Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-22
Select Gales.
FOUNDED ON FACTS.
CHAPTER VII.

and the moon paed the beautiful landscape,
shedding its silver on the tops of the distant
hills, and bathing everything in its soft mellow
light
In the chamber directly over the rapid stream,
upon which one solitary window looked, man
paced hastily, making the loose floor creak and
rattle at every step.
With arms folded tightly across his manly
form, and head bent to his breast with an almost
despairing expression on his fine features, Elwyn
Moore approached the window and easily open
ing it, looked down into the solitary depths of
the murmuring waters A stunted tree grew
almost beneath him, and it looked with its black
arms stretched outward like gloomy spirit
reckoning towards him.
Shall l. he murmured, shall plunge down
there, and forget my misery? How can live
with such load of guilt crushing my spirit to
the earth! then pausing, he added, 'can it be
that am the same EIwyn, that knelt in my in
fancy at my mothers feet, and in my innocence
offered up holy prayer to God! OH how have
l allowed my soul to grow SO polluted shop
breaker! noted thief! l, Elwyn Moore! hardly
daring to lift my head among men, Again he
walked the floor with hurried step Mother
in heaven-sainted one, dost thou, Oh dost thou
behold thy guilty son? If thou hadst lived, my
mother, should not now have been what | am.
And why am SO? Fool that am, dare l say
love prompted me on! Though the object OF
my affections were ten times more good and
lovely, better that | should perish, scorned and
neglected, broken-hearted and beggar, than
to sell my soul for gold. Oh, her father told
me she would not marry poor, friendess man
Why did not then scorn the love for which
have battered my good name, perhaps my eXis
tence,' then gazing again at the window, he sale
glcSmily, lit would be SO sweet to sleep dow
there, for oh, am weary of the world
Prompted on by lend in human shape, where
where will all this end! But no, cannot,
will not be murderer, My God have mercy
upon me. Never, so help me heaven, neve
more will be a tool for Dennis Lee. Rattle
than live longer in guilt and nlamy, will leav,
Emma, leave this home, yes, even on the NOR
row, and bury my sorrows in secluson,'
Then it seemed that caImer thoughts too
possession Of that mans heart, for he knet dow
by the window, and as the moon streamed int
the chamber, and upon his face, peace wa
stamped upon those features, and whispere
prayer to heaven bore witness to his sincerity.
He laid himself upon his humble couch a
altered man. He felt holy calm, that he ha
never known before; and angels carried tn
incense of broken spirit with rejoicngs t
God.
Still sailed the moon in the heavens. Elwy
had fallen into a deep sumber Surely he wa
dreaming pleasant dreams, for a smile rested up
on his features, and he murmured,
ooh, it is my mother; it is my motherp
Who stands by the bedside!
All! the moon is passing under yonder clout
and Elwyn and the stranger cannot be SEEM
Again it is light, and yet man stands by II
bedside He bends over the sleeper, then tri'
the door, and steals on tip toe to the window
Softly, slowly, gazing the while breathlessly
the sleeping man, he takes the heavy sashes GU
and rests them against the wall. Still tn
sleeper moves not, but murmurs and smile
again.
Is the old man intending to leap out? for h
stretches forward and looks below, and all a
bout then proceeding to the foot of the beC
gazes with hate, yet fear towards the dreamer.
He has stolen around, and neared the bed
mercilul heavens What gliuers in his han
ike polished steel! Will the old man with gre
hairs be murderer? He tries the edge; no
has he taken his glance from the unconsciou
man. Hank! he muttors
This will let blood 1t won't do. If tn
cursed corpse should be seen, 'twould betray me
No, no! better take my hands, ha! ha!'
Then with cIenched teeth, his hands ia
heavily upon the throat of Elwyn Moore, Th
terrible struggle has begun. Ewyn is awake
and OH the gurgling cry, the staring eyebaI
the proruded tongue, the uplifted arms, ho
awful! but the old man is the strongest; gradl
ally the arms ceased to move, the limbs are a
still, and with those fixed imploring eyes starin
at him, stands old Dennis Lee, hoary mu
derer Still the moon looks down in its siel
beauty.
And now he has gone, and entered the CARR
where no window lets in the light and gropin
around that old man feels for the straw. B
how is this-no one is there; has the boy esca
ed! Quick as thought he deScends again, an
opening door opposite Elwyn's, enters Il
chamber of his child
Both beds in that room are occupied. Emn
with her kind heart, could not put the boy
the dark garnet, so she told him he might slet
in her own room.
But what arrested the old mar as he stan
within that chamber. His beautiful, his on
child, sleeps as sweetly as an infant and lit
way beyond, on low couch, sleeps Oscar Et
erll. Youth and innocence dreaming perchan
of heaven.
Before his daughter, with her bright face u
turned and the dark lashes resting upon h
cheek he dares not do what he had treasur
In his black heart. Before that pure creatu,
even though she is unconscious, he dares
take the life of that unoffending child. All, II
did Oscar know he had escaped from so fear
death.
The moon had waned.