Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-07-27


hateful right in successor, and one need
ing TO be most tenderly exercised but ex-
erted as Charles Wharton did, stretching
such an obnoxious authority to its utmost
limit, even milder man than his uncle
must have detested him. Al last, when this
hate was at its fullest, Minnie, who had been
for few years in Scotland under the care
of her mothers family, came back to the
Abbey; from being the pet and darling of
her aunts, to the cherries home of penu-
rous father, who scarcely exchanged doz-
en- words with her at a time. In her wan
behring's about the grounds she met her cous-
in, who, struck by her beauty, and guessing
who she was, accosted her They walked
on, talking of pleasant things, and the first
hour of peace and happiness Minnie had
spent for months, now passed. When she
returned to the Abbey, she would have ma
med her companion to her father, but he
was in one of his coolest moods, SO her
heart failed her, and she was silent in this
way on gided the summer; and no wonder
that before autumn leaves began TO change,
Charles and Minnie Wharton were pledged
lovers, while now, for the first time, when
she confessed her innocent love, she learn
ed the enmity subsisting between her father
and her lover.
He hates me, Minnie, because alt these
wide acres must pass from you to me; but
oh dearest aud best when give them back
to you as their sweet mistress, burthened
only with myself, he will learn TO look kind
ly even upon me-" said Charles, as Minnie
chung shivering to him, when he described
the ColonePs aversion, and the stormy scenes
he had reused and reveled in.
have often wondered how so gentle a
being as Minnie could give her heart to such
man as her cousin but woman are strange
inconsistencies, and suppose his handsome
face and figure first won her girlish fancy
He always seemed to me poets idea of a
fallen angel embodied, daring, naughty,
bold and brave. Fearless in danger, reck'
| less Of peril, but gentle as child to her
tuning his deep and commanding voice into
low aud musical words for her ear, perhap:
there is little marvel that she was fascinated
1t was agreed that he should see her father
confess their love, and ask her from him.
"'Oh, fear, fear said Minnie, GOV
ering her eyes with her hands, as if to shu
out the image of her terrible parent.
"' Why-why, my own love do yor
but say Yes, and you shall be mine, in de
spite of father or fate Minnie, be you bu
true, and you shall be my wife, though dealt
stand in my path And he drew the trem
bling girl nearer and closer to him, while
she shuddered in his embrace as if some
horrible foreboding crept over her.
"The next day, at a wild gallop, the pac
he always rode, young Wharton crossed hi
uncle's park, and throwing his rens upo
his horses neck, to wander where he listed
entered the old Abbey hall, and in a fe'
minutes stood before the Colonel. Wha
was spoken at that stormy interview non
can tell but that il was such, the loud tone
of the speakers, and their faces ghastly wit
passion, too plainly revealed At last wit
= violence threatening destruction, the !
brary door was thrown open, and Charlie
Wharton passed out, saying as he did So
90 have sworn it-and by the sky abov
me, Minnie is mine, though | win her wit
my blood
"When he was gone, Col. Wharton sell
for his daughter, and, trembling SO pteou:
I ly that she had no power to stand, she cam
4 before him. In the calm tones of concel
trated rage, he spoke the horrible words
d
less at his feet with wild cry for mercy Il
: no otherwise noticed it than to bid he
e maid take her from his sight A brain f
D yer, no unlikely consequence Of such
r shock, ensued, and Mnnie's life was d.
q SPARED of, yet no symptom of sofiening d
f her father show, nor did he ever once, tn
n her plaintive waling rang sadly through Il
e corridor, enter her room, or speak sing
4 inquiry; that she lived, he only knew by Il
low moaning he could not help hearing
e he passed her room.
n Minnie had been i'll fortnight, WHIT
o one morning gentle tap upon the windo
of her chamber called the nurse to tan
n his hair dank with the night dew, his f'
!, pale with watching, and his powerful fran
trembling with anxiety, Charles Wharf,
Of stood before her. She had never till thu
t, seen him; and the impression made up,
;e her by his appearance at that hour, clad
lie the dress of one of his keepers, was ev
q, after firmly stamped upon her mind.
"'Let me see her, nurse-oh, for the 10
Of Heaven, let me see her do not rtfil
III me, he exclaimed, seeing her hesitate,
lie twill be useless. will see her, even
is her father and all the hends stood in
he way. Call him now if you will; but in
,y face will still see her.
g He entered as he spoke, and went
m the bed. There lay Minnie; her long, f
h. hair, which ought to have been cut off, /
n which had been spared in pity to its beau
o. hung tossing on the pillow; her lips bla
IN with feIer, her eyes wild, but unconscioI
ou rambling hither aud thither without rec1
e, milton, and her arms barred of their covert
We by her constant restlessness, formed
ke contrast to his last interview.
is "For a moment, all unused to such
lie. scene, and perceivng that her eyes fell |
is on him, he fancied she knew him, and
a exclaimed in ecstacy,- 1t is me, MINI
n my darling Minnie, speak to mep But
to most before the words were uttered,
er- brief notice had passed away, and she y
rs. gazing upon the window. For nearly
m hour he stayed in that melancholy roc
he listening to her wordless moaning. At {
it'll the agony of her sufferings seemed to os
of power him, but gradually his brow began
- darken, his hands to clasp each other
ar when the poor girl uttered another pain
a cry, he started, and the lips which had b.
ok silent dared to speak, as if unconscious
al..... l... a. Il