The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-05

warm and comfortable in the lire-light
and when the candles on the manicl. 4
piece were lighted. and the two easy .
chairs drawn close to the hearth, llo I
loug-par,cd friends found u impossible !
To rcsis, the temptation Of sitting down
TO have, what in old days they used 10
call "two. handed chat There was
much 10 tell Of what had beiallen both,
Of checkercd scenes Of JOY and sorrow.
deeply Interesting to those two whose
youth bad been passed together; there
were mutual recollccions Of school-days
10 he talked over; mutual friends and
future plans TO be discussed and mid
night ,ung out from the stable clock be-
fore Mrs. Alherton said good night
She had already crossed the threshold
TO 90. when she turned back TO say
forgot TO tell you, Ellen, that the
inside bar Of this door is not very secure
and tha, the key only turns outside
Are you inclined 10 trust TO the bar
alone, or will you, as William used to
do, have the door locked outside. and
let The servant bring the key in the NOR
ming? William used TO say he found
it rather an advantage to do so, as the
unlocking Of the door was sure TO awake
him.
Miss Stirling lauahingly allowed that
though generally, she could not quite
think il an advantage to be locked into
her room, still she had no objection to it
on this particular occasion, as she wish
ed to rise in reasonable time.
Very well then you had better not
fasten the bar Mt all, and will send my
maid with the key, at eight precisely.
Good night
Good night
They parted, the door was locked
outside; the key taken out and Miss
Stirling, standing by the window, watch
ed her friend cross the narrow black
path. which had been swept clear of
snow to make dry passage from the
house to the pavilion. A ruddy light
streamed from The hall door as it open
ed TO admit its mistress, and gave n
cheerful, friendly aspect to the scene
/ but, when the door closed and shut ont
that warm and comfortable light, the
darkened porch, the pale moonlight
shimmering on the shrouded trees and
the stars twinkling in the frosty sky,
had such an aspect of solitude rs TO cas-,
over her kind cf chill that made her
half repent having consented to quit the
house at all, and let herself be locked ur
in this lonely place.
Yet what had she TO fear? No harm,
could happen to her from within The
chamber the door was safely locked
outside, and strong iron stanchion'
guarded The window there could be n,
possible danger, So, drawing her chaii
once more TO the fire. and stirring il in
to n brighter blaze, she took up iitl,
Bible which lay on the dressing table
and read same portions of the New
Testament
When she had laid down the book
she took out the comb that fastened nj
her long, dark silken tresses--i
which, despite her live-and-thirty years
not silver thread was visblc-and a
she arranged them for the night, he
thoughts strayed back to the memorie
of The past, which her meeting wit
Mary Athcrton had revived. TIL
sound Of the clock striking two was th
first thing that recalled her TO her pre-
ent life. BY this time the candles wer
burned down almost 10 the socket, an
the fire was dying fast As she turne
to fling fresh log into the CRATE, he
} eyes fell upon the dressing glass, an
in its reflection she saw. or at least far
cied she saw, the bcd.curtains move.
, She stood for moment gazing
, the mirror. expecting repetition
! the movement but all was still, m
she blamed herself for allowing neryot
e fears 10 overcome her Still, it was a
. exeriion, even of her brave spirit, to al
proach the bed and withdraw the Gu
: iains. She was rewarded by fndir
{, nothing save the bedclolhes neatly fol,
( ed down, as il inviting her to press Il
r snow-white sheets, and luxurious pi
q Of pillows that looked most tempting.
p she could not resist he mute in,iialic
. 10 rest her wearied limbs. Allowir
r herself no time for further doubts
70 fcar', she placed the candle on the ma
tle-pieco and stepped into bed
r She was very lired--her eyes ache
a with weariness--but sleep seemed
5 fly from her Old reeollections ,hron
p ed on her memory; thoughts connect,
= with the business she had siill 10 g
4 through haunted her and difficult
e that had not occurred till now rose
= before her She was restless and feve
e ish, and the sexslion Of feeling so ma
her more ~akefal. Perhaps II Il
p were 10 close the curtains between b
nnd ihe Ere she might be- better able
i s!ecp-ihe fiickerins light disturbed b,
u and The moouhcaAs stealing betwel
o the window-euriains cas-, ehostly .ha
j. ows On lhe walls 50. lie careful
ID shui oui lhe light on ihsi sidc. al
:, turned again 10 sleep. Wheiher b
2 had " bal not quite los, eonseiousns
che could not weli remember. bot i
z Sas thoroughly aroused by FEELING q
: bed heage under her. She stsyted /,