The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-05-11

"Hhduld ynu ihiht he could boa coWhfdf'
sch ~ lle 1iJs'H hilis5ly
"Wilh such lare na ilatY A coward Z
nor ndYof.H
"Aud yet" --- mufmured the widow
"No oue eWr accused l,lslnuo MRlklien
Of cownrdiceil mlerrognted iho slrHug,h rap
idiy, iurning4o the widow.
"llow knew yon hls name 2" asked Madam
MAlalien, With look Of Wandef, IA she altar
gd lKAaly ~ Asi14--
4 have soeu--rhat H., II have heard of
hinih ~ hr rrtlrd
The widow uvrued her searching eyes
slowly from hlW, aud directed them to Lenhj
hul sho was perfectly composed, aud hn'e Il
linlcr fnce thuu usurh not u trace of emotion
wuH sirihlc.
ole aus q coward ~ rho exclaimed biIef,
ly, "aud hriprC ughl, you would have been
luld of II lay Bpmo gossip IA town, ] would
M rOuu he kld been q murderer, BuI noi
-r,i cowurdirvls no crime, u IN only o weak
nc,r, "a stnn--lasllng ~ eternity. Nrr, ~
SIN wuH a coward
"iou nre n',s,okeni' replied the stranger
irmly-
Mistaken would IL we're -, did not sgo
with NY own cyosY Dad not hear lho
nuuliug rpccchra Of ny urighhOrHi mnn,
and wurse ilnn thai, does he not slerp IA a
dishonored grave"
"Nou are mistaken, my nghin; those who
tell you be WIS c0ward-lic These eyes
snW him fall; these hands would hnyc snatch
cd him from bis impending fatei bot they
we're powcrless; hc wns The brnvcsl boy on
the battle field" exclaimed the strangrr,w viii
flashing eye,
go! could believe it-oh IL would be too
much ioy,"nnd the widow clnspcd her hands
aud lirled her eyes imploriugly. Lcnh look
cd on with fearful GuCUIJ0u.
"lirleye II, then. ! lcP YOU he irds brave
brave 20 the death. Il Nns total disc,
gard of his own safety thu len him on iht
! field; for lac iurucdto Tnrry u blow, aimed nj
m officer. hnl sn received himself inn
wound
Tho widow trcmbled violently; the sudden
lfoyulsion of feeling, was alnoT too powerful
for her the ilu,h llHt hope had painted or
| her check, pulcd away and she murmurcd
, family "Cnn rely on this"
al ntti-tltH+ '-iltt'tfi- Hty fiFAi- arm bears
scar inflicted 10y the sword that was iutcndr,
,'iur my heart For seven years prisoner
quick, girl your mother.'
Before hc could finish the sentence Lruu
wus toy the -idr Of Madam Was'leu, whr
secuted To bc Eluting. Her head hHii fnifer
T upon her breast, hat she wns yet conscio ~
/ for from her pale lips came the words, --"My
WRONGFUL Nll,liluItN CllllAlt Vhi n thNuFu -
/ Ills beloved form shall no longer lie la thn
dsgracciul spot; his ne Ies no longer mingl,
With unSousecrnicd dust. May The Amigh
I ~ hIess you, sir" she whispered, litllug hei
colorlcss ihcc; "'you have liRhtened my heur
of u heavy burden. Now, indeed, am will
ipF 60 80. I',,l- lid ,hiuk you wont,
bring me such news MS this"
Lena silently leit the room. -
To-day wlll go 10 the authorities; thi
very day. aud dctUand thai my sou hc plRc
ri In ttrr grave where his fh'her l'r.;' OK
claimed the widow, rising hurricdly. "May
beg YOU To accompany mc, md certify Il
the ruth Of NY state nientf' '"''''
"Crttainly; hu, before you 20, permit NJ,
TO AL, you IL you have or had an older ron 2
"Thcrr is man rowing somewhere nbou
this work. who hears my name; my son,
can never GGti him / would spnrn hin
from my feet, were he to surplieatu there
"And WHY
"Bccuusc' "a womau's -iniic oycrcnue a
lalriui's fidelity My children have almost
broken my heart ! am cory you mention.
krd him hoped hs uanc had been iurcy-
cr lsiItcd in obllviuu.'
i,tYru You would not receive him, were
lac tb come to yous'
"Nvvcr, ucvcr"
Tho stranger smiled significantly.