, and his
connection with it. He painted the horrors OF
the situation from which he had rescued her, and
touched with feeling upon her youth and gentle
ness and her desolate situation. Mr. and Mrs
Neville were persons of sense and great kindli-
ness ofnature they perceived at once the obi
gaion which circumstances had imposed upon
their son, and protested themselves willing and
anxious to aid him in his humane intentions.
Mrs Neville accordingly ordered her carriage
and with her husband and son drove Immediate
ly to the vessel. When they arrived, they found
the physician, with Laura, who pronounced hel
to be in a very critical state. He urged her in
slant removal from the ship, the confinement OF
which, added to the noise and confusion which
reigned on board rendered her situation very
dangerous The necessary arrangements were
made by Mrs Neville, and a few hours found
Laura safely and luxuriously reposing in spa
cious, cool apartment in Mr. Neyille's mansion.
For many days Lauras life seemed suspended
by hair One of the women who had nurseC
her in the ship was detained to fill that office
near her, for the present. while Mrs Neville
with her own sympathies strongly enlisted by her
knowledge Of her history and her desolate condi
ton, left nothing untried to minister to her CON-
fort and restoration.
Immediately upon Laura's removal to his faith
ers, Charles Neville set off to join his wife. Ii
his relation to his parents, concerning Laura, he
had touched but lightly upon the form Of mar
rlage which had passed between them, while he
had carefully abstained from all mention Of the
mistake under which she had abored, in believ
i ing herself to be his wife In like manner die
he avoid giving his wife any suspicious Of that M
/ ture. He was too anxious to secure for l.auri
her kind feelings to risk such disclosure. AL
though an amable woman, and fully satisfied o
her husbands affections, yet when Neville re
Elected upon Laura's attractions, he considered
silence the most prudent course, even had he not
as was the case, felt shrinking repugnance a
, laying bare feelings and touching upon incident
which he strove with care to Danish from hi
t own mind
In less than a fortnight, Laura began to shoy
signs of amendment Her recovery, however
was very slow and it was many weeks befor
she able to leave her room. 1t is hardly poss
ibe for any enc to change more than she ha
done in this short period. Her cheek was ho
: low, and her beautiful little hand, once so plum
If and round, was so thin and transparent, that yo
might trace every shrunken vein in its course
It But it was not alone in her person that she wa
altered; the spring of her mind seemed broken
d sorrow had lain 50 heavily upon her young heal
that she had lost the power of struggling again'
it.
5, She was gentle and grateful to all around her
n but no smile ever broke over her countenance