Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-25
CHAPTER NH.
ShhI lER Alll.
PRIDE VERSUS INTEREST.

With the decline of causes which had over
wrought her nervous system, Alice's strength
declined till she felt greatly in need of repose.
Too feeble then to explain, so far as she conceived
would be necessary for an amicable adjustment,
the occasion of the unfortunate collision between
her brother and Rolph, she judged it better to
defer any allusion to the subject till her mind
should be more tranquil as well as her bodi-
ly strength more equal to the support of what
might be a prolonged conversation. Rising
therefore and turning toward Rolph to take her
leave, she observed not only that he looked more
complacently upon her than when they first met,
but single tear, the premonitory symptom of q
softening heart, stood trembling in his eye. To
the stricken heart of Alice the offering was
more precious than would have been the richest
gem in kingly diadems.
Suddenly impelled, she advanced toward him
with her own eyes sufused with the like aqueous
matter, and said with all her heart, " Forgive
my brother!"
The spell was broken. The messenger Of
peace that quivered in his eye was rudely dashed
away. Begone, girl, to your brother, if he il
your brother" said Rolph, "and let the bastard
ask for himself that which he deputies you to
do. Then will answer him.
Alice would have persisted in her solicitation
had not Mistress McDermot, who forcsaw that
Rolph would not brook an introduction of the
subject in the presence of William Belden OF
any other person who was not witness of the
affray taken her by an arm and gently drawn
her away.
Yc haze dune weel," said Judith gratifed
with the impression Alice had made, when they
had returned to her quarters "ye haze dune
weel to ca the teardrap until his ee. And
ken moo, gin ye wad bend yersel until the
wark, ye louk sa winsome and sackless whan yt
are sorrowfu, that yowad ca the saul ava frat
his pody amaist, and ye wull it suld be sa. 'Yt
haze dune wecl, unco weel my Teddy, and wul
gar you some broo for Rolph, and ye sail gang
alane until him the morn and gle him the
broo, and say until him in yer ain leesomt
gate, Mistress McDermot is ailin' wee BIZ
the day, and she gard me cam and gle ye hel
complemen's, and bring ye this broo whilk
gard wi my ain hands. 1t sail be over guide
my Teddy, sa ye Medina fear to tell him ye garr'c
it yer ainsell, and he wad trow the mar o. y
maybe an he trow'd ye gard it, and then y
may say until him what mair ye likes. Dinni
fear, but let yer clapper, and yer lips, and ye
cen, and yer hail bonny face, talk until him
and dinna forget to pit AVA doom in yer hear
ilk word he says, that ye may tell me the lik
whan ye cam back. Rolph haze kepit hear
o. his ain, an it wasna for the jaud whilk jill
ted him sa sair, he wad, belikes, be over dis
Greet until yc noo."
ing the general temper, and demeanor of Rolph
Mistress McDermot proceeded to relate that ur
der ordinary circumstances he was respectful
and well disposed. The peculiarities nhis ten
per, and his aversion to society generally, an
particularly to that of females, she imputed t
the letter from the person she termed tn
"jaud, Or " hisk-ma-hoy " who repulsed hin
Had the letter been of different import, Mrl
McDermot thought Rolph would have abandon
cd the snaggers long before the period to whic
they had then arrived.
For a long time he had taken no partcula
interest in their enterprise, and been of n
special service to the gang. He was often me
ancholly, distracted, and misanthropic, an
sometimes as Mrs McDermot termed it, I" dt
mented," or insans. IIe could brook no idea {
debasement, yet he seemed to regard the snae
gers and their enterprise with contempt. Whe
excited, especially if by opposition, or resis
ance, from one whom he supposed looked o
him as an inferior or his employment as d,
grading he presented the traits of madmar
and carried the affront long, and unquietly,
his memory.
Such, in general terms, were the ideas whic
Mrs. McDermot gave to Alice of the charactt
of Rolph.
The truth was that without reflection, and i
moment of incertitude, and extreme mentt
depression, when the hope first presented to h
mind was eagerly grasped, he enrolled himse
MS snagger. He was disappointed in his e,
pectations of gain; ashamed of his employment
and his associates and would have returned |
his home but when the events before referre
to, touching his conjugal relations transpirc,
all seemed to HIM lost, Some Of the worst pa