Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-13
A NEW MYSTERY.

v.e.--~ .se->t
cHAYfsnxyE M
A NEW MYSTERY.
The god of day had sunk behind the hills of
the West, and the lengthning shadows were
casting their fnntantistic forms upon the little
plot in front of Mrs. Archer's cottage. Cato
had Just returned from his labors in the field,
and Mabel was busy in preparing the evening
meal. The negro was silent and reserved, an
unusual thing for him, and as he sat at the ta-
BILE the eatabes disappeared rapidly down his
capacious throat, his mind seeming wholly en-
gagged upon the meal
"Do you know, Cato that you have not
spoken word since you came into the house to-
night?" " said Mabel, wondering at his silence.
g Yes, Missis but was tinkin' mighty
hard, and when dis niger does dat, 'taint easy
to talk
g Some grave question, Cato, judge, from
your looks, occupies your mind. "
g Nofin more nor less than dream, Missis. )
Which believe always troubled you"
"Yis, Misss. You may call old Cato ar
old fool but dere's somethin in dreams, anC
dis one ant none OBJ de best"
g Tell it, Cato perhaps can interpret it. ,
What's dat NJ Mabel? "
80 Perhaps can tell you what it means.
De Lord brcss you, don't know de meanin
OBJ it, and aint it dat what troubles me?
Then reveal it, and we will see whether i
comes to pass
mo, Miss Mabel, I'd ruther think on
fore tell somethin' to stress you, and then
itdidn' happen, you'd call Cato fool
Z" No. | should not Cato come, tell me you
DREAM
"'Taint nothin' but dream, tank de Lord
and I'm glad ont. ="
And yet you believe it will come to pass
{" Not as knows on. Now if | tells it yer
Mother sha'n't know nothin' bout it? ("
"Nothng Cato, if you wish it,"
We'll, den, yer see de Tories had beel
watchin round de house two, three days; dei
dey 60 away Use hoein corn in de field
when | heard de Msss call Cato. | ran up t.
de house. and when / got dere your Mothe
was -"
Cato ceased, as If unwilling to go on.
" What Cato? Finish your dream. ~
" When got to de house Missis was lying o
DC bed all white and faint-like, and didn
speak when comes in. went up to de bee
and Missis' eyes was shet up, like she wa
asleep
Cato stopped in his narrative as he saw tn
color recede from Mabels cheeks.
go on, Cato
&" OATS de whole ont, ceptl thought Miss
was dead. But, bress heben, taint nofhn' br
adream.'
The meal finished, Cato left the cottage
Strange feelings took possession of Mabel
a. heart as she pondered on the words of Cato
True, as the negro said, it was nothing but
dream, but superstitious dread that it migl
prove reality, took possession of her mind
After standing for "a moment in deep though
she removed the dishes from the table, and ha,
ing arranged things in the room glance
through the door that led into the sleepir
room of her Mother. She was in deep sumbe
and smile rested upon her brow.
GA good omen, murmured Mabel hall-u
consciously " Cato s dream cannot be pl
monition of evil
Pressing kiss upon the sleepers brow, S
donned her bonnet and left the cottage
walked away towards the old oak, and in a tt
moments her form was hidden from view by t
i.. trees Hardly had she disappeared VIII
u nlA came from thicket near by, and wi
cautious steps approached the cottage A s.
gle glance revealed the features of Ward, t
Maniac. He neared the cottage, and as
foot rested upon the step, he hesitated a
clasped his hand to his brow, while his VIII
frame shook visibly There was feeling
his heart which wared against the better
pulses Of his nature, but he sti1ed it, and
hand rested upon the latch But il was
raised. Again he hesitated, again that fear
tremor shook his frame.
g A deed the fends Of hell might perforl
Were it man-an enemy-then could plur
the steel to his very heart and these ncr
would not quiver thus. But woman-a p
innocent woman--innoccnt despite Joel p
mer's charges, for | believe them false. {
am | 50 low in the scale of moral degradat
as to do this thing?
He placed his hand in his bosom as he spo
What was it that thrilled like an elect
shock? What was it that caused him to trt
BILE more violently than before? His hand r.
ed upon the weapon that was SO soon to depl
human being of the lie God had given hel
50 But this is folly continued Ward "(
blow, and have my enemy in grasp he c
not shake of. And what is womans life
the revenge that will be mine2"
He raised the latch, the door opened, and
entered the cottage. A quick glance sho,
him that the object he sought was not th
and casting his eyes through the halfope
door, there was revealed to him the form of
victim.
Thank heaven, she is asleep! We're sh
soc me, on my soul, | believe should SIN
from striking the blow