Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-14
~ / s Ce Tia ny .
From the Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper.
THE EMERALD RING,

A STORY OF ABSORBING INTEREST
BY MISS META NJ. DUCAN
My husband no, not mne--yet we were welded
This ring was here in halow'd nuptial placed
priest did bless it !--ANoNYMoUs.
CONTINUED.
PART II.
Mr. Courtney, her father, was native OF ia
maica his wife the daughter of an English
merchant, who had emigrated to that Island and
died there Mr. Courtney had removed only a
few years since to St. Domingo, in the hope of
lettering his circumstances, where, in a short
tim his wife died. L1url WAS their only child,
Petted darling upon whom every indulgence
was lavshed. Mr. Courtney's whole means was
comprised in his plantation and negroes-a pro-
perty, which though not very lucrative, was suf-
ficient for all their wants On the death of his
wife, whose loss he had severely felt, being una
BILE to bear a separation from his child-the on
ly tie now left Unfinished of sending her from
him to be educated an English governess was
provided for that purpose, and the most extrava-
giant teachers employed to assist her. Any sac
fee was preferable to the fond parent, which
enabled him to keep his child with him.
LAURA said her Father was entirely ignorant
of the extent ofthe disafectlon in the island She
described him as a humane master, a sincere
friend, and man of remarkably sweet and ami
able temper and she was at a loss to comprehend
the drefu hostility exhibited toward his person
On the night of the outbreak, she was aroused
by her maid, who implored her to fly to the town
for safety, but, unmindful of her urgent entreat-
les, she fled to her Fathers apartment and found
him dead !-wctering in his blood, and pierced
by dozen wounds Stunned by this terrible
scene, Laura was dragged from the room by her
faithful attendant, and secreted in some shrubbe-
ny near the house, with directions to fly as soon
as she scould do so in safety. Almost maddencd
by her fears, she obeyed but scarcely had she
appeared upon the open lawn, before the whole
pack of boodhounds were at her heels; and before
she had proceeded far, captured her, as we have
seen. The clergyman, Laura said, was an Eng
llshman from Jamaica, on visit to her father,
and his life had been spared more from the fact,
of his being foreigner, than from any consider
ton for his sacred office. 1t was for this reason
that Neville escaped the conspirators protesting
to deal their vengeance only upon French and
native proprletors
1t was not without much effort and many tears,
that Laura repeated these particulars When
she had finished, Neville thanked her for the eff
fort she had made to obge him. and bringing
her glass of water, he spoke to her in sooth-
ing tones, words of kindness, of cheering and of
hope. Gradually her composure returned and
as if for the first time awakened to knowledge
ofthe existence of world beyond the vessel in
which she was embarked, she questioned him of
the land they were approaching
The sun had sunk slowly beneath the waves,
but its glories had not yet all disappeared Tier
upon tier of gorgeous drapery, tnged with its
golden light, still shed over the ocean mellow
ed glow each moment growing softer, as cloud
after cloud, in their restless changes, became
absorbed in the coming shadows of night Laura
sat, with her fair dimped fingers listlessly clasp
ed upon her lap, her cheek lighted up by the
glow from the water, and her large soft eyes still
swimming in the tears which her recent emotion
had called up. Neville stood beside her, lean
leaning against the vessels sde-his tall, slender
figure bent as he leaned forward, to catch her
words. His countenance unlike hers, was troub-
led and serious, his cheek, always pale, was now
Of more than usual paleness, and there was an
air of trepdation about him. different from his
customary possessed and quiet bearing.
"Then you have no friends-no relations in
the United States p Neville asked in reply to
a remark she had made
"NoW answered she, raising her eyes to his
face, and placing her hand within his with conf.
ding tenderness that was irresistible--"I have uc
friend on earth now but you"
Neville pressed the little hand, and in voice
the embarrassment of which he strove in vain to
subdue, he murmered some confused sentence Of
thanks and expressions of happiness, in being thus
distinguished. A pause full Of awkwardness, sue
ceeded Laura blushed violently, as if fearful she
had done something wrong, and remained silent
At length she spoke again, and it was to ask
some question about his family.
els your father like you 7" she asked as he
handsome? z"
"He is too old to have any pretentions of tina
sort" Neville replied; "but my mother was ant
is still a very handsome woman"
"Your Mother Have you Motherl"
eyes Laura 1t is under her protection
mean to place YOU She is very amiabe, and
am sure you will like her"
"Oh yes, l am sure of it |" she replied hest
tatingly; "but shall | require the protection 0
any one else when you are with me!'
"But cannot be with you, Laura. do nc
live with my parents"
"Where-with whom do you live!" she aske
quickly.
''In my own house, and with my wife,
"Wife," she exclaimed, caspng her hand.
and looking wildly into his face, while her ow
became deadly pale. g Am l not your wife,
Were we not united by holy man Z And is nc
this the ring you put upon my finger Spea
to me-tell me if this is all dreadful dream"
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