Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-04
a., and as the tfsvsIs

the stile and after fastening his h0fsS
fence approached the house, he seemed
move with difficulty, as though benumbed'
by cold, or suffering from some other cause.
His knock at the door was answered by a
voice bidding him "come in" and at the
same time the latch was raised; and there
was discovered sitting by cheerful fire an
old lady very plainly but neatly dressed;
and, with one hand still resting upon the
latch of the door, stood young girl--you
could scarcely say whether she were yet
child or woman-for although her figure
would indicate that she might, perhaps, be
sixteen years of age-which in fact she was
yet the child.like expression of her Won
dering face as she raised it to that of the
stranger, would induce the belief that she
was not SO old by several years. This is
the impression that would have been made
upon an Indifferent spectator; to the appli-
cant at the threshold nothing was distinctly
seen but the warm fire. nothing asked but
shelter for the night The old lady arose,
laid down her knitting, and welcomed him
beneath her hombe roof.
AS he advanced into the room and laid
aside his hat and riding-coat, it would have
been difficult to recognize in the haggard
features, half shrouded by the drenched
hair, the elegant Lorenzo Carlyle, whose
noble form had passed through the crowded
rooms Of fashion, "the observed of all OBJ
servers" there; the glance of whose bright
eye, or the bend of whose head had caused
the heart of the young belle to hutter with
Joy. He was now just twenty-five, in the
pride of manhood, but as he took his seat,
and the full light fell upon his face, he look.
some years older. He had only been sit
ting by the fire few moments, when his
head rested heavily against the post Of the
bed near which he had been placed, and
the old lady arising in some trepidatlon dis
covered he had swooned; probably occa-
stoned by the sudden transition from cold
to heat A servant woman was called from
uEaam. or kitchen, he was laid upon
tine usual remedies resorted to
for his recovery; at length he slowly awoke
but only to find himself in a violent chill;
he, however, arose and retired to the next
room, a bed was prepared, he threw him.
self on it, but not to sleep; for, in spite of
the old lady's camomile tea, the chill con-
tinued long time, and was succeeded by
an alarming fever. In the morning his
fever had increased, affecting his brain, I'M
til he was qnite delirous, and he incessant-
ly muttered to himself, "that dark, dark
cloud"
"Poor gentleman p the old lady exclaim-
ed, che thinks he is still travelling through
the rain"
A physician was sent for, but for many
DAYS his skill seemed of little avail; the fe-
yer increased with frightful rapidity, he was
insensible to all around him, and all this
time the young girl Jessica sat by his bed,
moistening his lips with water, changing
his pillows, soothing him with her soft
voice, that "most excellent thing in woman;
and though servant man who completed
this household, lifted him as he wished to be
moved, the weary hours Of watching were
all kept by the maiden; and as she gazed
upon him while he slept, no wonder thai
features which had been dangerous for ar