Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-11-21


on to the door; it was locked with one
blow he drove it from its hinges and
rushed in no girl was there he called
one, twice, three times, but the echoes of
his voice trembled along the walls, ran
up chamber, and finally died away in the
garret loft. He followed there, and all
over the floor lay little mounds of snow,
and in one corner heap of rags, and on
that heap lay lifeless the form of Ellen
Fenton. Here and there on the rags
the feathery fakes had fallen, and on the
fair white bosom they rested, emblem of
the purity within.
He raised the marble form and chain
clanked. o. humanity He broke the
lock, and taking the body in his arms
carried it to the nearest neighbors. They
saw in a moment how it was all done.
Starvation had driven the old woman
forth in quest of provisions, and she fear
ing to leave her young charge alone, had
chained her in the loft and then sailed
forth but the storm and the coldness OF
the night proved too severe for her aged
constitution, as she had almost reached
her domicil, as basket of frozen apples
had attested, life had waned, and she fell
exhausted.
Like wildfre the news was heralded
from lip to lip as the church-goers retir-
ed from their places worship. The old
woman was brought, and the two laid side
By side, and what contrast. Over one
the demon of darkness tapped their wings
and each extoled to the other her sir
and sordidness, while above the other
holy angels veiied their faces TO hide the
bushes of shame which glowed on theil
cheeks as they saw how far human ma
ture would steep himself in crime, witt
the innocent and beautiful for victims
were gold TO come to their purses in tht
end.
Night at length closed over the awfu
scene;-since noon the sky had beer
darkening and already storm had began
to sweep down from the heavens, as tw,
feet horses carried the body of Ellen II
her fathers door. But fate was agains
them.
The people of Eastville wished to sur
prise her father, for such a hatred the,
bore him that they seemed not to care 70
the consequences. He was absent an
would not return fortwo or three day;
but faithful domestics were there, an
under their supervision the undertake
robed the silent form for the tomb.
As pale and calm as the cold moo
above her lay the corpse of Ellen. Wbs
if night and darkness brooded around
what if ne foot-fall was heard on til
pavement dying away in the distane
was it any more solemn for that? No
She had died young in all her wealt
of youth and beauty she had been drive
from luxurious home in the city and ha
died, and she now in state. The ric
foods of moonlight canae sweeping dow
from the clear wintry sky, and fe
around that cold form all shrouded in lat
and gilded paraphernaiia of the tom
/ No artificial light CLEANED there that
D nature was enough TO reveal a tall, cor
manding form standing by the coffir
r side. 1t was Gerald Fenton, fresh fro
D the classic halls of Yale. He looked {
: his sister and his dark eye cleaned wi
J wild fire. There was his earth id
before him; in her he ceDtered his hig
Il est hopes and the fondest and brighte
s dreams ever yet dreamed by mortal W
II borne to his couch by angel forms al
= given to his brain, and o, how thrilli
c bright the world seemed but now
K was gone /; fame, honor, ambition all we
d mere blanks compared to his sisters 10,
e Long he gazed-gazed till he thoug
d the pure rays of light all cIpsteredarou
: that fair, white brow, and he knelt a
formed his parted lips prayer we
floating on the white moonbeams up
Ie the throne of God.
N Suddenly the curtains were dra,
l. aside and Mr.. Fenton entered the rool
Of he staggered to the coffin and looked
I and with deep groan fell backwa
|; Gerald caught him and restored him
J. life in few moments; again he lool
ye till his eyeballs seemed starting fir
e. their sockets.
ut sWhere is she whom / trusted
of cried he in rage.
d. @Gone to her account, man, where J
a. will soon go; your daughters blood
a. upon YOU, and till you die it will hal