Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-25
HARLEY HARTMAN
OR,
The Snaggers of Memphremagog.
A Tale of the Canada Border Counterfeiters'
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XIII
sUPPLIANT AND HER DEFENDERS.
Alice was aware that Judith, as well as most
Others among the Snaggers had been intent,
through the long series of years that had elapsed
from the first moment in which they engaged in
their unlawful enterprise; on getting silver
enough for their snags to make them all lords
and ladies. She was also aware that the at
tainment of this object was apparently as re-
mote as ever none among their guilty COM
peers excepting Musgrave, having approximated
toward it, and he only to limited extent, at
great and inadequate personal hazard, and by a
per6dous sacrifice, in more than one instance,
of characters less guilty than himself. Yet
foolshly and strongly impressed with the as
surance of ultimate gains sufficient to compen-
safe for all their pers, and tolls they still sub
mitted to be the infatuate tools of a villain
who garnered up for himself the small and un-
certain product of their labors, while they per-
severed with hope that never tagged, and a
zeal that never tired.
Alice was strongly inclined, in reply to the
last remark of Judith, to suggest to the latter
whether her long experience, and continued dis
appointments, ought not to convince her that
she was indulging delusive hopes; and that
some more reputable pursuit in the various
walks of life would not only be less laborious,
and less perilous but productive of greater
f,1I I,f in
so far as pecuniary means could aid it, for the
attainment of that great desiderat'tm, to wit,
Ladyship. But, faithless as to any good effect
from such suggestions, and doubling whether
they might not tend to impair the good will
which she was sure Judith indulged toward her,
and render unquestonable her opinion of the
Snaggers, Alice determined to forbear. She
therefore made no reply, but looked at judith,
amazed at her credulty. The latter constituting
the silence of the former into a tacit admission
of the truth of her remarks, and the force of
her conclusions, judged therefrom that Alice
would thenceforth be more easily reconciled to
tarry among the. Snaggers. She therefore pro-
posed to take Alice with her on n visit then
about to be made to the invalid Rolph.
The poor girl was agitated, and trembled as
she went. She had seen something of the tow
ering passion of which Rolph's mind was sus-
ceptible, and the facility with which it might
be wrought up by very triAing causes ; and she
.had heard from the lips of Judith such accounts
of his delirious passion, and irrepressible fury
when enraged, as tended amazingly to augment
the terror with which the devoted girl approach
cd, and sought to pacify him. She knew he
indulged toward her brother vindictive ha-
tired, and that he longed to inhict terrible ven
geance. She knew too, that if she should fail
in her effort to appease his anger, her presence
would but serve to irritate him and make hin,
more irefu than before. The consideration was
acutely painful to her mind, but she had nc
alternative. To be, odo, and to suffer, SEEM
cd to be her destiny, and since such appeared to
be the will of Him who governed it, she had no
wish to evade the responsibility, but with meek
and enduring patience she resolved to submit tc
the cross and follow on. When they reached
Rolph's domicile, Moll was just about retiring
therefrom. She had been to consult him in re-
gard to the expediency of removing Herbert and
Alice from McDermot's quarters, and finding
some employment for them that should be pro-
ductive to the Snaggers. Her recommendations
were spiced with no Indifferent share of malice
toward Herbert and his sister, and they were
digested by Rolph with none the less gusto fol
superior seasoning
Mrs. McDermot," slid Moll, " think you
might find somethin' else to do besides totin
that ere gal about from place to place to SHOW
US, Jest as if we was wild beasts in caravan tt
be seea for a shillna sight. You'd better get a
lohg pole and go round with her and stir W
the monkeys"
&C hae already stirred up n tigress, Moll
and that is sight enough the day for gentles
een.''
Yes, you have stirred up tigress, and pret
ty soon this ere malapert of yourn, shall hea
the lion s roar Did ever you see lion? con
tinucd Moll, addressing Alice 90 Egad, yo,
needn't shrivel up SO, as if you was afraid 0
your own shadder. The name of lion won
hurt you, but you look so scared should thinl
you never see a lamb. Come, 60 with me- sh
continued, at the same time approaching Alic
as if to take her arm, " come 60 with me to tn
kennel and see the dogs. There's lot of en
fine fellers too-fond of tender meat bu
they won't hurt you, because they are chained
if you don't go too near EN- But you can Sc
how they'll growl, and show their teeth, at tn,
sight of 50 much beauty as you and me together
and you can judge whether they'd like the look
of your red cheeks we'll enough to lock jaw
with you or not
f" Gin ane O. them wad lock jaws wi sic a
you, ye mislear'd limmer,' said judith angri
ly, "ye are 81 fu' o. a. manner O. maltalent
ken he wad dee and he wadna dee, I wa
kill him frae fear he wad grippit the hydrophc
by"
"Ho! ho! You are gettin' mighty prir
and nice, Mistress McDermot," said Mol
"since you got that ere wench for company :
But guess you'd better spare her a little Will
and see if she can't make lady of me too
and p'raps she'll make the dogs into gentleme
arter she spends few days in their society. :
There's no knowin' what she can't do, an