The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-09-26

rear Otthe cottage, ton ncighboring wel.--
The distance from tho door 10 the well was
short, not more than n few yards, but all along
the grass, which had been much trnmped,
mingling with the dew, md glowing redly in
the morning sun, were the snngline stains
which had caused the piercing cry.
Every eye was turned upon the trembling
husbands face, and guilty enough he looked,
but not n word was uttered. In silence the
men, proceeded To drag the well hut 10 the
evident nstonishmcnt of all no body was dis
covered.
Though popular opinion decided that
James Barton had murdered his wife, still as
there was no evidence TO that effect the law
could not lay one gifts many hands upon him;
he was free to come and 60 ut pleasure, hut il
was no pleasure to him. For two days he
had sat in that lonesome cottage striving 10
soohe his infant when it awakened with n
wailing cry for her who heard it not, for he
had refused TO part with it to nny,) or hang
ing over its little bed when il slept. For two
days. sleep had been stranger to his eyes,
and now, as day was dawning for the third
time since the disappearance Of his wife, he
started from n chair into which he Ind sank in
utter WEAKNESS, and paced the narrow floor
with quick and fatcring steps.
"Alas! alas! they think murdered her" he
exclaimed. "And so did" he added, in
no! had she not slept upon this bosom? have
my arms not claspcd her through the weary
night? is she not the mother Of my child?--
Murder, what is il? the shedding Of human
blood? the letting forth the streams Oflile? II
Only this he murder, then / am glIiltless. But
n murderer isa destroyer; did not by my evil
passions destroy her happiness? Have not
driven her 10 this last act which dare not
think of? Oh! madness madness! has seized
my brain" and the unhappy man pressed his
cold hands TO his burning brow in silent ago
ny. AT this moment the latch, the simple fas
tcning of the door, was lifted and wan fig
ure in white, damp robes, stole barefooted in
to the room.
Directly opposite the strong man in his grief,
paused the steps of his early visitant, and the
two stood silently and widely confronting
each other
"EIizabethr'at length shrieked the husband.
"fush Hush" said the vsiter, ii hurts my
hcnd, give me something 10 eat! qnick, quick;
Pm hungry-hungry! The woods are very
dark, but so COOL but the berries are all gone,
and so Pve come here, hut you must not tell
him, for he will he very angry. llark" and she
sunk her voice to n whisper, and approached
her crimson stained lips close to his ear.
81 killed the little dog and sprinkled his
blood along the path 10 the well and put his
body away, where he will never find it, that he
might think Twas murdered. Oh! il was "A
bright thought, and il came to me in the morn
ing when he slept. lncver sleep---but FIN
hungry-give me TO cat, give me TO eat'
1t was with mingled feelings of horror and
JOY that the husband regarded the wild figure
of his wife, and listened TO her yet nlilder
words. lie comprohendcd the whole now,
and soothing her with food and loving words,
he endcavored TO bring back her wandering
lnS bp li1lf ot thfaS hail Sat
forever, and Elizabeth or Bessie Howard, as
she was moro familiarity called. was from time
forth, raving mad woman. Nothing could
interest, nothing could soften her; her child
she never noticed, and her husband was a.
like unknown TO her. Her whole nature, as
is frequently the case, had undergone com
plcte revolutions: from being the most timid
when sane, she became the most bold and
cunning in her madness, mischicvous in her
propensfties, and wicked in all her actions.
The villagers, feeling that they had done
injustice TO james Barton, by their suspicious,
now flockcd around him with sympathy and
consolation. But nothing could bring peace
to the heart stricken man, and he iolOwedihe
footsteps of his wandering wife, (whOm il So
enrnged 10 confinc, that it was deemed most
prudent to allow her perfect libcrty,l striving
to ward off danger when she provoked il or
soothing her in her calmer moments. This
state of things could not last long,thc author
tiles interfered, aud crazy Bess, ms she was
now called by all the children in the village,
was removed to one oflhe cells in her well
filed hospital
There she remained for many years, anu
sing herself and provoking her Keepers, by
ndustrlOusly converting the blankets belong
ing to her pallet, into ingenious frock coats
and leggins, in which fantastic dress, she
would present herself to the astouishcd mat
ron, who visited her to discover her Unplc-
ments for cutting and sewing. After thor
ough search, two small pieces oftn We're dis
covered,One of which served her for scissors,
and the other fora needle! her thread was
ravelled from the roses in the blankets. Ii
was in vain that these were taken from her
and new he'd clothing furnished; the men IN
the yard below, tossed fresh pieces of Tin
through the window of her cell, and new and
complete suits were the consequences.
The artlessness and cunuing which she
had displayed al the time of her first appear
ance, never forsook her. Wishing to surprise
the household into belieftha she had es-
capped, she tore open her bed and tying II in
long strips, fastened it to the grating of her
window, removing a bar at the same time that
had accidentally become loose, and then hid
herself behind some old barrels in the entry.
When her cell was entered in the morning,
ii was thought by all that she had fled, bm in
the midst oftheir lamentations, she skipped
out from her hiding place, laughing heartily,
and eXclaining.
did you? so did some one else os,ce, but she is
alive yet, thank God! and don't mean to die
to please any of your'
1FA young tyro in defamation in n
neighboring seminary, who had been told by