Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-07-05

GsSsthere, she knelt down, and after a
short silent prayer, she turned to Gertrude, and
embracing her said "bless your daughter,
dear mother, for the last time you will never
sec her again" Il r
What do you mh.a,m child!"
"The truth. an going away You will
say good-by for me to him, mother; and tell
him it is my very love for him that forces me to
fly"
But, dear one," said Gertrude, detaining
her, "you wrong our Juan; he has noble
heart, and will love you all the better for these
noble scars, when he hears that it was in saving
me from dreadful terrible death you received
them"
"He has noble heart" replied the girl;
"and know that he would marry me, and try
to make me happy; but how could I endure his
averted looks-his sorrow' No, no I shall
suffer much less in suffering alone"
just then we'll known bark was heard, and
a large white dog rushed out of the woody
path.
Caesar " cried Gertrude. "Where is your
masterl"
&C Here he is," replied an agitated voice; and
holding one end of cord, of which the other
was fastened to Caesar collar, soldier appear
ed. Mother are you here! Where is Mar
guerite! Why don't you come and embrace
your poor blind wanderer -"
"Bl;nd " exclaimed Marguerite and fixing
her eyes on her betrothed, she saw that his eyes
were covered with bandage. cannot describe
the emotions of all three; suffice it to say that
after an incredible number Of embraces, Ger
trude and her two children returned to my house
and we passed delightful evening"
Here the curate stopped, and thought his
tale was ended.
We'll, said, suppose the blind warrior
and bis betrothed--still, in his imagination,
blooming in all her youshfal charms-were
4 speedily united! .....s-s,.4 :
They were,' hereplied. 1t was who mar
ried them; but have somewhat more to tell
you of them. Their cottage, by the willing aid
of all the villagers, was soon rebuilt, and they
removed into it. Their circumstances were very
comfortable, and Juan supported his infrmity-
: caused, he told me, by the explosion of mine
: with the utmost cheerfulness. His tenderness
for his wife seemed to increase every day ; and
yet she was not happy. She became prey to
constant melancholy, and her health and
strength visibly declined. Her old friend, the
doctor visited and prescribed for her, but with
out avail, ).
"My art is at fault" he said to me. " Her
body suffers, but the seat of the disease is her
mind Do you try to discover what the secret
which weighs on her may be, or cannot ans
wer for her life
Alas how could lapply the consultations of
religion to a case of which the sufferer persisted
in keeping me profoundly ignorant' Once she
seemed on the point Of opening her mind, but
Juan entered the room, and she was silent nor
could ever afterwards induce her to speak free
ly Meantime her bodily condition became very
precarious; and Juan, who was now aware OF
her danger, scarcely ever stirred from her bed
!, side. Old Gertrude, as you may suppose, was
scarcely less anxious about her.
+ One evening, when was in the cottage, the
: doctor arrived and having examined his pa
tient, pronounced that unless some powerful re-
g action took place she could not long SURVIVE
9 How solemn were the moments that succeeded
!, this announcement Poor Juan grasped con-
vulsvely the hand of his wife, while large tears
It streamed from beneath his bandage.
: began to exhort her on the subject of relig.
a ion and when I spoke of the mercy of hel
y Maker, she exclaimed ->Oh, have great neet
e of mercy, for my conscience is burdened with 6
heavy load Listen" she conntiued, addressing
. US and tell me whether can hope for for
giyeness."
Grouped around her bed. we waited in silen
a astonishment. Marguerite had raised herself
h into sitting posture; her wasted arms, hel
disordered hair, her sunken features, her hollow
/, eyes, cleaning with light like that of lamp
If kindling up before it is extinguished for ever
lent an air of indescrbable solemnity to the
q scene. Placing her hand in her husbands, she
d said " Juan, you remember when we separated
e the promise which we made of mutual fidelity
My heart was yours, and yours was mine
70 Well, the terror Of losing that heart caused mt
'r to commit grievous sin. l pictured you te
1t myself with shocked, averted looks at the first
sight Of her who was once named the Pearl
l. and in the agony, the delirium Of the moment
le cried to Heaven Oh, God either give mt
N back my beauty, or take from him his eye-sight!
The moment the selfish, impious prayer was ut
ID tered, bitterly repented, and would fain have
y recalled it but too late Juan the wish wal
to granted, and have never known since one mo
'r ment's happiness"
"What!" cried her husband, sand is thi
le the secret. Marguerite, which is killing you =
sri at is,"