Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-28
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY.

which is border township, and from which
place, bearing the proper post-mark of the
Stanstead Office, it came in due course of mai
to D. There, as Musgrave designed, on
the call of McDermot, it fell into the hands Of
the latter, and was by him privately delivered
to Hartman.
No event had transpired for a long time which
50 perceptibly aroused the deeper and better
senslbilities of Hartman as the reception Of
this letter. 1t gave him at once, he imagined,
assurance that his wife was living and kindly
disposed But having no opportunity to read
it unobserved, he thrust the letter into his pock-
ct and strove to anticipate its contents. 10 his
imagination all promised well. His wife
doubtless sent him friendly greetings, and like
the pale and uncomplaining Moon that casts
her beams in the lonely hours of night when
scarcely cloud fits across her disk, SO he be-
lleved his wife had renewed to him the same
avowals of kind regard the same tokens Of
steadfast adherence to truth the same express
sions OF patient and mild endurance of cold
neglect And SO she had. Yet how inevitable
to him was a different conclusion to be. Impa-
tient OF delay he sought retired spot and broke
the seal. His eyes fell upon the word "Sir. F"
1t was formal, cold and sent chilly sensation
to his heart. He looked at the signature--t
was his wlte's-but the words "one who was !"
preceding the name next catching his eye, con-
veyed to him all he wished to know. His knees
trembled; his muscles relaxed, and from bodily
weakness he sank to the ground. He had not
been long in this state before McDermot ap-
preached. Surprised to find Hartman under
influences SO directly contrary to such as were
anticipated, McDermot's sympathies were awak-
ened, and he made a tender of good offices to
Hartman with such perfect sincerity, that the
latter gave him his entire confidence, and hand
ed him the letter yet unread McDermot read
it and cast on Hartman look expressive of
surprise, mingled with doubt and inquiry as to
his connubial relations, to which the latter ans
wered with look and aspect witch " all the
truth confessed
On the following day Musgrave was early at
the Retreat, and saw to his great satisfaction, in
the torlorn appearance, and reckless audacity
OF Hartman, the workings of the subtle poison
he had administered. Affecting to regard his
changed, and more impudent demeanor as evi-
dence of increased devotion to the Snaggers'
cause, he sought to encourage him with hopes
OF sharing an increased portion of the profits.
But to all his tenders Hartman turned deaf
ear; and to all his efforts to extract confession
OF the secret of his changed demeanor, Harri-
man tongue was mute. He then sought out
McDemot and stgove BY casual reference to
Harrmans department to draw from the Scot
an avowal of that which Musgrave already
knew. Maddened with disappointment in these
efforts, yet he dared not disclose to the objects
of his ire knowledge of either cause or effect.
Having satisfied himself that none but he and
McDermot were masters of Harriman's secret,
and believing what subsequently proved to be
true, that Harriman's disappointment in regard
to his domestic affairs would make him indifer-
ent to all the external world, he returned home
in measure relieved of heavy burden.
In the progress of time Mrs. Hartman was
doomed to the same painful disappointment that
her husband was suffering. Confidently antici-
pating an early reply to her letter; she sent,
day after day, on every fresh arrival of the
mail, to the Post Office, but no letter came
Believing herself to be the object of a strange
and inexplicable delusion unwilling to regard
her husband as faithless, yet constrained to be-
lieve him at least Indifferent, she became prey
to melancholy, and this was followed by lin
gering disease from which no hopes were in
dulged of her amendment except by the return
of her husband. Moved therefore by high
sense of filial duty to both their parents, and
prompted likewise by affection and sympathy
for their Mother, Herbert and Alice Hartman,
or as they were now called, Herbert and Alice
Markham with the last of which names they
We're most familiar, resolved on making Jour-
ney to D. in search of their Father -
Their resolution was no sooner formed than their
hearts were strengthened by their Mothers
blessing and they were on their way.
No particular event transpired to interrupt
their journey, but on their arrival at D
their previous conceptions of the place were 50
entirely disappointed, that they were nearly in
clined to turn homeward in despair Instead
of tidy village in a cultivated section of coun-
try, the inhabitants of which were hospitable,
kind and polite; they had reached remote,
and thinly settled township, distant from any
populous village, and met only persons who
gazed upon them with an air of wonderment,
and were apparently coarse and ignorant, selfish
and suspicious.
They had stopped at a small, filthy, and rude
reconstructed Inn, (the best, since it was the
only tavern in the pace) whose occupants
seemed to care more for their own comfort than
that of their guests. Here, expecting that they
would be readily directed to their Father, Or at
least get information concerning him, our tray
elers began to inquire for Hartman. With
surprise and dismay they received the inyariable
answer to their inquiries, that no person of that
name was known to have been at any time in
those parts.
50 indefinite was their recollection of their
Fathers features, and so much he might have
changed since they saw him, that they could
give no description of his person but in so gen
eral terms that many others might answer to it
as well as he. The pursuit proving useless by
direct inquiry, they asked for Musgraye, whose
name their Mother had taught them to regard
with abhorrence and dread. On the mention
OF this parsonage, several of the bystanders.
whose curiosity had drawn them to the Inn on
hearing OF the arrival of strangers, exchanged
rapid glances, while others made sion;f ~ soos