Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-11

any SOrI W tlelr deSOCldteu ihteIeet, Do Une
foremost to visit them as demons Of wrath.
And the idea that one of their gang was sought
to be recovered " from the error of his ways"
and restored to that portion of the world by
which the obliquities of the rest would not fail
to be punished if revealed was one which, they
knew, if disclosed to any but their father,
would not only defeat their purpose, but bring
certain destruction upon themselves.
Yet, defying all such considerations, Alice
could not, would not, abandon the object at
which she aimed, till success should crown their
effort, or hope be overshadowed in despair To
no remissness of hers should her 'Aether's death
be due, 50 lolg as trialS and ~safaripg on her
part, however painful or protracted, should af
ford promise of saving that mothers life /;
or the life and honor of her father. Thus de-
termined on her part, her noble brother whose
solcitude, far less for his own than his sisters
safety, had impelled him to propose return to
the settlements, now felt himself relieved by
her language, from load which had pressed
heavily upon his heart. He read in her tone
and manner strong assurance that no greater
calamity could befal her at the Retreat, though
the worst should, come than was sure to result
if they abandoned their enquiry half complete,
and thus left room for the self-accusing thought
that the reward of fidelity to their trust might
have been success
1t was therefore determined that as expe-
ditiously as possible further investigation
should be had, so thorough and searching, as
to leave to doubt and uncertainty no " loop hole
for retreat" And about the work, from that
moment, both Herbert and Alice employed
themselves in true earnest. For six weary days
they scanned every face they met; plunged in
to every nook and corner where a human be-
ing might be slowed employed all the adroit-
ness and cunning they could conjure up baf-
fled every suspicion they conceived to be in
dulged and exposed themselves to SCOTS
vulgar taunts and ribald gibes, but all in vain.
No answering look, Or tone of encouragement,
met their eye, or ear no half embodied form
of hope beckoned them on no kindly eye save
that of the comparatively innoxious William
Belden, cast its beams upon their own. The
aspect of all around them, and all they met,
was so cold, heartless, and forbidis, that they
knew that receptacle of vice held IL heart akin
to theirs, else, in their grievous strait, it would
have warmed in sympathy. This knowledge
relieved their overburdened hearts frem load
of care. Instead of being in dhy degree de-
pressed by this disappointment, they were
elated and rejoicing in the integrity of their
father, and the now strengthened hope of soon
finding him in society better suited to their
desires, they began to make preparations for an
early departure. Thanking Mistress McDer-
mot for her kindness they declared their in
tention to return Immediately to the settlements.
The former had foreseen their purpose, and,
though really unwilling to give tham unnecessa-
ry pain, she astounded them with the intelligence
that the most positive orders had been given to
"ii ehO pii plOVOllOO w uilOll
parture until Musgrave should arrive, and give
his consent thereto. This news was like the
lightnings blast to their rising hopes. To at
tempt an escape unaided, they knew was vain !;
to seek for aid from any mortal source was
equally vain. They were caught " in the snare
of the fowler" They deplored the idea of be-
ing delayed in their further search for their
father but when they now thought of the
appearance of Musgrave, of the hideous aspect
he wore when, in her own home, and under her
fathers protective arm, the eyes of Alice first
met his when they further contemplated his
hateful character as portrayed to them by their
mother his sternness, and unrelenting obdu-
racy of heart, as shadowed forth by Clovis, in
their first meeting with the latter and then
thought of the account they would soon have
to render to Musgrave as their Judge; and ac-
cording to his own form of trial for their
presence; and the means employed to procure
it the heart of Alice sank within her.--As if
she were the sport of adverse fortune her hopes
were raised but to be dashed again, and to
make each succeeding disappointment more Bit
ter than before. She sank down upon the floor
of McDermot's hut, and bewailed her fate in
loud and convulsive lamentations, sobs, and
tears.
Not so with Herbert. Not tear moistened his
eye, nor, for brief space, aiifi Ssiiii,s exhibit any
outward token of the wild frenzy with which his
mind was selzed. But presently his features
began to betray signs of inward emotion. His
shoulders shrugged the muscles of his hands
contracted, and relaxed, again his feet seemed
obedient to an Involuntary impulse, hitching
nervously about and the color in his face came
and fed, like advancing and receding clouds
impelled by varying winds. whirlwind was
circling around his head; and tempest Of
passion was raging within it. Directly dark
and angry expression began slowly to difuso it
self over his eountenance, like the stern and
resistless upheaving of the storm-cloud, when
it lifts its black, and massive, form above the
horizon, and darkens the falr, clear sky.
Judith had no conception of the possibility
that any mans features could undergo such
change. She shrunk back as if she could moi
endure the terror of his fixed, and wrathful
gaze. She was speechless, and spell-bound. -
She could not divert her eyes from his, ant
yet it was agony for her to look upon him
To her vision his manly form seemed constant
ly to expand and as it enlarged in compass il
seemed to increase in manly beauty too.
But at length, as if he sought some mascu
line, and more fitting object, on which to pou,
the volume of his wrath, Rolph was seen slow
} ly approaching the door of McDermot's hut
and the fierce fury of his passion burst, Eacl
, n. 4 4 H.. 4 n