Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-30
Select Tales.
From Graham's Magazlnc for April.
THE STOLEN MANUSCRIPT,
BY MRS. CAROLINE II. BUTLER.
Concluded.
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
II was a cold winter morning. Those hours
which should have been given to refresh her
overtasked frame, Ethel was compelled from
necessity to devote to the completion of her
manuscript, and the clock had struck FIVE ere
her task was accomplished. The fire was nearly
in an exhausted state, and her lamp gave but a
dim sickly light, yet so intent was she upon the
pages before her that both these silent monitors
Of the lapse of time remained unnotced. As
she rounded the last period bright glow of sat
isfaction flushed her cheeks, and her eyes spark
led with pride and pleasure
c 1t is fnished-what happiness, she men
tally exclaimed. Five o'clock, is it possible it
can be so late, or rather so early, no matter,
my task is ended will now try to sleep an
hour ere the family are stirring.
With these thoughts Ethel threw herself upon
the bed, and in a few moments sweet sleep rest
ed upon her weary eye-lids Scarcely had she
done so, when the side door leading from her
mothers room was gently pushed open, and
Amelia still in her night dress, stole softly into
the chamber. Casting a troubled look through
the uncertain light to discover if her sister Slept
she advanced cautiously to the table, and then
seizing the manuscript, as softly retreated, and
again closed the door.
Here it is, mother, she cried, quite pale
with agitation
That is right, my love, you have done adj
mirably,' answered Mrs. Wasingham, eagerly
snatching poor Ethel's treasure from the hand
of Amelia, and fast locking it in bureau draw
err admirably! now lie down again and try to
go to sleep; deny having been up at alias for
me, remember am sick with a violent headache
not able to rise-so of course there will be no
suspicious of u.s.
Poor Ethel, sighed Amelia, mo, she will
never suspect u.s. She is too pure herself to
think so vile thing of mother and sister,
o mother, let me take the manuscript back
Nonsense, you silly girl. One would think
we were absolutely stealing, to hear you talk
1t is as much mine as hers, and have right
to the money Now hush and 90 to sleep
when you are riding in your own carriage one
of these days, you will thank me for this harm.
less vancouver.
1t was nearly eight o'clock when a servant
knocked at the door of Ethes chamber, with
message from her mother stating that she was
quite unwel, and desired Ethel would come tc
her; for as Amelia had been broken of her resi-
through the night on her account, and had
now fallen asleep, she did not like to disturb
her. Ethel instantly sprang from the bed as
f0nIshnd had Cla ID
the girl to re-kinde her fire, fastened into hel
mothers room. She found Mrs Wasinghau
suffering from an excrucating headache, and
Amelia with her face concealed under the bee
clothes, either asleep or feignng to be So
most probably the latter The sick woman sug
gested that cup of tea, prepared by Ethel,
own hands, might do her good, and perhaps sht
might be tempted to eat the daintiest bit o
chicken if Ethel would cook it, for her appetit,
was too delicate to be tempered with by board
ing-house cookery. And so Ethel descended tc
the kitchen and begged to be allowed to prepare
her mothers breakfast
At length she found her many duties around
the sick bed of Mrs, Walsngham ended-a
usual, she had plated her sisters beautiful hair
and assisted her in dressing, 1t was now ter
at eleven one of her pupils came, so she hac
Just one hour good to fold her manuscript anc
carry it to the post office, through which she
sent all her communications, But where was
1t! She was confident she had left it upon her
Tablet was not therein vain she searched
her desk, her bureau, opened every book and
moved every article of furnitura in tho roop
81 w feuna; Even Mrs. WaIsng
u tainted from the ex
Ito assist in the search
aoubt she said, but thai
ilB hpnsen had taken it to kindle
the ire A denial Of course was no proof