Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-14


water. fastening to the water,cask, the old
woman was disappointed by finding it exhausted,
Richard having drank the last drop, who was
still ravng in the delrium of fever for more
drink.
My dear child, there is no water"
Oh! am burnng-dying with thirst Give
me but one drop, dear Abigail -one Of cold
water!"
Just then Mrs. Steel returned from milking
the cows, and Abigail proferedto the lips of the
child bowl of new milk, but she shrank from
it with disgust, and, sinking back on her pillow,
murmured, Water water! for the love Of God!
give me drink of water!'
Where is the pail? p said Mrs. Steel.
6 don't much like going to that well, but It
is still broad day, and know that in !eality
there is nothing to fear: | cannot bear the child
mourn for drink in that terrible way -
T Dear mother sal d Richard faintly;-. cont
go father will be in soon; we can wait till
then.'
'Oh the poor dear child is burning!' cried
Abigail; she cannot wait till then do,neighbor,
60 for the water; will stay with the children,
and put out the milk while you are away
Mrs. Steel left the shanty, and few minutes
after, the patient, exhausted by suffering fell
into profound sleep. Abou, half an hour had
elapsed, and the mellow light of evening had
faded into night, when Steel returned with his
oxen from the field.
The moment he entered the shanty he went
up to the bed which contained The sick children,
and satisfied that the fever was abating, he
looked round for his supper, surprised that it was
not, as usual, ready for him upon the table.
No, water he cried, in the cask and sup
per not ready. After working all day id the
burning sun, man wants to have things made
comfortable for him at night Mrs. Winchester
are you here? Where is my wife,?
Mercifu goodness = exclaimed the old wo-
man, turning as pale as death, is she net back
from the well p
'The weIl!' cried Steel, grasping her arm;
how long has she been gomez
This half hour, or more
Steel made no answer-his check was as
pale as her own; and, taking his gun from the
beam to which it was sung, he carefully loaded
it with ball, and, without u,terng word, left
the house.
Day still fingered upon the open prarie but
the moment he entered the bush is was deep
night. He had crossed the plain with rapid
strides, but as he approached the swamp his
step became slow and cautious. The well was
in centre of Jungle, from the front of which
Richard had cleared away the brush 10 facilitate
their access to the water; as he drew near the
spot his we're chilled by low, deee grnwl-
ing, and the crunching Of teeth, as if, some
wild animal was devouring the bones Of its prey.
The dreadful truth, with all its shocking. heart
revolving reality, flashed upon the mind of the
yoeman, and for a moment parayzed him. The
precincts of the well were within range of his
rife, and dropping down upon his hands ard
knees, and nerving his arm for clear ain, he
directed his gaze towards the spot whence the
fatal sounds proceeded. A little on one side of
the well, a pair of luminous eyes glared like
green lamps at the edge Of the dark wood and
the horIid sounds which curdled the blood of
the yeoman became more distinctly audible.
Slowly Steel raised the rife to his shoulder,
and setting his teeth and holding his breath, he
steadily aimed at space between those glow
ing balls of fire. The sharp report of the rife
awoke the far echoes of the forest. The deer
leaped up from his lair, the wolf howled and
fled into the depth the wood and the panther,
for such it was, utlering hoarse growl, sprang
several feet into the air, then fell across the
mangled remains of his victim.
Richard Steel rose from the ground the
perspiraton was streaming from his brow; his
limbs trembled and shook, his lips moved con-
vulsively, and he passed his hands upon his
heaving breast to keep down the violent throb.
bngs of his agitated heart. 1t was not fear
that chained him to the spot, and hindered him
from approaching his dead enemy. 1t was bor-
ror. He dared not look upon the maneled re-
mains of his wifc--the dear partner of his Joys
and sorrows--the companion of his boy-hood-
the love of his youth-the friend and counsellor
of his middle age-the beloved mother of his
children. How could be recognized in that crush
ed and defled heap his poor Jane? The pang
was too great for his agitated mind to bear.
Sense and sight alike forsook him, aud, stagger-
ing few PAGES forward, he fell insenseless
across the path.
Alarmed by the report Of the rifle, Atkins
and his sons proceeded with torches to the spot,
followed by Abigail, who unconscious Of the
extent of the calamity, was yet sufficiently con-
vinced that something dreadful had occurred.
When the full horror Of the scene were pre-
senled to the sight of the terror.strlcken group.
their grief burst forth into tears and lalnenta-
tions. Atkins alone retained his presence Of
mind. Dragging the panther from the remains
of the unfortunate Mrs. Steel, he beckoned to
one of his sons, and suggested to him the pro-
priety of instantly burying the dis6gured and
mntilated body before the feeling Of her husband
and children we're agonized by the sight.
First removing the insensible husband to his
own dwelling, Atkins and his sons returned to
the fatal spot, and conveying the body to the
adra nf tho nra irip thev calactod n c,,at lo,aI,,
spot beneath the wide spreading boughs of a
magnificent chestnut tree and wrapping all tina,
, remained of the wife Of Richard Steel in a
sheet, they committed it to the earth in silence
nor were prayers and tears wanting in that lonely
hour to consecrate the nameess grave where
the English mother slept.
Annie and Richard recovered to mourn thei,
irrepparable loss--to feel that their mothers life