Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-09-18


increasing loudness Of the voices below attracted
her attention, and to her horror she heard al
plan arranged for her marriage on the following
day.
Wen bring her down. said the father, 'and
tell her how nicely we've settled it all. Annie,
my girl, come here
Finding the terrified girl made no answer, he
began climbing the stair case in search OF her;
but Annie's resolution was soon taken She
threw open the easement and leapt into the Or
chard alighting in safety on grassy mound.
When Carr, having in his Impotence burst.open
the door, entered the room, Annie was beyond
his reach.
That night Charles Gardner and his mother
sat late, talking of their young neighbor; and
Mrs Gardner wen from her son confession that
he loved the poor desoate Annie Carr
They were still in earnest conversation, when
they were startled by low knock at the house
door. Charles rose to see who was their visitor
at so unusual an hour, and to his amazement.
beheld Annie Carr herself A shawl as if
thrown on in haste, was wrapped careIessly about
her, her head was uncovered and her hair, heavy
with dew, hung round her pale face. Her teeth
chartered, and her hands we're cold as ice, and
there was a wildness in her eyes and manner
that filed her lover with alarm.
what ais yon, Annie-dearest Annie" he
said, leading her to his mother, who placed her
beside the fire, and chatting her cold hands,
said,
''Vhat has happened to bring you from home
at this late bourP
Annes eyes wandered from Charles to Mrs.
Gardner.
yes, yes she exclaimed, it is a happy home!
kind laces-kind words 1T is like Heaven!
annie? said Mrs. Gardner, you are here with
those who love you Tell me, dear child, what
has driven you away from your fathers roof to-
might?
'Ah! I remember now, answered the pool
girl, shuddering, though [ stopped my ears
yet heard it all. They called me to go dowr
they said that tomorrow | should be his wife
Save me!-saye me-! and gliding from her sea
she sank on her knees before Mrs. Gardner
Let me stay here!-lt is like heaven to be here
----do not send me home againp
'lIc is her father after all,' said Charles 'ht
sill claim her, and what can we do?
Charles, | think a word of mine could pre-
vent Mr.. Cars claiming Annie
Charles started with much surprise, and hi
mother continued,
Il have for many years hidden secret Whe
the Cars first came into this village, they nhab
tied the small house next to us Mrs Carr wa
a woman of high family who ran away wit
this man. He was then mate Of tradn
vessel, and often carried goods, smuqgled, the
said, to her fathers house Many hard wor
and blow, has she borne from her husband
Che poor creature never complained, bu
there was a hoart-broken look in her face that Il
one could mistake. At last, on one summer
evening, heard Cars voice louder and NOR
angry than | had ever heard it before, | wa
alone, and as his wicked words fell on my ear,
grew sorey frightened. Presently there came
sound Of heavy blows, and started up and raj
I knew not where but in few moments,
) found myself in my neighbours garden, anC
through the open window of the cottage, sa
the unhappy woman on her knees before hin he
/ mmHrrcr Charles, saw the blow struck
saw her fill en- her f0ce--he had killed her.
, heard him say so, and fell myself scnselcss c
4 The ground. When | recovered my conscious
l ness, was still there. One by enc all the no
rors Of the scene had witnessed came back t
my recollection, and got up and listened, BIT
5 all was still, | looked in at the window, an
something laid On bed in the corner of ii
l room. grew faint once more, for | guesse
what it was; but summonng all my courage
, went to the door. | found it locked, but mac
my way into the house by large window at II
c back. In few moments STOOD beside Il
e dead; | saw the mark Of the blow that had kile
4 her 1t was fearful sight, yet had some con
: fort in thinking she was gone from her brutal t,
rant for ever, | locked fer the baby but it W;
: not IN the house, and the boy had been alIeaC
S at some distant school AS was about to lea,
l the house, some strange feeling led me again {
! look on the dead woman Again | uncoycrt
4 the iace:-how CHASTITY were those blood-stamC
, features in the dim twilight While locke
upon them, fixed to the spot by horror that incre
J sed every moment, | heard step approachiI
+ and though | knew it must be Carr retuinin
d yet | could net move
a He turned the key, he entered the house, al
b, felt that in another minute he would come i
: to the room where was, yet l stood STILL wit
out the power to stir. He came, the murder
u and stood face to face besides the corpse
r Mrs Gardner paused and covered her eyes
if to shut out some horrible sight, then in hu
rled tone she added
1t Charles, cannot---I dare not remember
o that passed afterwards. There were threats al
;, curses know was made to swear a dreadf
oath that would hide the truth. God forai
IS me if ! do wrong in breaking that yown
l. The young man pressed his mothers han
n kindly; he dared not trust himself to speak.
r The poor woman was buried resumed NJ
Gardner, without inquiry, for every body h.
IS seen her look like dying woman for lol
l. time. Carr carried the baby to an excelle