Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-26

mlhuI Ieness or detail that made neF pioou lun
cold, everything was arranged for the perpetra-
tion of the crime and its complete concealment.
Bold-as she was, Harriet was yet only girl
Of seventeen and, as the conviction forced IT.
self upon her that they were almost powerless
to avert their impending fate, her senses failed
for an instant--faint and weak, she was COM
polled to lean for support against tho wall. 10
her great horror, it yielded to her touch
door. similar 70 that which communicated with
bsrQv k y ] :lsg " ! Apsapsppcn, and she
loab0 ersalf 6thods warning the midst of
thaseonspigat{Fs nv one dreadful moment
kllzfsasl hersa foss lestsbat the sudden
shock Of danger had rcsto dsher self-control.-
ftswas OTHERWISE With tx0s5 81 Whom she had
intruded They leapt from thnirscats with ter
ror; superstitious awe was manifested in their
blanched faces, and, with muttered exclama-
tion of Greenmantlc! Greenmantle" " they
rushed from the room in wild disorder, throw
ing down the table, and extinguishns the light
in their confusion.
Harriet perceived at once that she was, for
the present safe. They had mistaken her for
the ghost supposed to haunt that part of the
house. 1t was even possible that their foul
project might be put to flight by tho supposed
intervention Of the spirit. In case of one pos
sible atci dent, however, she returned swiftly to
her chamber; and taking especial care to lasten
both the doors of the recess, and to conceal her
mantle, she returned to her couch 1t was we'll
that she lost no time in doing this; for, a very
few minutes afterwards, one of the many doors
of her chamber was Stealthily unclosed, and
Jeffrey crept in, with candle in one hand and
q knife in the other. Through her half-closcd
eyelids she could see him looking curously
round the room then coming to the bed. She
had presence of mind sufficient to keep still, al-
though she fancied that the knife was at her
throat, and drew her breath regularly even
when the unfaithfnl steward passed the candle
once or twice to her eyes. Presently muttering,
" 1t must have been Grcenmantle after all -
the traitor glided gently from the room.
Harriet slept no more that night. ImmeIi-
atc escape was the sole chance OF life; but how
to leave Caerinnys without help from the Vixen
she could not imagine. Long before it was
light she was at her window, straining her eyes
in the direction Of the promised signal; al
though previous disappointmentlfit her little
hope Of seeing it. The faint blue of dawn
gradually stole over the face Of the earth it
changed to a warmer hue, and the sun, slowly
rising from the eastern horizon, giIled the tips
Of the distant hills, touched the edge Of the
waters, and rising higher and higher in the
heavens, shone full ON the shore, the woods, the
signal hll--the signal ITSELF
An exclamation Of intense gratitude broke
from her lips Near escape was possible, but
still there were great difficulties to be overcome
Jeffrey's nocturnal visit showed that his suspi
cons were aroused and, though luled for the
present, would revive upon the slightest cause
Experience had also taught Harriet that it was
almost impossible to escape observation when hi
was on the alert The girl felt that her onl,
chance was to go instantly to Captain Culver
After last nights orgies, probably, the servants
would sleep heavily during the early morning
but in an hour Or two later they would be agair
dogging her steps. Could she not 50 herself t'
the bay! The tide was already low, and wa
still falling she could cross with little Difficult
ty. Maidenly hestations intervcned, but it wa
necessary to suppress them and, wrapping
large cloak round her, and tying handker chic
over hey head in the then fashion Of the coun
try, she set off on her perilous journey.
She escaped from the house without detection
stole down the alley of evcrgrcons which led tt
the shore, and then, after the delay Of mo
ment passed in ftrvent prayer, yentured acros
the channel. The water, at first almost knee
deep, became shallower as she proceeded ant
in few minutes, she found herself on dr.
ground, with bright May sun to cheer til
> way. Ignorant of the country, Harriet fel
most secure in following the line of coast; q
sight of every indentation, every fresh bay, st
= hoped that at last the signal-hill would lie b
fore her.
Long before she reached tho hill she met I'll
captain who, with the zoal Of true love
was bound already in the direction of his lady
r dwelling Explanations and consultations 70
;, lowed but am content to add, they laid the
VI plans so we'll, that the escape from Caerinn,
y was effected on that very night. jeffrey and h
It crew were taken by surprise and overpowere'
0 almost before they knew what had befallt
d them.
IS The garrison being thus mastered, it was
IS course matter of no difficulty to carry off tt
whole of Lady Stewards plate and other ART
l. cles of value, as well as the jewels Harriet hc
Q laid in store The quantity of plato was som
r. thing fabulous, and the only way of accountir
le for it having been permitted to remain SO loI
rs at the castle was, that jeffrey and his compa
D. ions were so confident of thoir position that tn
Sc had no thought of being ntGrfered with
| their unlawful proceedings. In the old bou
lr on the Quayside, after Lady Stewart came
he live with the Delancys, the plate, jewels q
10 lace were sight we'll worth dayss journ
Or to see. Magnificent candlebra of solid silvt
m dishes of the precious metal were in daily u
d, and the most beautiful gold and silver vases W,
d. scattered in profusion over rooms and passag
st AS to the jewels, as | told you, Lady Stew,
ke always wore them on neck, arms and finger
al but Mrs. Delaney also amused the whole tow
re shipof Rathkcspie, by appearing at Church
a. the Sunday after her return from Ireland wi
d, long diamond pendants hanging from her ea
ot and visible below her bonnet. She wore q
h several valuable fnger-rings outside Of
'st gloves.