Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-08-14


permit me to share grief for the loss of
one to whom owe my lle--yes, more than
my life =
West paused aud strove vainly to master
the emotion which checked its uticrance
My father then, rendered YOU a SER
vice said the young lady eagerly, regarding
with involuntary interest the noble counte"
nance Of BERNARD, which though it still bore
traces Of great suffering, was no longer
wild and haggard, as at his interview with
the money lender.
most unexpected and generous SER
vice, replied West, who soltening down the
first portion Of the scene we have described
proceeded to recount to the far orphan the
narrative of the great crisis in his destiny.
i knew it was so p cried the Young lady,
almost Historically Affected Il knew he
was not so grasplng-so hard-hearted as
they sad-as he himself pretended.
knew he had generous heart beneath all
his seeming avarice Oh, you are not the
only one, doubtless, whom lie has thus serv-
ed 2
West did not discourage the Illusion
Nay, the enthusiasm of the charming wo-
man before HIN was contagious Thanks
to your fathers disnterested liberalitY,' he
resumed am now in comparatively pros
porous circumstances. | came not merely
to discharge debt believe me, it is no
common gratitude | feel. Doubtless YOU
inherit all your fathers wealth-doubtess il
is but lttle service | can ever hope TO rem
der YOU. Yet venture to entreat you new
er to forget that you possess one friend of
absolute devotion, ready at all times, to sac
rlice himself IN every way to your wishes
and to your happiness.
West paused abruptly, for the singular
expression Of the young iady's features fill
ed him with establishment.
You do not know, then, she began
Know what
That lam a--naturll child she COM
pleted, with a crimson blush turning away
her head as she spoke, and covering her face
with her hands-'that | am without fortune
or relations; that my father died inteslate ;
that the heir-at-law, VINO lives abroad, aud
without whose permission nothing can be
done, who Is, moreover, said to be a heart
less spendihult-wlll take all my father
leaves that have but one more week CIV
en- to me to yacate This house by the land
lord in short, that must work if would
not starve that | am a be1gar = and the
poor giH sobbed conyusNely; Wills; Ber-
nard West, on whom this speech acted Us
some terrible hurricane upon the trees Of a
tropical forest, tearing up, as it were, by
the roots all the terrible stoicism,of his ma
ture, and rousiog hopes and dreams which
he had long bapished 10 the deepest and
most hopeless recesses of his soul whilst
Bernard, we repeat ventured to take her
a f.f d
tatou 10y such suggestions as Immediately
occurred To his mud.
In the first place he said, my dear
Miss Bucc,I come to repay oyou your IA
theirs generous gin
It belong, to his legal heirs l cannot
receive with honor, SAID the money-euder 5
daughter 6rn,y
Not So, replied West, grayelyi it was
free gili to me- l repay II by a natural,
not a legal obligations; and he laid the two
twenty pound notes on the table. Next,
he resumed, have to pay debt of graft
tude. | owe my life to your father. Thus
in manner | have become his adopted son.
Thus, he continued :mpetuously, | have a
right to say to you, regard me as a brother
share the produce Of my labor; render me
happy in the thought that | am serving the
child of my benelactor. To disdan my
gratitude would be a cruel insult
cannot dlsdain il! exclaimed the
daughter of the usurer, with sudden I'M
pulse of that sublime confidence which a
generous and noble soul can alone inspire.
Yes-I accept your assistance
The face OF Bernard Frightened up, as
If by an electric agent. But how were the
.,f
discovery that they were no longer alone
and that their conversation had been over
heard by an utter stranger who leaning
against the wall at the farther end of the
room, near the door appeared to survey
them with an utter indifference to the pro-
priety of such behaviour.
lie was man of between forty and fifty
years a great beard and moustache con
cealed the lower part OF a swarthy bu
] handsome couutenance of rare dignity ano
severity of outline. His dress was utterly
| un-Englsh. A vast mantle, with hood
! fell nearly to the ground, and, he wor
I huge courier's boots, which were still spur
D ed as it from a journey. His great dart
1 eyes rested with an expression of royal be
r neyolence upon the Two young people, to
I wards whom he advanced with courleou
1 inclination, that, as if magneticaily, repres
sed Bernardo first indignant impulse.
] am the heir-at-law, he SAID in a mill
1 voice, as if he had been announcing mos
IA agreeable piece of intelligence.
Then, sir said Bernard, trust
= Trust, absolutely interrupted the for
: eign looking heir, My children, do yo
5 know who | am MOI will tell you.
# am monster who in his youth prelerre
beauty to ambition and glory to gold. Flo
u ten years after attaining manhood | srug
e gled on, an outcast from my family, in poy
erty and humiliation, without friends, an
d often without bread. At the end Of Gy
more years | was Il great man, aud lhos
. who had neglected and starved aud scornel
( me, now came TO bow down and worship
But the beauty had adored was dnsl, am
i the fire Of youthful hope quenched IN tn
bitter waters of scieLce For ten year
e since | have wandered over the earth. / an
! rich-l may say my wealth is boundless-
a for have but to shake few faucies iron
e this brain, to trace few ciphers with TIN
hand, aud they become gold at my CON
lat cl