Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-15
CONTINUED from LIST page.

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J., next morning David rode over TO Edge
hill to finish it.
"That you may see" said the lawyer
h in his dry, argumentive way, that vii
read you few lines from the greatest au
thority in the law. This book is Black
stones Commentaries, and l read from
the four hundred and forty third page 0
the first volume"
&C. # the rife be indebted before mar.
rjqge, the husband is bound afterwards t,
pay The debt; for he has adopted Ter auc
her circumstances togetAer.'"
The lawyer glanced steaIthily at hi.
companion as he closed the book. But
David had buried his face in his hands
and appeared to be in profound thought
"Suppose it comes to this" said he, at
length, "can you take away my mothers
right in the farm"
"Of course not" was the reply
"your mothers thirds for her own life
will be left untouched. But the cxecu-
ton will certainly swee away all the
rest"
"Then my minds made up" said the
young man rising. "F Bessie knows
this, and viii be my wife, thank God I've
a pair ofstrong hands and an honest heart,
Your execution cannot take them Squire
Saunders !"
Saying this, he marched out of the
room, without even a look as his oppo-
nent's face. Had he taken one, he would
have read there an expression, not, in
deed, happy, but far different from the
angry one he imagined.
That same afternoon Bessie Littleton
was astonished by the announcement that
Squire Saunders was in the parlor and
wished to see her.
She turned deadly pale at the mention
Of his name, and her heart sank as she
conjectured the purpose Of his visit. Of
ten as this implacable enemy had crossed
her path of late, he never before had come
to wage the conflict or enjoy his revenge
in her presence.
The conflict? The thought flashed
across her mind that there had never been
any conflict before. Ills plans had worked
secretly, and she had known them only by
their certain effect. There must be some
fault in them this time, or he would not
be forced to appear in person on the
field!
The blood rushed back TO her face as
this exultant thought rose in her mind.
She was about to meet her foe face to
face, and she entered the parlor resolved
on terrible struggle. The first glance
she cast on Sam was intended to make him
quail. She might as well have tried with
such trown to stay an impending ava
lance, or awe into quiescence a granite
column that tottered over her head. Not
muscle Of that broad, deep-lined face
would change for her frown orsmile, noag !
He lost but few minutes in coming to
the subject which had occasioned his
visit.
miss Littleton," he said, "you have
accepted David Foster"
"NO sir, have not" was the reply.
in tones meant to cut the impairment
querist through like knives.
Well, you have not, but you will.
That l know. Do you know what will be
the consequence of your union?"
q do"
And you are prepared to meet it ?"
Yes, Samuel Saunders, l am! have
borne long and patiently the effect of
your Vaccinations. viii bear them no
longer. If David Foster loves me well
enough to go out and earn bread for us
by daily toll, l can share that bread with
hun more joyfully than / could share with
you the wealth they say you are acquir-
ing"
Bessie, if you think I came here with
one thought Of asking aught for myself,
you are mistaken. That time has passed
with me forever! But with regard TO
David Foster. You are willing to share
poverty with him: do not blame YOU for
it. Are you willing to bring that poverty
upon him? VIII it be happy thought,
when you see his fathers home in a
stranger possession, that but for you he
might still have dwelt upon his own in
heritance? VIII no blush of shame
mantle on your cheek, when you remem-
Der that ruin and beggary were your bri-
dal dowry 2"
The unequal conflict was over. Sam
had uttered these bitter words as calmly
as he wouldhave enunciated proposition
OF law but they had crushed his opponent.
Bessie's eyes, which she had intended TO
use with such terrible effect were swim
ming in tears.
" Not that, not that w she cried at