Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-03
IN WHICH OUR TALE DRAWS TO A CLOSE.

CHAPTER XIV.
IN WHICH orr TALE DRAWS TO CLOSE.
The sun had reached its meridian height,
and gradually sunk to rest. until its beams shed
a flood of mellow radiance over tie landscape,
causing the leaves to CLEAN like precious gems
as they hung upon the forest trees
Mabel Archer occupied her seat by the Win
dow where we have before seen her, and her
soul was drinking in the beauties which the
face of Nature presented for her admiration.
The mother, too, sits near, but her eyes are
not fixed upon the west, with its gorgeous dra-
perry, for she looks upon the form of her child
as if her features were charm greater than the
scene without the cot Her hands were clasped
together and up to the throne OF grace silent
prayer was ascending, that He in whose hands
her destiny laid, would spare unto her the child
who had been her only earthly comfort for
years, until the valley and the shadow oil death
should have been passed.
There WAS form appeared in the distance as
Mabel sat enwrapt in the scene before hef, p"t
she noticed it not, and stopping, the man leaned
against tree. and gazed upon her features
while a smile passed over his face, and his lips
moved as if he were speaking to himself. At
last he left his position and came towards the
cot, still Mabel did not observe him. until the
cracking of limb in the path caused her to
start suddenly up. The form of the man
caught her view, and she withdrew from the
window.
What ttartlcs you thus, Mabel" asked
Mrs. Archer as she noticed this movement.
i" There is some one coming towards the cot
and from his looks think it can be no other
than Ward, the Maniac | fear that man
something tells me that he will yet bring sorrow
upon u.s.
Fear him +" uttered Mrs Archer =" ]
would trust him with my lifo, Mabel. Tha
man, methinks, will cause us joy instead o.
SORROW
Your words are mysterious, mother. Ht
has once attempted your life, and ever in my
mind there will be- secret dread of his power.
"You are wrong, Mabel, if you think the
Maniac would harm me or mine. cannot tel
you why, yet am confident that in all tn
Province there is not friend who is truer to
nv interests than Mat Ward"
81 hope you are not deceived IN your be
lief.'
The Maniac now entered the cot, and hi
eyes rested intently upon Mrs Archcr's fea
lures, as he did so with glance SO earnest
Mabel gazed at him with strange toreboding
in her heart.
"It is long time since you have visited OIL
cot," said Mrs Archer, as the Maniac seate
himself near her.
"Yes. When left you on that fearful night
1 thought but few days would elapse ere
should again find my way here"
"You are ever welcome, and I trust th
scene which took place on your last visit wi
not prevent you from coming often.'
Il can but shudder as think of the mon,er
when was about to deprive you of life, bu
Heaven is my witness that it was no inclinatio
of mine, which sent me here. In vain ha,
attempted to obtain clue TO the motives of II
man whose bidding came to fulfill, but his III
were sealed. Yet retrlbution will soon overtal
him. Already it has commenced, and but
few days ago, a son who has proved such an i
sidous enemy by robbing you of your chill
persisted on the gallows."
"Joel Palmer dead," exclaimed Mabel,
shudder running through her frame.
"Aye He was seized as Spy by Putna'
and after bong tried as condemned aud ey
cuted."
"0h,'' uttered Mabel, how unfit was til
man to try the realities of eternity.
"You say well. Miss Archer, that he W
lily prepared to appear in the presence of
great Judge, yet as in life he pursued coul
of crime he will have naught to comfort hi
while condemnation gnaws like canl
worm at his heart have come hero to-nig
Mrs Archer, to ask of you boon, which
granted will afford me light upon subj
which years have proved my attempts to solve
III vail iou oah scil hiooi my paIehtS.
'There was q vague and ndistnct il
crossed my mind on the night you came he
taat in years gone by had seen you that
bore strange resemblance to one who
Gone, )" said Ward, fastening his pierc
orbs upon Mrs. Archer's face who was
to you? Were you about to say that? -
"I was,'' continued Mrs Archer, recover
from the emotion she had exhibited. +"
yet, know not as my snrmises are corr
Perhaps were yon to tell me Of your lif'
might know if nm right"
"My own history is one which | little
to recall. for it brings before me scenes whi1
would fain Danish from my memory. And
they are scenes Of joy, but their remembra
makes me realize what wds, and what a
poor outcast, one whose reason is ut times
throned, an objoet Of eommiscratlon for Il
who ofsr me their hospitality"
I" | would not urge you to narration wi
will give you pain, and yet would not wis
tell you my conjeetures until know sometl
of your earlier history
" You shall know what have to impart,