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

i"S any ahAlety on tnelr account. Ills return
to the neighborhood was to be announced to
them by signal on point of land visible from
Lady Stewards windows. These preliminarcs
settled, they pursued their journey.
When they reached Caerinnys, it appeared
desolatc enough in the gray twilight The
whole house consisted of enc large square tow
er, built upon the edge of a small island acces-
sible by land when the tide was at the lowest.
The terraces and fower-gardens which had once
softened the harsh features Of the place had all
fallen to ruin, through neglect: "a fsSf gttsIidd
Etrecs, Of noble size, layprostrate upont rank
and weedy lawn N ses q n
After waiting long at tho gate the Delansss
were admitted into the castle an,ffeceivedsw
constrained but .cringing cvilty, by Jeffrey,
the steward, who himself led them to his lady's
chamber. This was an apartment of enormous
size, with narrow windows, flowing tapestry,
and a look of discomfort in all its arrange
ments yet with some articles Of luxury scat
tered about. Here, in high backed chair of
gilded leather, and with her little dogs at her
feet, sat Lady Stewart, beautiful STILL although
no longer young. Even when knew her,
used to marvel how woman of her years and
sorrows could retain so soft skin; SO youthful
an appearance. To the last she wore the same
delicate rouge on her cheek, and light touch
Of powder in her hair. She never dressed in
anything except the richest and most delicate
tinted silks or satins, and never appeared with
out the black velvet collar round her slender
throat claspcd with its diamond solitaire val
liable bracelets on her arms, which to the last
were beautifully rounded rich gems on her ta-
/ per fingers. Such was her attire when the De-
lancys were first introduced into her presence at
Cacrinnys and she was SO unlike in everything
to the place in which they found her that she
looked more like princess bound there by q
fairy spell than real everyday woman.
This lady's reception Of her cousins was ali
that they could desire; and for few days
things went well. The Dclancys soon found
out that Lady Stewards life was in no danger
for large income, which her servants had ap-
piled to their own use depended on it, But
she was their prisoner. She could not stir from
her apartment without leave-a leave which
she no longer sought. She could not even speak
as she felt; and, when she ventured to hint u,
her desire to escape out Of thraldom her eyes
would wander round the room with Il vague
glance of terror. Something she dreaded; al
though what that was she never dared to tell.
The lady of the castle soon became attached
to Harriet and, when Mr. Delaney suggested
that she should return with them to s,e Rath
kelspie, the poor prisoner caught at the hin
with eagerness, but begged him to contrive the
ways and means of doing 50 without speaking
to her about it. Mr.. Delaney, thus encouraged
laid his plans, taking only Harriet into hi
counses. In the present day they would hav
had little difficulty in deciding how to act
Nothing would have been easier than to call il
the aid of law. But sixty years ago thing
were quite different, and the state of the coun
try was such that it was much safer to plan al
escape without trying the power of the la,
against the lawless. 1t was considered best t
leave behind the massive plate possessed by Lad
Stewart, and to be content with tho more valu
able articles of jcwellry which could be carrie
in small compass. To gather these jewels to
gother, and to prepare the baggage for sudde
fight, was Harriet's especial duty not an cas-
one, because her huge chamber, like all other
at Caerinnys, opened into oil sorts of windin
staircases and hidden passages and was liabl
at any time to be entered by one or other of tn
servants. These good people, under the pretez
of strict attention to the guests, were keeping
constant watch upon their movements Harr
cts room had, however, one advantage over al
the Others in the house it was Supposed to
haunted, and no one but jeffrey dared to ente
it alone after nightfall he not being quit
comfortable over his own boldness. Thereto,
Harriet was left good deal to her own devices
and availed herself so well of her opportuniti,
as to discover in her own room o good hidip
) place for whatever she wished to conceal,
was at the head of her bed behind the wal
scot cobwebs that tapestried the door prov,
the place to be either unknown or forgotten, ar
upon that hint she chose it for her use.
+, All was at last ready, and nothing waited f
q but the return of the Vixen. Day after da
however, passed, and still there was no sign
q on the wooded hill. while the increasing civil
: Of the servants, their determination to esco
n the strangers on their walks, their eagerness
8 be always at Misunderstanding every want al
q wsh-made it evident that their suspicio
T. were aroused, and that prompt departure W
n desirable.
The visitors had stayed fortnight at Caeri
d nys, when Harriet was reused from sleep Oh
@ night by the sound of voices almost at her ca
h She had once before fancied something of t
n kind, but had persuaded herself that it v
s. only fancy or the sighing of the wind. z
> night there could be no mistake SO she II
Is softly out Of bed, flung round her the mantle
l. had given her, which happened to be lying ne
D. and groped her way to the point from which
N sounds seemed to proceed. They led her to
10 recess behind her bed She opened the dc
er gently ray of light falling on the floor fr,
pe a chink in the wainscot with which it was lint
pointed out whence the sounds came, and,
Id vancing carefully, she listened with the m
8, eager attention. At first, she could not ma
OF out what they said for there were seve
iy speakers, and their language and tones W
difficult to follow but at length Jeffrey's
on miliar voice was heard, and from what he 50
Q she discovered that they were completing q =
if for the murder of herself, her father and mo
rs, er, and the regaining, in this way, of their