Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-12-25

bbotHNt was bttdNlOntu ny lnt uttNNShTl tdllh
Of business, The hour of twelve had passed
All sounds without had been hushed to si-
lence, except the dreary sound of the winter
blast through the leafess branches Of the To-
Gust which stood before the house. A foot
step was heard it paused--the street door
was opened. He had come his step was in
the passage. in her impaticnoe, she rose TO
meet him at the door Of the apartment, but
he entered his own room, which was an adj
joining one. and closed the door. "He thinks
am asleep" thought louisa, "and he will
not disturb mo. l will step to his door, and
bid him goodnight" She opened the door
Mrs. Hales was standing in the passage.
"Do not, said she to Louisa, "stand in the
cold; go back to your room, do"
This was said with an earnestness which
led Louisa to suspect that her brother was
i'll. ~ mus. see him before / sleep said
she, advancing to the door.
"Do 60 to your room, dear, and see him in
the morning"
axe rnue, bp ~, or he wo,s 4 have looked
in upon me, or would como out on hearing
my voice. Brother 70 rapping on the door.
There was no reply She lifted the latch
and the brother stood before her, haggard and
half unconscious Of his condition, while the
fumes of alcohol revealed the cause and CON
vinced Louisa of what no human testimony
could have convinced her She was support
ed to her room by her sympathzing friend
who sat by her bedside till the gray of morn
ing, making no attempt to hush her meanings.
\ furious storm then arose, and the snow and
hail beat heavily against the windows, and
tore the branches from the trees. The agita-
ton Of the elements was not greater than
that which tore the soul of the guilty broth
or, now that the delirium was over, and the
dread reality was fully revealed to his percep-
ton. lie rose and went TO his office. lie
did not appear at the breakfast table. An
hour or two later, Louisa requested that he
might be sent for. "Tel him" said she, ''to
come without delay, if he would not have me
die" lie came. There was no word or look
of reproach. She took his hand and kissed
it, and laid it upon her burning forehead, and
closed her fearless eyes. He then could gaze
upon her face. He saw traces of sorrow,
such as carried agony to his soul. She soon
became delirious, and the physician was call
ed His medicine failed TO check the burning
fever in her veins. Day after day, and night
after night, Richard remained by her bedside,
watching the rapid wearing away of life. and
feeling that his conduct had been the cause.
He was assisted by Mrs. Hales, whose heart
was softoned towards him in consequence of
the keenness Of his anguish.
The crisis was past. The fever abated.
Reason resumed her throne, but the extreme
prostration of the patient gave but little hope
that health would be restored. As she be-
came able to converse in whispers. it was only
to thank Richard for his kindness. One day,
h., IoI eo1 bn. Of hnr
recovery, she said, my dear brother, you
must not deceive yourself; l shall not be with
you long"
Her slow and measured words seemed to
carry conviction to his misd.
have been your murderer, said he, in tone
of bitter self-accusing
mo, you are not to cherish such a thought
have felt, for some time before this attack.
that / should not live long. never expect
to see the spring blossoms, or to hear the
spring birds | am not afraid to die. NY
chief, my ouly regret in leaving this world, is
in leaving you alone, and, her lips quiyered,
''you know what l would say"
at was the first time she had alluded to
the event of the night preceding her illness.
IF you and were to live on earth thou
sand years, the scenes Of that night would
never be repeated"
"Tell me-do not deceive your dying sis
ter--was it the first and only fall :"
a terrible temptation is before thee. o,
young man Yield not to it. even at the bid
ding of thy deep affection. Hold on to the
truth, and there is hope for thee yield, and
the chain already thrown around thee shall
be rivitod.
With his eyes closed for how could he lool,
in hers and utter an untruth he said slowly
and, as he thought soemnly, 1T was the first
time; it was accidental, and yet might have
avoided it, / have been greatly to blame.
Promise me, and remember the promise
when am lying in the grave, that you will
never again suffer the cup to come near your
lips"
81 promise! p
OF what value was the promise from lips
that could deceive so trusting sister
Time rolled on. The sun began to ascend
higher in the heavens; the southern gale
seemed to betoken the breath of spring the
fair girl still fingered with her friends. One
day the air was so mild that the window was
opened and the breeze of heaven again stir
red her locks.
81 should like to see another howor," said
she; 81 should like to be buried when the
violets are fresh in the -yard--but this
is folly. | desire that our mothers God
should do with me as he sees ft He viii re-
ward you for all your kindness to me He
only knows how kind, how very kind you
have been to me- -a ais5- -
And He only knows how cruel have
been to you"
Brother, | implore you never to make