Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-11
THE GREEN MOUNTAF

such woman seven years, as he did
now if you feel disposed to make h. 7
mends for his former wretched life, ius.
on your most becoming dress and mos
witching smile, and then bend on him Il RR.
dark lustrOus eyes that broke so M
hearts in Naples, and the matter is
cluded. By the way he sups with US \,
night" Mr
" You are exceedingly kind and thoug
ful, my cousin, but in caring for me nor
you forget yourself Have you not emu the
ed OF the landlord whether there is not so the
grand and magnificent lady about
house to whom you could make your the
vorsW Sd
4" All, no! | am not so fastidious as yot ed
| shall go back to Virginia and marry Clan
Payton, who has more beauty than all thepo
dark-eyed girls ofItaly." =
Jessica took up book, commenced read,s,
ing, and thought no more of the converse, !
ton until supper. When she entered the !,
room stranger arose, and was introduced
to her as Mr.. Carlyle for an instant the
blood rushed to her face and neck until IT,
was all glow of crimson, and then reced."
ed to her heart, leaving her like some pale''
and beautiful statue. Carlyle did not real
cognize in the graceful woman who stoodg
before hlm-for she had more than fuIfllp
ed the promise other childhood-the simptW
girl he had taught in the "Green Vale" oil
Kentucky, b
But in moment she recovered her self
possession, and advancing to him with calm-t
ness, remarked "that she had known Mr..
Carlyle BEFORE" and then, for the first time,
when that voice so {" like mournfuI lutte"
fell on his ear, he knew her; and as press
ed her hand, and expressed his joy at meet
ing her again, he noticed upon her finger
the ring he had given her; but the next
day it was gone.
Their detention was prolonged from time
to time, yet none of the party found it wear
isome. They wandered among the Al ps;
together they gazed upon this glorious see
merry, and their evenings were spent in
cheerful conversations and reading. And
Carlyle's heart was bathcd in the liquid
light that beamed from the dark eyes of
Jessica; his ear drank in the tones of her
rOioo Gil ito music filled his soul with
streams of perpetual melody.
One morning they started to take a RAM
BILE among the mountains. Mr.. Lorraine re-.
fused to 60 on account of the fatigue; Geor.
&c started with them, but before thew had
gone far recollected that he had forgotten to
give some orders about his gun, and return.
ed back. Carlyle and Jessica were thus
left to pursue their walk alone; for some
distance they walked on in silence, when
he remarked, 81 little hoped when first
stopped at this obscure village, that here I
was opass the very happiest days | had
ever known; but whatever may behalf me
in after life, the remembrance of this time
will come up through all sorrow and dark
ness to cheer me. Would that | dared be-
lieve it had been as pleasant to you I"
ooh, surely" she replied, in a light
tone, the time has passed very pleasantly /
thanks to you and cousin Georgem
Nay, lady," he reioined, "you mistake.
my meaning, or choose to do So" thea
stopping and looking steadily at her.
continued in an earnest tone, "Jessica. ii
me call you SO, | love you love you mosi
than | can tell you; more perhaps" he ad-
to. BuI9l,s iauy;;7r 'lrroz. sse heart answers
from your own lips; if you cannot return
mvsafection shall bear my fate as hess
NAV If YOU Can't you can love me, Oh,
Io:sico speak but one word Give me
but one look Of assent!'
But Jessca spoke no word she lifted
not her dropping lips, though her whole
frame trembled with visible emotion. All
the light of hope faded from the face of Car
lyle, and they walked on in silence; she
feeling that she had wounded the heart that
loved her, and yet too timid even to make
the attempt to soften the pain. At length
they came to one of those immense fields of
ice that are found among the Alps; border
ing this glacier across from where they
stood, some delicate flowers had sprung up
through ice and snow to meet the glad sun
shine. Jessica, to relieve the awkward
embarrassment of their silence, remarked
how beautiful they were. He replied,
If you wish them, Miss Lorraine, will
get them for you" and Immediately step
ped on the ice.
"Oh, no, mop she answered, "do not
risk yourself" and in her eagerness sprung
after him to hold him back the ice gave
way beneath them, they were precipitated
downtown into the dark chasm below,
and when they touched the bottom it was
to find themselves in one those immense
caverns that add terror to those wild noun.
tains. Jessica had been shielded by the
arm that Carlyle threw around her in fall.
ing but he was bruised and hurt. Death
stared them in the face, fer what hope
could there be of escape from that living
tomb
"This is dreadful horrible p he ex-
claimed, as they reached the bottom.
miss Lorraine, are you hurt p
No." she replied; " but your"
"Oh,.I care not for myself but l must
make some effort to extricate you from this
awful place this place Of DEATH"
LorenzoW she answered, in low, tim.
id voice, " it will not be terrible to die with
you. Oh, it would be much more dreadful
to live in the bright world above without
you, than to be buried with you here in dark
ness and in DEATH" And the maiden's head
sank upon his bosom, while tears of ten
derness gushed forth.
His arm encircled her waist; he pressed
her to his heart, and here in the sight of
eternity their love was plighted; there in
the midst Of terror and darkness, light was
in their dwelling, For hours they CROPPED
their way, hopeless almost of ever again
seeing the light of day; but their dreary
path was cheered with the words of affec-
ton. When "hope had almost folded her
wings and saddened to despair" they heard
the sound Of curling waters; it was small
stream they followed its course; where it
ran from under the glacier into the open
air, stray beams of light were struggling
through; the ice was thin and partially mel.
ted, so that place of egress was affected.
and by the side Of this stream, as it muir
Il h., L. al. 4 Il