Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-01-26

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"'Fhcrc is no use in looking lon
ger, Byzantine said |. bitterly. Il
suspect Alice might assist us eiiectu-
alll to discover it if she would. Nay,
will not say suspect believe
dare 10 say, | know-for conscious
guilt is written in glaring characters
upon her countenance.'
Z" Do not make any rash accusa-
tons, Laura cried Byzantine |
acknowledge appearances are much
against her, bat cannot think Alice
capable Of such ingratiiude, duplici-
ty Al d meanncss.'
Alice here burst into a passion
ate fit Of weeping, and declared, with
wringlng hands and choking sobs,
that she would sooner die than com
mi, so base and wicked a deed.
"Oh, Miss Byzantine ? she OK
claimed, didn't you take it in sport
Ii seems as If ! saw you in dream
going up to Miss Laura, while she
was asleep, and take it from hei
wrist, softly, and then vanish away.
Oh Miss Eglantinc, the more |
think Of il The more am sure ! saw
you-all in sport, know-but pray
return il, or II will be death to me-
The blood seemed to boil up in
the checks Of Byzantine, so sudden
and intense was the glow that mant-
led them
$50 | thought YOU innocent, Alice,
said she dat see, with pain that
you are an unprinciplcd girl. How
dare YOU attempt TO impose on me
the burthcn of your crime How
dare you to think of sheliering your
self under the shadow Of my name 2
" The vague suspicious which the
assertions OF Alice had excited, van
ishcd before the outraged looks and
language OF the usually gentle Eg-
lanjine Alice must have been the
trausgfcssor, and IN proportion to the
affection and confidence ! had re-
posed ln her, and the transccndenl
value Of the gift, was my Indignation
al the offence, and the strength OF
my resolution 10 Danish her from me.
80 Restore it, said I, and leave
me. Do it quietly and Immediately,
aud will inhict no other punish
meni, than your own reflections, for
having abused SO much love and
trust
Search me, if you please, Miss
Laura, and all that belongs to me, ,
said Alice, in ilrmer tone; but |
cannot give back what ! have never
taken. | would not, for fifty thou
sand worlds take what was not mine
and least of all from YOU, who have
been so kind and good. am will
Ing to go; for | would rather bee
'''y h--..A from door 10 dor. 'h~.
live upon the bounty of one WIN
thinks me capable Of such crime
With IL composure that strange
I " contrasicd with her late violeutag.
iiaiion, she arranged her dress, and
was walking towards the door, when
! Byzantine arrested her.
".Alice, Alice, YOU must be mad
to persist IN this course said She
Confess The whole return the
bracelet and Laura may yet forgive
you, Think Of your sick mother
How can You 90 to her IN shame aad
disgrace =
At The mention of her mother
Alice wept alre>h, and putting hen
hand TO her head, exclaimed
al feel very, very sick. Perhap,
we shall die together, and then God
will take pity on rs. lie knows
am innocent Of this crime. "
4" Grandmother" interrupted |
unable to keep silence any longer,
'lell me if she was not innocent. |
know he must have been. Who
could have taken iti'
do YOU think Eelantine more
likely to have stolen it from her rus
in, who was to her, as il were, anoih
or soul and boiugi" said my grand
mother,
Oh, no." I replied "but ! shall
feel unhappy all discover the thief
But proceed, grandmother. Dad Al
ice really 60 away Z"
Yes, my child answered my
J grandmother, in lallering voice 4;
she went, though my relenllne
heart pleaded for her 10 lin9cr. Her
extreme youth aud helpossncss, hen
previous sImplicily and lrulhlulness,
and her solemn asseveratlous oi
innocence, all staggered my belief in
her guilt. 1t was mystery which
grew darker as attempted Il
fpcnetrate IT, II Alice were limo
noccnt, who could be guilly-Eglan-
line Such Il thought was sacrllege
TO her pure and elevated character !;
her tried affection for me her self
respect, dignity and truth. Alice
returned to her mother, in spite OF
our permission for her to remain ill
the subject could be more fully
Investigated.
when the door closed upon her
retrealng form | sat down by the
side of Byzantine and wept. The
fear that had unjuslly accused the
innoceni-ihe possibility, nay, the
probability that she was guiliy-the
loss Of the first pledge of plighted
love, indefinite terrors Tor the future
n dim shade of superstition brood
ing over the whole, all consplred to
| ..,o l. 4. mo .loo,nv and iavr,nd,n.t