Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-10-15
THE CURSE.


II was towards the close of the second year o
their marriage that Melton entered his small aud
wrelched apartment, and informed Genemeye that
he was ordered on an expedition which would de-
tain him until the following day
The civil authorities, SAID he, "haYe been ia.
formed that the noted pirate Manning, IS conceal.
ed in the suburbs ofihe city, with few Of his most
desperate followers. You know that he has once
been taken, and escaped and the police have ever
since been on the alert for him. Ii is generally
supposed that he will make desperate defence,
and guard Of the military has been ordered out to
protect the officers OFF Justice The command is in
trusted to me, and snatched a moment to tell you
not to expect me home before morning"
"Genevieve listened in terror, and said
81 have felt presentment of evil darkeninv nv
mind during the day. lis foolish, | know. to in.
dulge such feelings, but cannot shake them of
Be careful, for Heavens sake"
'For your sake, certainly will /" replied Melton,
smiling. "lf your cheek blanches at the prospect
Of Sigh, skirmish. love, how colld YOU bear to
see 60 forth to battle Still the alarms Of tina,
too sensitive heart, and be assured shall return in
safety"
A smile. bright as those Of former DAYS, beamed
on his face, he babe her farewell and she stood
at the window watching his graceful figure until it
receded from her view then wi2ing the tears from
her eyes, she murmured,
"li any harm were to befall him, should be lost
indeed. Ye, fear my fond dola,ry deserves some
punishment"
Her pressntimsnts were too fatally verified
The pirates contended hercely, aud Melton was
brough, home severely wounded Genevieye hung
over him in speechess agony, and refused to listen
10 the consultations the surgeon endeayoured to
give her. For some weeks his life was held by
feeble thread but the unremitted attentions Of his
devoted wife. and the prescriptions of judcious
medical attendant, finally restored him to some
thing like health. though his constitution had re-
ceived shock, from which he felt il would never
recover.
During his Illness his uncle visited him, and soft
ened by the extreme distress Of Genevieye, he be-
gan by plying their unfortunate circumstances, and
ended in offering them on asylum in his own house
Melton reoiced in the illness that opened to him
prospect Of future fortune, and gave him the power
Of placing his admirable wife in the sphere she was
so eminentIy fitted to adorn.
The heart ofGeneVeve was beginning to recover
something Of It's former ghiness and the smile
that irradiaed her lovely features the delighted
Melton saw was the offspring Of genuine happiness
when letter conveyed to her, informing her
that If she wished to obtain information respecting
her father the writer had it in his power to crafty
her He directed where an answer might be de.
osiied, that would reach him, and Geneyieve replied
that II it the osh her father that she should be
informed of his situation, nothing could afford her
more qualification.
The answer was brief The writer directed her
to go to the prison in which the pirates were con.
fined 10 inquire for Manning, and desire an inter
view with him. She was commanded not to in.
form her husband Of her intentions, as his knowl-
edge Of them would compromise the safety of her
father He adjured her, By the love her father had
borne for her, to fail in following his directions
'Ifyou do" the letter concluded, you will repent
Of nd m
recollection oft will darken every hour Of your
future life"
After that she could not hesitate: and with an in.
definite feeling dread she prepared to obey the n
functions contained in the letter. During MELONS
illness and conyalescence, the pirates had been
taken and condemned to death, and were now
waiting their fate in the city jail
Disgusting herself as well as she was able she
made some excuse for absenting herself from home
for several hours, and proceeded to the prison.
Her correspondent had informed her that, on show
ing the superscription Of his last letter, the jaor
would readily admit her. She followed his direc
tons implicitly and, with much less difficulty than
she had anticipated found herself in the cell Of the
condemned convict. A mist seemed TO fall over
her sight, as the ponderous door closed after her.
and she trembled violently that she was compel.
led to lean against the wall for support
As she recovered her self possession, she looked
dIounu HllseIdDe pace IN NnlCn sne stOOd.-
In one corner, on heap of straw, sat man with
his wrists and ankles heavily ironed. His form
was wasted almost to skeleton. His features were
thin and sallow, aud his matted black hair hung in
masses over his brow but amid all the squadness
that surrounded him, it evident that the per-
son before her had known better days, and that he
had once been emnently handsome. There we're
marks of deep suffering, such as "the souls war
doth leave behind" in his countenance; but if she
had not known it, she would never have said, that
she was in the presence Of man whose bloody
deeds had often filled her heart with horror
There was none of that sayageness and ferocty she
had expected 10 stamped on the face before her
On the contrary his dark eyes seemed to rest on
her with an expression Of pity and tenderness
He appeared 10 be laboring under strong agitation
and rising with difficulty, he addressed her in a
deep, sad tone, that thrilled to her heart
so you have come, and the fate ola father is
not Indifferent to you, although you are surround
ed by all that makes life desirable to the Young"
''Yes, am here to learn the history Of a parent,
who has never ceased to be dear to my heart In
mercy tell me what danger hangs over him ard if
it is in my power to avert it,"
at Is, lady but you bear to know pho and
That our father isl Are you prepared to find him
fallen degraded; unworthy 10 look on you, much
less TO call you his child p
Gle is still my father" murmured Geneyieye.-
81 can bear any thing better than this horrible
suspense, ] am ready to do any thing-every thing
for him that lies in my power Speak in mercy
to me all you know"
The man slipped one OF his hands from the iron
ring that confined it, aud threw back the hair from
his forehead. At the same moment he advanced,
so that the light from the solitary window fell full
on his features. Geneyieve uttered one wild, heart.
piercing shrek, and sunk nearly insensibe on his
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