Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-14

the twelve ominons strokes of the old clock,
when she would sink back in her chair, and
excaim, "Dead, oh God" Then recover
ing herself she would start wildly up, so to
her room, and dress herself in the deepest
mourning, which she had always worn since
her arrangement.
Her story is long one, and very sad but
such as it is will relate it, trusting that as
a story of truth it may not prove uninterest.
ing;
Martha Bronson was, in her youthful days,
beauty and belle, and even as | remem-
Der her, she still retained some traces Of the
beauty for which she had once been so re-
nowned, and at the the extreme age of eighty
years, the clear, black, eagle eye was I'M
dimned, and had never required the aid of
spectacles As have said, she was belle,
and as such was envied by some and admired
by all. This was in the earlier days of our
American Independence, when to be belle
was not merely to be lay.fgnre, to lounge
on the sofas, or ride in the splendid carriage
of the princely millionaire, but that the beau
ties Of those days were strong-hearted, firm
nerved, intrepid women, unainching in their
duty to their God, their country, and man.
kind Such was Martha Bronson.
! At this period all minds were more or less
| influenced by the prevailing superstitions, and
Martha's among the reSt and although she
smiled at the mere idea of witches, and pitt
ed the blind zeal with which the people had
for long time put to death, and prosecuted
those whom they believed to be possessed of
devils, yet say she was, in some degree, in
huenced by the prevailing superstitions, and
methinks there are many young people OF
| the present day, who, although they do not
like to acknowledge even to themselves, that
they are governed at all by "signs and
omens," will often catch themselves, if they
chance to see the new moon over their right
shoulder, whispering, Good luck" But to
return to my story.
There lived in the same town with Martha
an old Gipsey fortune-teller called Mother
Blakely, who gained livelihood by predict
ing, for few stray pennies, the veal or woe
of any who would employ her. Martha had
always refused to give credenee, as many did,
to her idle talk. Nevertheless, she was one
morning pursuaded to join company of
young people, who were going to have Mother
Blakely tell their fortunes.
Martha was engaged to be married, and
| the wedding was to take place on the follow
ing New Years eve Her intended had just
left her for his home in the distant city, and
she met her companions with happy smile
as she replied to their merry jokes.
| Arrived at the Gypseys hut, they were ad-
mitted one by one, to the presence of the
old sybel. 1t soon came Martha's turn to
enter As the fortune-teller took her hand
a bright ray Of sunlight streamed in at the
little window, and fell upon her but when
the shriveled finger of the old nag touched
her palm, the sun suddenly became clouded
leaving the room SO dark as almost to Fighter
her. The old woman bent her cold, grey
eyes full upon her, and in a low voice, said
Lady a shadow has fallen; your future
is darkly, deeply clouded. See the sun
Shall | say more ?"
Yes, 60 on" replied Martha, and tn,
old bag continued,
/" The crosses of your life are many ant
serious. You expect to be married soon-
perhaps New Years eve-mind, say you
expect 1t. but the fates have ordained it 9th
erwise,-1 wW mever be :"
A smile of disbelief fingered around Mar
tha's mouth'which the old fortune-teller per
ceiving said angrily,
81 see you don't believe it; and you ma,
prepare yourself for marriage-invite you
guests-but if the clock strikes twelve befor
the ceremony is celebrated, woe to your dream
of happiness! Mark mig words! With thi
she struck the hand she held, passionately
and said, "Go!"
Notwithstanding the disbelief and gayet
with which she related to her companions tn
old woman's prediction, there was still vagu
shadow of fear at her heart.
Twas New Years eve, and happier grou
was never seen that that which filed the hos
pitable mansion of Lawyer Bronson. MAJ
tina was. as usual, the star of the group, a
with happy word for all and merry heal
she awaited the arrival of the belated bride
groom, never once thinking of the prediction
of the old fortune-teller, till thong hte'
girl whispered in her ear,
" It's almost twelve-remembe Mothe
Blakely"
She glanced at the clock-it lacked onl
twenty minutes of twelce. She tried in val
to shake off the feeling of dread, but her 81
perstititious fears had worked her feelings
such pitch that at the first stroke of lively
l she fell with sigh to the floor, and as til
; last stroke sonnded the sAadoac fell.
She was conveyed to her room, to all al
pearances, dead AT half past twelve I'll
: expected one arrived, but not to his weddin
g as he had expected. He had been detaint
I by circumstances beyond his control, until
3 WINS one half hour too late, and the CUES
- had departed, and the life of the bride hun
70 upon brittle thread, which breath mig
&c sever For days she lay in the same stu
II ton, but at length she unclosedh her eyes, al
>, said to her mother,
-! ~ "The old Gypsy was rig ht-the shade
IL has fallen-he IS dead !" and to the repeat
= assertion of her friends that he was not des
ie she would only shake her head ard say, /" t
+ shadow has fallen"
i And too true it was the shadow had fall'
and the mind Of poor Martha Bronson "
'. clouded by that shadow until the day of |
y DEATH which was not until her dark hair
re grown gray in the storms of eighty winte
- and her whole family-father, mother a
"a "a brothers-had all "gone before"
~ well remember the day of her death.
= She arose in the morning, and as she enter
~ the family sitting-room she laid her hand
20 on her side and said,
0h 1.-The shadow is heavy-it presses W
=, my heart"
u She soon after took her bed, and on
~, morning of the first day of January, 18