Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-05-23
THE BELLE OF THE FOREST,
on,
THE FIsHERMAN's DAUGHTER.
BY MISS CHARLOTTE HILBORN.


AIltiid GHttTlulll lliAlG
room to the invalid which was tasteluly dec |
GRATED with choice and beautiful wild flow
ers ofthe forest every thing around the scan
ty apartment displayed an air of neatness and
taste, surprising the youthful Montana. An
Meta was appointed his nurse, and how ca
gerly did he watch her graceful department,
and the varied charms of her lovely face, as
she moved peerlessy around him, antcipat-
ing every wish, administering 20 every want.
Often, when her eyes rested upon her work
and her mind seemed deeply engaged in its
own sweet reflections, he would stealthily
draw from its hiding place the richly set min
iatnre, and compare il with the beautiful An
META. 1t certainly thought he, bears 4 strik-
ing resemblance to her; it could not look
more like her had she set for il herself And
then he would come to the conclusion that
he would gain some knowledge of her, and
how ioyfuily would his Uncle receive him,
when he should bear home the joyful ,idings
Thus a whole week passed away, and the
Count was unable TO walk unsupported.
1t was a bright lovely morning, and An
META entered the room earlier than usual,
with a choice boquet of fresh flowers she
was busiIy engaged in arranging them in the
wooden vases, when the voice Of Montaine
/ famliarly pronouncing her name, caused her
to turn abruptly toward him, while her face
was suifused with bushes for she feared
/ that she was displeasng, even while she en-
deavored to please
/ Is the fragrance of those wild flowers dis
pleasing to you, sir she timidly asked.
thought, as you were unable to 90 out, You
would ike to have something beautiful for
the eve to rest upon, aud could not think
of anything more lovely than the wild flow
ers Of our forest.
Nor can /, said M0ntaine, with emphasis.
The fairesi flower that my eve ever Toasted
on was wild flower of the forest but step
nearer Annetta, have something to say to
you. Anneita obeyed like an artless child
Have you any friends, asked the Count,
residing in Genoa!
Ono, Sir she answered, | have no friends
but my father and mother, and they live here
IN the cottage.
Where did Won get that magnificent brace
LET which encircles your arm, Annetta ask
ed the Count.
My mother says that | once had a very
dear friend, who died when | was a child,
and the bracelet she left for me. | know not
who she was, or where she lived, or was bu-
red, unless il was under yonder beautiful
tree YOU can see at the foot of the cliff 1t
is nv birth day, and mother wished me to
wear it.
Will YOU let me examine it said the
Count.
As he glanced his eve over the inside, he
saw, though indistinctly, the initials, A. A..
M. A faintness came over him, and the
bracelet fell
Anneita quickly caught 1t up, and replaced
it upon her arm she did not notice the pale
ness which overspread the features of the
youth, for she had scarcely finished securing
the bracelet, when she heard the voice OF
her mother calling her from the entrance,
aud she fastened to obey the summons.
NV child said Mrs Wilson, as Annetta
approached her, it is your birth day You
recollect told on your eighteenth birth day
should have something of importance to
communicate to you Here, my child is a
treasure have secretly and sacredly kept for
you more than seventeen years. Here, my
child, she added, giving her large parcel,
take it, il is yours go to yonder grave,
meath the cool shade of the branching tree,
where you can peruse il at your leisure, with
out interruption. 1t is your birth day. and
God grant that it may be happy one.
Annetta stopped to hear no more but ran
like a nimbIe fawn to her faForite resort As
she gained her accustomed seat upon the
rough slab al the head of the grave, she has
tily tore off the envelope, and to her mex
presslble surprise, was written in plain and
delicate hand, To my Daughter, Aline An
META Montaine She was almost bevilder-
ed, and it was a long time ere she could gain
fortitude enough to break the seal which Sc
cured the package. At length curiosity pre-.
vailed, and she carefully placed her hand up.
on the ponderous seal, lest she might oblit.
crate word from the precious manuscript
for she felt that it was a mothers dying gift
and that her own hand traced the lines writ
ten within. On opening the manuscript
doubled cased locket, of magnificent beauty
slipped from its enclosure, and in falling the
spring parted, and revealed to the astonisheC
girl two miniatures richly set in diamonds
One a lady Of surprising beauty and peerless
grace. All said Annetta, as she bedeweC
it with tears. this is the sweet image that hal
nightly haunted my nightly visions and m,
waking imaginations, snd it is the semblancl
of my mother-my own dearest, lOyeliest
sainted mother
The other was gentleman of lofty bear
ing, high, proud brow, haughtily curves
lip, aud an eye which bespoke both intelli
gence and spirit, rendering the mute sem
blance the object of beauty and interest
How strange thought Annetta, as her eyl
glanced wildly over the handsome features
How familiar is that countenance il surel-