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

his wife made thrust at him with all her
strength, and threw him backwards on the bed.
"Runm she cried to Lucy" run" !" making
gestures with her hand towards the door. "Turn
the key this way, and you've a soul to be saved,
never tell what you've seen this night !"
The fugitive heard the last words as she fled
along the passage into the lane but the man
was after her. and she was not six yards in ad-
vance Of him when she heard the sound of wheels
and hackney coach passed. Save me--save
me !" she cried in frantic voice but either the
driver did not hear her, or he thought it some
drunken sqGabble which did not call for his in
teEferance, as he drove forward but the inter-
ruption seemed to have changed Vennell's pur-
pose, for she presently reached the end of the
lane unpursued, and making all the speed she
could till she found herself IN less dangerous
neighborhood, she stepped into coach and ar
rived at home long after dinner time, more dead
than alive. Mr.. Spencer, she was informed, had
been at home but had gone out to the lecture,
very much surprised and somewhat alarmed at
her absence. Exhausted and distressed, she
went 10 bed, and waited His return. At eleven
o'clock he came home, very tired, for he had
been oul nearly the whole of the preceding
night His first words were words of dspleas.
ure. "Why had she not been at home at din
ner time ?"
"Tel me Gerald" she answered, "where
were you all last night"
"What is that to you ?" he asked.
It's as much to me as it is to you to know
where have been this afternoonp'
q 81 beg your pardon, Lucy was on bus-
ness"
Z But want to know what business"
" My dear little wife, men have often business
they cannot trust women with"
i, "On thus occasion, Gerald, beseech you to
trust me! never before made any inquiries
!, about your midnight excursions with O'Grady
but now have very strong motives for doing
y so"
- "What motives" Z"
, Motives that concern your safety"
- "My safety, Lucy" he rejoined in some
q alarm; "where is there any danger?"
"You we're at Tslington last night, Gerald p
Mr.. Spencer, who had been sitting by the fire
: warming his feet, rose AMI walk II to the bed
h side.
q "Who told yo,, Lrcy? hope you have no
# b zen induced by any ridiculous jealousy to Spy
into my business? Ifyou. have, shall be very
n angry. It's thing could not put up with il
!. wife, however much love her."
a 81 see I'm right, she said, sitting up in bed
and confronting him, with pale and haggart
Or countenance. g hope was not; l have beei
O. praying that my sOspic might be untounded
" You know u man called Vennell, Gerald" ?"
Ia "Venne What do you mean?"
al "a man that lives at the back of St.. Churcl
he He's murdererm
no "Nonsense see your mistake. But wh'
q. in the world has brought you in contact wit
,b Vennell? ?"
"a "There is no mistake. tell you he's a mu
nv derer, and it's you that make him one! You'y
e been lecturing tonight"
a "Of course / have" answered Mr.. Spence
O. still incredulous, and still half angry.
q. "And you had what you call "a subject?"
1v "Well, if had? l'll tel! you what, Lucy,
aAiAe said sharply, I" if hadn't had subjects 20
y wouldn't be Mrs. Spencer; so mind your ow
to business; and don't be foolish"
ps "Oh, Gerald, Gerald, how the love Of gal
he blinds you to right and wrong! The man, Yer
ls nell, is murderer, say and shouldn't b
er here to tell you so now, but for his wife, VIII
n. enabled me to make my escape. If it had'n
been for her, you would perhaps have found
r.. subject upon your dissecting table you litt
10 looked for"
ID In the name of God, what do you mean Lu
O. cy ?" said Mr. Spencer at length aroused to tn
v belief that there was something more in this ag
tation OF hers than he had believed.
IA "Tell me, Gerald" she al was it mai
or woman you had to.night?'
"A "a man--at least boy"
=. 81 thought so" said Lucy shudderng "a
9 deforlned boy ?"
. Yes, def;,rmed boy. Why?"
y Then amid tears and anguish she told him al
IL that had happened; how she had visited the wo
man and how strange her demeanor had ap
y peared how she had met the man and the boy
l. and the state of intoxication the latter was in
= how she had forgotten her bag and returned to
q it and finally, how she escaped.
i "His fears made him mislnterpret my looking
d back at him; and when he saw me in the pas
d. sage, he no doubt thought had witnessed thu
y murder. But saw no blood" she SAID, hov
was he killed ?"
r "Suffocated," returned Mr.. Spencer; shut
- supposed by accident. 1t was that was in tn
coach. IL was going to fetch the body, and
% remember hearing woman cry, but little i'm
: agined whose voice it was:
10 "Let us be poor to the end of our days, Ger
81 ald said his wife, rather than get money By
such unholy meansm
g And Mr.. Spencer was sufficiently shocked an,
'r alarmed to follow her advice.
What 10 do about Vennell he did not know
D. If he accused him, the man had 1t in his powe
= to make very unpleasant disclosures regarding
e himself and O'Grady; and besides, Lucy wal
extremely unwilling to impcate the unhappy
9 wife. Finally after some consultation, it was
d agreed to warn Venuell of his danger, and then
s. to take such measures as would prevent re-
IS currence of the crime. But the discovery oI
d Williams and his associates, Immediately after
n wards, led to full exposure of these dreadful
1t practices, and to a more judicious Legislation
l. which put stop to them by removing the mo.