Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-28


deal gently with herP
4 do not seek to upbraiJ, said the General, with
kindness Of manner which he yainly slrove to con-
Gael under a increased sternness of voice. but rath-
to save you both. The best ofus at timesli-
able to err, aud God, knowing this, will have com
passion irailties, if to Him, and ac-
knowledge them, and repent
ST. John bowed his head in silence, while hum
bled expression passed over his pale brow. Much
longer they conyersed together, and kindness and
affection soon usurped the place Of wounded feeling
aud bitter resentment
For once Noel said General Morley forget
that you are Protestant minister, and fancy your
self deyout penitent will play the part Of father
conlessor, aud, recital Of your errors, may per-
haps be able TO give you absolution, or at least aid
you to atone for them
St John smiled sadly as he threw himself upon
foosioo at the feet Of his old friend and said with
attempt at calmness.
Remember, General, that the office is sacred
one, and that the barred secrets Of the human SOUL
which the penitent lays open to his priests, sub
lecis which the world may not divine
General Morley bowed in silence, and St. John
commenced in low voice the brief history Of his
woe.
Ethel Huntly and were play-mates from our
earliest childhood, aud loved each other long before
either rightly understood what the word meant
She was moherless and friemdless girl and her
stern father although he occasionally admitted her
into his presence never sought to engage her aiec-
tons or iathom the depths of her ardent feelings
When occasionally spoke 10 her more seriously
than usual, she would listen with rapt attention. aud
showed an earnest desire TO deserve my respect
But were both young, and these dlscourses we're
Of rare occurrence we had other and peasanter
themes for conversation aud was content to love
her she was guilcessly unsuspecting of evil. and
attached to good. You may remember that it was
i,s uxn Is ia l Stn,t
abroad previous to entering upon my ministerial
duties, order that might gain enlarged notions of
men and manners, aud have the benefit OF studying
the various styles fthe best foreign preachers
Having first exchanged vows of eternal fidelity with
my weeping Ethel, / obeyed their mandate was
absent nearly year and found on my return that
she had that very day married man old enough
10 be her father. You may recollect Lord Agin-
court
The General started aud his brow grew stern.
This is even worse than feared he said yche-
men,ly.
Hear me ont said ST. John, with yoise hoarse
with emotion. 1T is for her sake that humble
myself TO you. The circumstances that led TO this
unfortunate union were not long in reaching me-
Mr. llunlly had basely sacrificed his own child to
aeeursed love ofgod and Ethel, by series of art
iul mannuvres, taught 10 believe that had broken
my faith to her, became their victim without, muir
mur. Lord Agincourt even before his marriage,
knew that her heart was in the possession Of anoih
er bad aided in the straagems which severed US and
with unmanly cruelty disclosed the knowledge he
possessed TO his young bride on their wedding
day. With fendish and exulting pride he dwelt up
on the success Of his plans informing her at the
tine that had returned 10 England unchang
ed in heart and faith Ethel, pale aud horor-strick-
en-, heard him without reply or reproach, and he
quilted her. That night, sat in my solitary
chamber, broodng my wrongs, and the disap-
pointment Of all my long-ehershed schemes of hap
piness a visitor announced, and Ethel pale aud
breathess, rushed wildly towards me, and sank lat
my feet, mploring me 10 save her from worse than
death. will not attempt TO repeat what passed in
that interview, or with what feelings listened 10 the
dark recital ofour mutual injuries to her pleadings
! that might not again be separated-that would
| not send her from me, and expose her TO the an
! ger of her father and the insults of Lord Agn-
cour,.-to the cold OF Implying world
General Morley, you are man-you have been
young, and perchance loyed-what would you, what
could you have donel'
The old man turned away his head in silence, but
his burning tears fell upon the upfed brow of the
enquirer.
you would have acted as did, continued ST.
John, more calmly, you would have preserved her
from her prosecutors, because you loved her-and
from herself, because you respected her, and had
COMMISSION on her conhding innocence and devoted
D
here, where she has since resided. And God is my
witness, that during the years that have elapsed
since then, she has never been more to me than
dear sister that she is pure and snless as in
those happy days when we were children together
in her native home Morley, you will do me the
justice TO believe that speak nothing but the holy
! truth
Il do do said the old man, laying his trem-
| bling hand upon the bowed head Of his iriend--
Forgive me, Noel, for having wronged you by my
doubts-for having contributed by a word to the sor-
rows of that unhappy girl But, added the Gener-
al, after long pause, although you both inno-
cent now, still your position is dangerous one as
regards yourselves and society St. John, you know
enough of the world to feel that the story you have
! just related would never be credited should il be-
! come known
Il have thought OF all this, replied his friend
but where is my poor Ethel to go !-what will be
come OF her i'll desert her She has no relation
in the world 10 whom she could apply; and mine
far too good and pure TO be able to stretch forth
a helping hand TO save fellow creature from shame
and misery
The young man spoke with bitterness, and paced
the room with rapid and agita,ed step.
Then you feel that by her long residence under
your roof she is untitled to take the station in soci
city which she deserves among the yirtuous ant
good That, pure as she is, they would scorn tC
associate with one whom the foul breath OF calum
ny-not wholly unionnded- had sullied forever'
'And would you hesitate to sacrifice your owl
happness--nny, even hers, for time, to restore he
to her former station in the world? to render he
worthy OF your love when you shall dare TO offer
without sin!
DO with us as you WILL replied the young man
Il have deserved TO suler-but not my poor Ethel