Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-21

whether good or bad they would relieve that
secret dread which had SO +" frighted gentle
Sleep" that it would
"---no weighher eyelids down,
And steep her in forgetfulness; y
but second glance produced a revulson in her
feelings that almost overcame all desire to meet
Musgrave. The recollection of his first intrusion
upon her then happy home; the direful events
that had succeeded and the impression of his
character she had first involuntarily formed, all
served to make him by no means welcome vis-
itor. The salutatons that either exchanged
were equally formal.
"Do you bring me any news from my hus-
band, Mr.. Musgrave?" said she, breaking al
short, and apparently painful silence.
"Your husband Indeed, Madam, is he not
hero?'
Mrs. Harrimans answer was a flood of tears.
If the Almighty had written the word VILLAIN
in characters of living light on Musgravc's
forehead, she could not have entertained u stron-
ger conviction of his infamy then she did at that
moment
"Oh Wretch Monster !" said she in tone
of mingled resentment and despair, " IF my
husband be living, speak and tell me if he is
dead. Say, Musgave, say, whittier have you
enticed him %
Forgive me, Mrs. Hartman, if | express
my astonishment at your language, and none
the less at your manner than your words. You
bestow upon me epithets, Madam, which am
not accustomed to hear, and beg you to be as
sured that under their reproach your sex alone
secures to you that impunity which no other
consideration would. | will likewise say, that
whatever knowledge may be supposed to pos
sess concerning your husband you can not now
expect me to impart, and in this | will not dis
appoint YOU
"There are men" said she as she turned her
back on Musgrave to conceal her anguish, " who
delight to triae with the tenderest sensibilities
of woman as children play with toys. Mus
grave are you one of those? Will no amuse-
ment less painful to the subject satisfy the spec
tator? You know my husbands fate. Will
you disclose it, OR do you come, with the temper
more of fend than of man, to add misery to my
misfortune? Oh, Musgrave, for PHYS sake,
say, where is my husband?" and woman's most
effective argument suffused her eyes again.
"I come" he replied, i" if not with the tenn
per, at least with the spirit of man, and can
not well brook the reception meet with. In
short, Mrs. Hartman, what other answer than
this does your language merit ?'' ' s
81 am woman" she answered, "subject
to all the infrmities Of my sex. You know my
fears; my weakness and my dependence You
hold in your handss the title to the farm which
is my husbands, and fear if he is living you
hold his person subject to your will. You, Mus
grave have broken the arm on which leaned,
and taken from these children the hand that fed
them, and the food it dealt. In the midst of
our calamities, when the present is all hopeless,
and the future dark, you come to us with some
mysterious, and am sure, bad purpose in your
heart.
Truly you are a sibyl, Mrs. Hartman -
said he with q sneer "Without asking me-
you must be able to divine your husbands
whereabouts, and his fate"
Musgrave" said she, assuming that kind
of haoteur which dignifcsa woman, and gives
her an air of superiority, " am enough sibyl
to know you visit us with no kindly motive
A gentleman, much more friend, would make
haste to soothe rather than aggravate the suffer
ings of a household into which, by his own act
had come division and sorrow, But you, heart
less villain, that dare pronounce you and do, y
she continued, summoning that kind of energy
which sometimes accompanies despair, "yor
seek to tantalize me with delusive hopes, anC
exult in my misfortunes. These children, tina
, are as dear to me as your child is to you, whei
, they lay down to sleep know not, if on TIN
, morrow they shall break their daily bread ye
the want that threatens them, and the othe
griefs that overburden me, excite no sympathy
nor commiseraton in your hardened heart
and -"
Mrs Hartman, good night !" interrupte
, Musgrave as he rose to depart.
Stay yet moment, and hear me, contin
y ued Mrs Hartman. " You have child who's
mother died some years ago. Bereft of a moth
er's care as these children are of fathers, ye
may say by different means -"
I, "Thundcr and lightning !" exclaimed Mus
-, grave
!. fOn you devolves a mighty responsibility
Oh ncite not that mothers spirit To invoke
= curse upon your head for your neglect of other
orphans -"
= :" A Thousand furies !" said he, and stampe
:, violently on the floor.
:, " And let not that child be the chosen instru
ment to hurl the vengeance her invocatio
brings -"
Silence Woman, or tell me If you are i
truth a sibyl," said Musgrave, in voice s
tremulous she did not fail to observe it.
n =" First answer me truly" said she, "Whel
!; is my husband ~
q "Your husband Isuppose to be living, Mr.
ID Hartman, but know not where He left M
y house long time since to go farther into ti
"A Province where, doubtless, his interest an
ID yours detain him.
'; " What, then-may ask, is your busine
y here? ?"
., 81 had hoped to disclose it first to your hu
band, but since he is absent, necessity requir
e. that should make it known to you. This far
ne you are aware. have purchased from Mr. Ha
as riman. Having an opportunity to dispose
m it have done so, and the purchaser wishing
fd take immediate possession, came for the pm