Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-01-15
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY,

AT first the road passed over moorish part of
the country; but after proceeding several miles,
it began to border on the sea, in some places
edgrng the precipce which overhung the shore,
and at others winding into deep recesses OF the
country.
At length, on coming to the opening of long
reach of the road, she saw figure, which she
took for that of her husband just disappearing
at the opposite extremity. Immediately gather
ing fresh strength, she pushed brlskly on, and
after an hours toilsome march, had the satisfac-
ton on turning projection, TO find her husband
sitting right before her on a stone.
Fordyne was certainly very much surprised at
her appearance, which was totally unexpected;
but he soon recovered bis composure. He met
her with more than even usual kindness, as con-
cerned at her having tilought ePfoFar W4EskioEm
so toilsome a journey, He hasened to explain
that some information he had received at Glas-
gov, respecting the dangerous state of his mo-
ther, had induced him to take start out Of his
way to see her, after which he would immedi-
atey return 1t was then his turn to ask expia-
nations from her; but this subject he pressed
very lightly, and for her part, she hardly dared
in this lonely place to avow the suspicious which
had induced her to undertake the journey. 'lt's
all very well, said Fordyne, with affected COM
pIasance; you'll just go forward with me to my
mothers house, and she will be the better pleas
ed to see me since bring you with me- I8bel
smothered her real feelings, agreed to do this,
though it may well be supposed that what he
had already done, and considering the wild
place in which she was, she must have enter
tained no comfortable prospect of her nights
adventures. On, then, hey walked in the dusk
of the fast approaching night, through country
which seemed to be destitute alike of houses
and inhabitants, and where the universal still
ness was hardly ever broken by the sound of an
animal, wild or tame. The road, as formerly,
was partly on the edge of sea-worn precipice,
over which victim might be dashed in a mo-
ment, with hardly the least chance OF ever being
more seen or heard Of and partly in the receSses
of a rugged country, in whose pathless wilder
ness the work of murder might be almost as Sc
curely effected lsbel Lucas, knowing how much
reason her husband had to wish her out of the
wey opened her mind fully 10 the dangers of her
path, and at every place that seemed more con-
venent than another for such work, regarded
nxynp in fha ,,NiI 81 IF
with the watchful eye of one who breads the
spring of the tiger from every brake. She con.
trlved to keep upon the upper side of the rood
most remote from prccipices, and carried in her
pocket an uncasped penknlfe, Ghougb almost
hopeless that her womaCly nerves would support
her in any effayt to use it. ,ThpSS SdiAthey walk
on for several ihiles till at length, all of sud-
den, Fordyns started off the road, and was in
stantIy lost in a wild, tortuous raViDe. his
event was so different from anything she had
feared, that for a moment Isbel stood motlonless
with surprise. Another moment however, sui
feed to make up her mind as to her future
course, and she Immediately plunged into the
de6le, following as nearly as possible in the d.
rection which the fugitive appeared to have ia
ken. On, on she toed, through thick, entang-
ling bushes, and over much soft and mossy
ground her limbs every moment threatening to
sink beneath her with fatigue; which they GER
tainly would have done very speedily, if the des-
perate unxietes winch filed her mind had not
rendered her in great measure insensloie 10
the languor of her body. 1t at length became
a more pressing object with her to find some
place where she could be sheltered for the night
than to follow in so hopeless pursuit; and she
therefore experienced great joy on percelvng
a light at a little distance. As she approached
the place whence this seemed to proceed, she
discovered cottage, whence she could hear the
sounds of music and dancing. With great cau-
ton she drew near to the window through which
) the light was glancing, and there, peeplng into
! the apartment, she saw her husband cnperlng IN
! furious ninth amidst a set Of coarse, peasant
, like individuals, mingled with few who bore
. all the appearance of sea-smugglers An Old
5 woman, of most unamiable aspect, sat by the
firesde, occasionally giving orders for the prep
2 aration of food and now and then addressing a
complimentary expression to Fordyne, whom
e Isbel, therefore guessed to be her sou. Alter
the party seemed to be quite tired of dancing
n they sat down to rude but plenteous repast
y and after that was concluded, the whole party
:; addressed themselves to repose. Some retired
: into an apartment at The opposite end of thu
d house; but most stretched themselves on straw
l. which lay in various corners of he room il
d which they had been feasting. The single be-
C which stood in this apartment was appointed Il
t. Fordyne, apparently on account OF his being tn
o most important individual Of the party, and, h
r. therefore, continued under the unsuspected OBJ
e servation of his wife, till he had consined him
fl self to repose. Previous to his doing So she oh
le served him place something with great cautio
le under his pillow.
e, For another hour, Isbel lay at the window in
v spectng the interior of the house, which wa
TX now lighted very imperfectly by the expirin
ID fire. AT length when every recumbent fgur
s. seemed % have become bound securely in sleeI
Of she first uttered one brief, but ferVen and en-
as phatc prayer,and then undid the loose fastenin
I'd Of the door, and glided into the apartment
Id Carefully avoiding the straw pallets which la
he stretched around she approached the bed where
in on lay the treacherous Fordyne, aud slowly an
ne softly Withdrew his large pocket-book from b.
,st meath the pillow. To her inexProssible joy, 81
de succeeded in executing this manoeuvre withor
he giving him the least disturbance. Grasping Ii
book fast in one hand, she piloted herself bac
IS with the other,and in few seconds had regain
ed the exterior of the cottage
~. A IL. L. n,nnnAnS nhn fnnnh the lnrnp Rn