Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-07

eS and CaneheldS Ill all dlTeCtlons. Capt Jones /
apprehensions now become almost insupportable,
when the boat, which had been left for Neville,
under the charge of trusty officer, was seen
rapidly making its way to the vessel. In little
while the Captain was enabled to distinguish the
form of Neville, and in his JOY at the sight, he
almost overlooked the presence of several women
and children who accompanied him. As theI
boat neared the vessel, however, and he became
more assured in the knowledge Of Neville'S safe
ty, he scrutinized more closely its strange pass
engers, who proved to be two coarse-looking,
middle-aged women, with their children and a
young lady, apparently insensible, who was sup
ported in NevilIes arms. The boat was filed
with bundles of clothing hastily gathered togeth-
or, evidently the property of the woman.
Neville's appearance was greatly disordered
his countenance flushed, his clothes were torn
and covered with dust, and the excitement which
prevailed in his whole air and manner soon ST.
fenced the remonstrance which the Captain was
about to make against the introduction of such
unusual articles as women in his ship. A few
words were interchanged, in low voice, between
the vessel With considerable difficulty, the
Young girl was removed, when she was consign-
ed to the care of the women; every facility for
her accommodation being afforded by the Cap
tain, who gave up his cabin for that purpose.
When this was accomplished, Neville sought
Captain Jones, and entered into thrilling detail
of the circumstances that had caused his delay,
and which led to his being accompanied as he
was. "He had been detained" he said, $50 late at
the house of friend, few miles from town, on
the preceding night, that he had been prevailed
upon to defer his departure until an early hour
the next morning, when he set off at the first
glimmerngs of dawn, since which time he had
been fighting his way through scenes of horror
too terrible to relate The whole of the French
portion Of the Island was in state of revolt, and
there was no safety, even for helpless women and
children-hundreds of whom were lining the
shore in the hope of escaping by sea. The two
women and their children who had accompanied
him were among them, having found it impossi-
BILE to resist their opportunities But the histo-
ry of the young girl was a darker tale" and
Neville, with rapid voice and hurried ma nner,
touched only upon the leading facts, necessary
to explain her situation to the Captain with pc
cuiar sensitiveness, avoiding all mentioned the
details. 1t is necessary, however, that we should
not be so fastidious With her dress dabbled in
the blood of her murdered father, Neville had
rescued the poor girl from a band of infuriated
ruffians, who had pursued her like pack of
blood-hounds, bradishing their long sharp knives
which the next moment were to be sheathed in
her heart With wild and reckless daring that
bore all before it, he rushed in the midst of them,
and interposed his own body between them and
their victim. A moment more, and all would
have been over with him, but for the interference
of a gray-headed black, who appeared to be their
leader, in whose heart there still remained some
MEETINGS of human kindness towards the gentle
girl whose first tottering steps in infancy he had
guided. He knew Neville by sight-knew who
he was-and he Immediately made proposition
to his companions, to which they appeared re-
Iuctantly to consent. The substance of 1t was
this Neville must pledge himself solemnly to
take the young lady to his own country immedi-
atey and never suffer her TO return to the island.
70 this Neville promptly agreed. A sheer pass
ed over the mans face, and then was added a
startling provision, to which Neville did not so
readily assent. He must marry her A mo-
ment's hesitation, and then the cries for blood
were renewed. Then Neville pledged himself,
if the lady wished it, to marry her. A wild
laugh of scorn arose from the ruffians, who con-
lerred together for moment. One oftheir par
ty was despatched to the house and Immediately
returned with venerable looking gentleman,
bound hand and foot, who proved to be cler-
gyman of the Episcopal church, then on an acct
dental visit to the plantation. He was perempt-
orily ordered to begin the marriage service, but
the worthy man refused to obey Astounded at
the promptness of the conspirators, and by the
singular situation in which he was placed, Ne
vile began to demonstrate, but in an instant a
dozen knives were pointed at the breast of the
kneeling girl. To endeavor to temporize with
wretches thirsting for blood and who we're only
withheld from shedding it by the influence Of
their leader he saw was madness A few words
spoken in Latin assured the worthy clergyman,
and then he stood beside the beautiful young
creature, whose fate he had so strangely interior
ed in repeating with her the marriage VOWS
A ring was provided from Neville's watch chain,
the words were spoken audibly by both, and, a.
mid that scene strange and startling, the bless
ing was tremblingly bestowed.
The momentthe ceremony was over, the con-
spirators hurried the clergyman away, not suA-
ering him to speak either with the lady or her
deliverer and, without pausng to communicate
further with the fierce group around him, Ne.
vile lifted the unfortunate girl in his arms, and
bore her, uninterruptedly, to the little light car
raige he was driving in. Before he reached
it, however, he became aware that his burther
was insensible her consciousness, which had
not deserted her during the whole of the terrible
scenes she had Witnessed, now failed her. In
Il