Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-02-03

ply to SINNERS letter? ?"
{" No, not that. | followed you to--that is,
l." and again the Tory hesitated.
IF you have got any business with ne, l
would like to know it for I'm in hurry to be
off,"
You did not know the contents of that mis-
sive Skinner sent me?
"No."
8" thought not. Ha There's some one
coming above" and Palmer glanced eagerly up
the road.
81 can't say as heard any one" said Rand,
without taking his eyes from Palmer's person.
"I'm sure heard some one. Hadn't you
better examine the path, and see if we haven't
been followed?"
"By whom ?"
"Some of these whig settlers
" And if we have?"
"'Tis best to know it. I've got something
to communicate which 1 wouldn't have some
ears in this vicinity listen to-"
Aye, SO you have, Palmer. Yet your cow
ard'y heart refuses to do what you came here to
accomplish"
What mean you, Rand ;"
I'm not skilled in reading the thoughts of
Others, yet think can give you the nature of
your message to me-"
You are wrong. None save myself can be
conscious of it,"
"You are confident of this ?'
Aye, know it,"
"Did you ever sec that! " exclaimed Rand,
producing the letter he had 80 opportunely dis
covered and holding it up before Palmer's Wis.,
ion. The latter did not reply. His lips were
firmly compressed, and his features assumed an
ashy pallor.
You little expected me to possess this ? "
said Rand.
81 did not, and but little will its contents
avail you now
Perhaps not, and yet methinks Joel Palm
er, did but deal justly by you, your life would
not be spared an hour"
. You would kill me +" uttered Palmer
starting.
Kill you? No. The hangman will do his
duty upon your vile body without your blood
resting upon my hands And yet you come
here to kill me-"
"You are right. Die villain and receive the
fate you MERIT for proving traitor to those you
pretend to serve" With the quickness of
thought Palmer presented a pistol-there was
sharp report and Rand fell heavily to the
ground.
There were sounds of hurried footsteps in the
vicinity, and plunging into the woods the assas-
in hurried from the spot The new conner ut
tered an exclamation of surprise, as he behold
the body OF Thomas Rand, and kneelng down
he took the hand of the fallen man within his
own.
&" Only deprived of consciousness-tha is
all" he said, as he noted the pulsations and
detaching drinking cup from his belt, he de-
parted to procure some water, with which to
restore Thomas Rand When he returned, the
Scout had arisen to his feet.
! "Is it you, Ward /" said Rand, as he recog-
nized the Maniac.
" Yes You had narrow escape"
AYE; the ball barely touched me, but it
has done little injury. Had he gone when you
come up?"
-" To whom do you refer"
" Palmer
{" 1t was he, then, who attempted your life ?"
Yes"
There was no one present when reached
you. The sound of the pistol reached my ears,
: and hurried in the direction from whence it
came, as fast as possible"
"Oh, has that man not victims enough to
blacken his soul, instead of adding new one
to those who have gone before ?'
Grand, exclaimed the Maniac, you know
this man"
" Know him Aye, as one who ruined all
held dear on earth"
g He's taken cherished one from you, then? ;"
, said Ward as he watched Rani's passion
marked features.
"Yes; sister, as pure as the angels above,
till he met her,
I" | can realize your feelings. Years ago, he
deprived me of the richest treasure had on
| earth. ~
I'VE are engaged in a common cause, then
revenge " muttered Rand "You know Mark
Lincoln, think?"
: i" Yes-what of him?"
, " He dies ut sunrise"
, F" Dies at sunrise " shouted the Maniac, seiz-
ing Rand fercely by the arm. Explain your
9 meaning"
. Read this, and then realize how black is
the heart Of the man who, no doubt, thinks
that his ball deprived me of lfe'
"We must save him. said Ward firmly, as
: he finished the pcrusal of the missive.
, "Would that we might--aud I think we
\ may. Come let us on. We can reach Skinner's
camp by dark, and then he must he released
from their power They started on their mis-
sion, vet there was but little hope in the soul of
either, for they were but two, against the horde
who were so eager for Mark Lincoln's life. II
was nearly dark when they reached the Inn,
and just as they were about to pass on, the Ma
MAC seized his companions arm, and pointed to
4 the rear of the building.
"Look there Rand Do you sce that?"
"Aye; the horses of the troop, at live :"
Strange what calls them here to-nightp"
"Theyare all present, it is evident, said the
Scout, as he ran his eye over the group, "and
if am not wrong in my conectures, Mark
d Lincoln is with them"
:" cannot eco the meaning Of this It can