Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-10-02

oh, will you, said the little fellow. I'VE
shall be so pleased to see you, and know it
will give Claudine pleasure too
True to my promise on the following morn
ing, | entered the humble cottage ofthe parents
of Claudine. The boy and the mother were
there, the father was out pursuing his occupa-
ton. The poor woman overwhelmed me with
thanks and said that Caudine had asked for nc
many times She would have died upon the
cold road, but for you, said the good woman.
Presently l was conducted to Caudine's
chamber The hapless girl lay upon her small
pallet the scene was silent and solemn. Across
the lattced window the vine threw its foliage,
screening the chamber from the intrusion of the
sunbeams. Everything was remarkable for its
neatness and order in the place Claudine fix
ed her eys upon me as | cntered presently they
were sufIused with tears sat down by her bed
side. and how is Claudine to-day said l.
She closed her eyes for a moment and notion
ed with her head 10 signify that her case was
hopeless; and then she put her hand forth, and
taking mine within hers, ondeavored to raise it
to her lips, but her strength was not sufficient,
and her hand fell to her side She sighed at this
indication of her debility, but spoke to her in
words Of consolation and hope and endcavored
to encourage her to thoughts Of life and happ-
ness, But all hope seemed to have fled from
her, save that which she had in heaven.
In the course of the morning, she was able to
speak to me, and found that her greatest fear
was that her prayers were not heard on high
How can a sinner like myself murmured she,
hope to be heard or have prayer received
| endeavored to assure her of the great mercy
of the Creator, and succeeded at length in calm
ing her mind, and removing her apprehensons.
1t was then that she mentioned Frederic. | had
abstancd from naming her bctrayer, fearful of
the consequences; but now she spoke of him with
composure. Il forgive him. she said, for the
misery he has brought upon me. ! forgive him,
deeply though he has wronged me, and if dared
would breathe prayer to heaven for him, for
surely he must need our prayers And then
she caspcd her hands, and her lips moved as if
Isuppicating apardon for her bctraycr
AT this moment loud cry was heard below
The brother of Claudine who had remained
there, called for his parents to come down. and
his cries were mingled with an exclamation oft
repeated in tone Of great agony and exhaustion,
lin too late p
Gracious heaven! that voice. exclaimed the
mother Of the dying girl, and before had time
to make enquiry as to the matter, the poor wo-
man had left the room, and presently heard her
endoayorlng to prevent some one from ascending
the stairs, The intruder uttered but one sen.
tencc, and that was in tone as if his whole
heart and soul was absorbed in the question:
Am ton iaic? p
The effort of the stranger to enter was toe
strong to be resisted, and in moment pale
man exhausted and covered with dust, rushed in
to the room, and as he entered, he repeated hi.
cry, I'm / too later
Alas the hoart-strlcken CLudinc had rccog
nizcd the wcll-known voice and features of hel
betrayer, and had fallen back upon her bed, anC
there she lay, seemingly IieIess her lips quiz cr
ed not, and her hand was cold and powerless-
The iren2ied youth fell on his knees at the bed
side, and in frantic tone, duplicated heaven t.
restore her to him, whom he still loved, and t,
whom he was DESTROYS of making reparatlon-
He had been led away from virtue and truth b,
the pleasure which his fortune commanded bu
having proved their hoIowness he had return
ed, like the wearicd dove from its wandering
over the dreary waste Of the world, to the ark 0
his happiness, the heart and home Of Claudine.
Frederic believed the maiden to be really dead
and he gave himself up to despair. But l per
ccIc ed that she was only overcome by the suddeI
shock Of his appearance, and requested him t.
restrain his emotions, while and the goodmoth
or cndeayored to restore Claudine. Our effort
soon produced the desired effect Claudino ava
kencd in the world. She looked around tn,
rooW, inquiringly, as if in search of some objec
she had beheld in a dream, and when her eye
rested upon the dropping peuitent at her feet sh
gazed at him for a moment with fixed expression
and then her emotion vented itself in tears
'CIaudine, CIaudinc, forgive me! Oh, fol
give me cried the youth in tone of passion
ate emotion.
Il have nothing to forgive, murmured tn
gll; my heart has already made peace with a
on earth. My thoughts are now for my ow
peace with heaven
Bless thee, bless thee, Claudne Live, o
live, for happiness and mcP
Hush, hushp whispered Claudine, breath
not sound of earthly passion now II is to
: latc.'
ooh, no! heaven will spare thee, to bless m
love-
1t is too late repeated CIaudine. Leave me
leave me, Ipray l have but few moment
longer to tarry, in the world, and would fix m
thoughts on my souls peace hereafter ?
Mo- oh no 7 shreked the lover you mu.
not-shall not die : and springing up with vii
emotion, he left the room.
lie was not long absent, and returned bring
ing medical attendant Of ropute, who, on di
covering the circumstances of the case, ordere
Frederic to leave the house The lover was a,
; tonlshed but the doctor was imperative. Sh
may recover he said, 'but every moment tn;
you remain here serves to increase her disorder