The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-04-28

were around and about them, and hanging
from the sleigh in graceful folds, and great
odd weird eyes stared out from the furs, rs
if the life had been taken from the animals
with their skins, ami retained in them.
Oh, they were gay and mirtbful and mer.
ry and arch, and they laughed and talked
lightly of their love, with graceful words,
but il was like the white foam on the ocean,
covering unfathomed depths, like the myr.
lad forms, the graceful beauty of the weed
which rests lightly on the surface of the sea,
like the airy forms Of the fairy snow-hakes,
covering the warm earth full of hidden flow
ers and fruit, like the mist seen from the
mountains hiding for moment the profound
depth Of the green vale On went our gal
liant bays, as if the goal were before Them
covered with thousands 10 welcome their
coming, and the race was for life.
Sudden and startling as The cry Of" fire.
in the still night, ns The thnnderclap from
the sunny sky, came the thrilling whistle Of
a locomotive, ringing over the fields with an
uncarihIy echo: and, suddenly rs flash, tho
spirited BAYS sprang aside from the horrid
sound. A moment the runner hung on tho
edge Of the steep bank, another. they we're
all dashed from the sleigh, while shrek
rent the air ! One of the horses isll, and
brought the other struggling upon him. Pc
ter was swung round through the air, but
held on TO TIE rcins as if il were DEATH
aripe, and darling up from the place where
he was thrown, he sprang TO their heads, be-
fore they could ritc and make of. Jenny
wrappings Of fur and the snow saved her un-
hurts she sprang up towards Edith. Sidnies
head struck first and for moment she was
unconscious, but the cold snow on her face
revived her. Selwyn caught al the sides of
the sleigh, to keep himself from falling upon
Edith The wrench on his arm was powerful
one, but it br ought him to the ground on his
feet.
And Edith, poor Edith she was thrown
upon rock that the snow had but slightly
covered. and lay there inanimaie and un>
conscious as the rock which had perhaps
given her the dcalh-blnw. Selwyn sprang
10 her side, and snatchcd her up with the
cagerness of terror, but the gentleness of
child. In moment he had reached The
bank, and envcloped the pale, brenlhless
form in a fur robe. Then he called to the
driver Of an empty sleigh tha, VAS passing,
and crie1:
"Here, driver, quick here's gold, gold =!
quick ! as you love Heaven, to---streetH'
In moment they were seated, and away
again. Selwyn clasped the body Of poor
Edith 10 his breast, but iremor shook the
strong man, as if he we're a child. lie had
shut his eyes as he placed the furs round
her fair form for fear he might see blood,
though he did not dare TO own the fear even
to himself. He might have felt her pulse,
to see il she lived No, he coull not do
that his soul clung TO the uncertainty, to
This agony of doubt, in preference to learn
ing that which might unhinge his reason in
despair.
Dead Dead The 5lackness Of darkness
seemed to be closing on him, like the door
Of dungeon, as he shrank back, appalled,
from the frightul word.
Faster! man, faster: for COPS sake,
faster |"
The horses sprans into a run as they felt
the lash on their backs. Houses, fields,
snow>drifl0 flew past them, but the minutes
seemed ages as they went on. Not word
was uttered no one dared even to look al
the other, lest the answering glance should
be despair-deah.
The city is reached at last; spire after
spire is left behind. All things make way
Tor The furious career Of the sleigh all look
ers-on think The horses are beyond control,
aud so they pass. Another minute, and,
covered with foam, they are drawn up al
the door.
Selwyn lilied the still motioness form that
rested on his breast as if il had been child's,
and bore i, up the steps. The door opened
he went on, and up again to the chamber,
and, laying his priceless burden gently on
the bed, fell on his knees and said, or rather
groaned -
"Oh, GoD OF Heaven have mercy on
oh, GoDl oh, GoD!"
And he placed his hands over his face
and burning eyelids, buried them ir the bed,
and groaned aloud:
"The strong man in his agony"
An hour had passed The surgeon is still
at the bed side two fractured ribs had been
set, and life is there, but Edith has uttered
no word. made no cry, no movement when
the crushed bones were replaced, and she
lay there pale and mohonless the faint,
faint palse the only indication o life. Sell
wyn stood over her with his arms folded,
moiionless and silent as the dead, but des-
pair in The lines of his face.
Suddenly faint Il ush passed over her
cheeks then she opened her eyes mos
menl, looked up in her lovers face with an
earnest gaze, and said;
"Tel Peter not 10 drive SO fast, please
dear Selwyn.'
He fell on his knees and caught her hand,
bu, the light had faded away again the
eyes were closed she was mo,ionless as
marble, and as white and so another hour
of dreadful doubt passed on.
Again deep flush colors her face, brow