Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-05

Written for the Green Mountain Freeman
NORA M0NTELLE;
OR,
THE MYSTERY UNVEILED.
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
For glances beget ogles ogles sghs,
Sighs wishes, wishes words and words letter;
And then God knows what mischief may arise,
When love links two young people in one fetter.
-Byron
The letter thus brought so Unexpectedly to
Nora, and which with throbbing heart and
? trembling fingers she took the first oppportuni
ty to read, ran thus:
My Lovely Friend Pardon me for presuming much
upon your kindness to send you note but cannot
depart without writing seeing you and though
should pre- the latter prudence whispers 1t may be
% we'll perhaps for both .e- q --z5'- ~- h.
You may be surprised, but trust not offended, when
tell you that though the wound in my head healed
by your gentle care, at the time there deeper
wound being made in my heart, which time and absence
have failed to close and they will for con-
vinced that other physician than yourself dear Nora,
can heal it.
You have said you do not love your cous in, and my
selfish heart prays that you may. If have read
your face aright know that you regard me friend
and with this will try to be content, that my
country calls me, and willingly obey You would dis
pse If dsobeyed her voice. But when peace again
spreads her wings this fair land which have faith
to believe she will yet do then should be spared from
the who must be fced may not hope to seek
and win your love Till then FAREWELL beloved one /;
and II 1t be last and final farewell, believe the
prayer of my heart will be for your happiness. Once
more, good bye. PERCY.
The reading of this caused Morals heart to
swell with joy and gratitude-joy in being
loved by one she deemed so noble as Percy, and
gratitude to Him who had sent the blessing ;
but tears filed her soft hazel eyes as she thought
Percy might be killed in battle, and ferventy
she prayed his life might be preserved. Thus
it is ever joy comes not alone ; some tender
anxious thought is nigh to keep the soul turned
heaven-ward
Another source Of disquietude, also, had
Nora for Jason, resolved that she should
marry him before he left, or bind herself by a
promise he knew she would not break, ceased
not to mportune her continually One day,
after listning to his entreaties as patiently as
possible, she replied '' Jason, have repeat
edly told you that could not marry you :
why then do you torment me with this useless
urging? Do you think shall take back what
have said p
/" Yes, Nora, can't help thinking, you will
take back 30 cruel an answer"
I" You are mistaken then, for shall not do
it; it is impossible for me to love you, and y
{" Why impossible, what, can I do to win
your love 1t seems to me if l were in your
place, and my mother had wished me to marry
some certain one, on her death-bed, should do
it,"
d" cannot think my mother ever wished any
such thing and if she did, I feel that she
would, and perhaps does, revoke it, If she is
permitted to know my feelings now"
g Revoke it" said Jason, angrily !" if you
had the respect which you pretend for her
memory you would not wish it revoked, you
think she would now wish you to marry that
rascal Wallace, with his fine face but you
meuer shall do it, while live; do you hear
neUer, while Satan will helpme."
Satan may help you, Jason, but there is
mightier arm than his, which governs all
events"
" You may think SO, if you please, but when
your rebel lover is dead you may then reflect
that it could not save him from my vengeance.
And will be revenged by killing him, if
you do not promise to wed me this day. Will
you do it? ~ he cried, pausing before her, pale
with passion.
" Promise to wed you Neuer You cannot
make me more unhappy than should be were
wed to you"
"Thcn you do not deny but that you love
him ?''
81 deny nothing, nor admit anything, to
one who has no right to question me thus"
"D Don't, hey You will find, my fine lady,
that the time ,ciH come when ] shall have q
right to question, and you will be obliged to
obey"
" Perhaps it will, sir, but fear it not"
But you will see and to your cost too y
and almost bursting with rage, he left her.
Soon after this Nora took her bonnet, and
telling Aunt Lena that she should be gone ar
hour or SO, went into tho woods. The soft
winds of June kissed her flushed check, the
birds welcomed her with glad notes, and the
early flowers smiled sweety at her feet as she
passed but she needed them not. Her heart
was too much troubled to beat in unison with
Natures joyous one; and seating herself on a
fallen log near the bank of the beautiful Wal
loom-scoick she gave up to sad reflections.
+" What can do ?" at length she said, 3"
cannot marry him, knowing him as l do and
If did not know him 80 well, could bring my
self to utter vows 80 at variance with my heart
after receiving this blIssful knowledge 2" Ant
she drew the precious letter Percy had sen
her, from her bosom, and again glanced he
eyes over its contents.
Replacing it, she sat lost in meditation
awhile, but suddenly starting, as if more un
pleasant thoughts had intruded, she exclaimed
:" But my Mother what must she think @
me, if permitted to look upon my actions now
O would could see her ; could know if sh
wishes me wed to such life of misery as
seems to me it would be g Dear mother,
she said, kneelng beside the moss-covered log
clasping her hands in the attitude of prayer
and raising her eyes to Heaven, :" 0 my moth
er assist me And thou, my heavenly Father
guide me Alright Thou who reignest beyond tn
blue summer sky above, and before who's
throne angels bow, wilt thou listen to the pc
titons of suppliant child of Earth, and gran