Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-01-23

| ion with the cxulting expression of his coun-
/ tcnancc, surprised the traveller SO much that
he went up 20 the graye-digger, and said with
! curiosity
'What were You writing in the lttlo book
! just now 2"
! "Ihat is my affair, replied Lauw Stevens,
gruily "Nou have stood a terrible long time
i on my list ! was making cross at your
namc.'
"You recognise me- then 2" exclaimed the
stranger ioymlly,
Recognise said the graye-diggcr in
bitter and mocking tone 81 don't know that,
! but remember we'll just as if it had hap
| pcned yesterday, that am enviou4 villain once
: threw me into the river and nearly drowned
I me because ] was loved by Rosa the wheel
! wrights daughter Since then, many am
: Easter candle has been burnt but
! "lou were loved by Rosa p interrupted
the stranger at is not true, tell you
"Ah. you knew it well enough, spitoiul fell
low that You were Had She not for a whole
year worn the silver consccratcd ring which
] had brought with me from Schcrpcnheuyol.
And did you not tear the ring forciby from
her, and throw IL into the water
A sad smile passed over the travellers
countcnance.
"Lauw Lauw l' he exclaimed, eve do
wrong; memory makes us children again.
Believe me, Rosa did not love you, as you
suppose she took YOUR ring only out of friend
ship, and because it was consecratcd In my
youth, ! was rough and rude. and did not
always act nobly to my comrades But shall
iour-and-thirty years have passed so destuc-
lively over men and things, and left nothing
but our wrotchod passions unchanged All.
Lauw. shall the only man who recognises me
I be my oncmy-and viii he continue my enc
my stills Come, give me your hand let us
bc friends. / will make you happy for the
remainder of your liie"
The grayc-diggcr withdrew his hand sharp
ly, aud said, in gloomy and surlcy tone
Forget ! forget you, 1t is too late -
You have poisoned my lilc No day passes
but think of you; and do ] think OF you
TO bless your name, do you suppose; You
yourself may determine that-you who have
been the cause of my misery.
I Folding his trembling hands, the traveller
raised his eyes to heaven, and exclaimed in
despair
"God God hate alone knows me hate
4 alone docs not forget me r'
"Iou have done well, resumed the grave
digger laughing. "in coming here to lie be-
side your blessed parents. ] have kept q cap
& ital grave for you Twill lay the proud Long
John under the roofledgc. where the rain
( water may get at him. and wash all the NAL
ice and yillany out Of his corpse
, A sudden trembling shook the traveller
from head TO foot, and lightning ng-hash of in
a dignaton and wrath shot from his eys This
violent excitement, however. quickly gave
way to a feeling of detection and pity.
You deny your hand to a brother" he
said, "who returns to the home of his youth,
after an absence of four-aud- thirty years -
The first greeting which you address TO your
old comrade is bitter mockery Lauw,
this is not right; still, be it so let us say no
more about it only tell me where my blessed
parents lie buried'
"l don't know, said the gravc-digger sur
lily. 1T is more than fye-and-twcnty years
since they were brought here and have
dug fresh graves on the same spot three times
since then
There was something more than ordinarily
painful TO the traveller in these words pow
orless, he let his head sink on his breast
while he stared ntently on the ground, quite
overwhelmed by his sorrow.
The gravc-diggor resumed his labour, but
with an unsteady and hesimtng hand, as if
some deeper feeling were now at work within
him. lie fookcd and behed the stranger
anguish, and seemed inwardly shocked at the
secret and long-cherisbed revenge which had
actuatcd his conduct, and impellcd him to tor
turc his ielow-man SO mercilcssly. This
change Of feeling was visible upon his coun-
tenance; the contemptuous smile had van
ished and he looked at his mourning comrade
with rising sympathy. He then slowly APP
preached him, and, taking his hand, said, in a
low but impressive voice
John, friend, forgive what have said and
done have acted cruelty and moiciously.
But, john YOU do not know how much have
suffered through YOU
Law exclaimed the other grasping his
hand with emotion "these were errors Of
our youth And see how little | calculated
on your hostility; your very naming me
was itself an indispensable Joy to me, l am
still grateful to YOU for that though you have
torn my heart by your bitter mockery. And
now tell me where Rosa hes buried In
heaven she will rejoice Co sec MS reconciled.
and standing like brothers beside her last
resting-placew
Buried! @! exclaimed the grave-digger.-
"God grant that she were buried. poor thing :"