Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-12

which was marked by singularly frigid
and yet by no means vacant expression.
This was caused in part, no doubt, by the i
fixed stare of her large, light blue eyes,
which never moved in their sockets nor
with a sparkle of life; il was
evident that she was stone blind, while
there lurked certain lines round the thin,
compressed lips which seemed to indicate
that she had all the acnteness, amounting
almost to cunning, which often character
ICES persons thus afflicted.
! The eountenance was far from beauti-
ful-scarcely even pleasing-yet it i'm
pressed Hamilton with a sense of power
such as we often feel and yet cannot de-
fine in the presence of persons unknown
to US. She gave no sign of being conscious
of his presence, but he felt she was aware
that he was in the room; +; and as he con-
tinued to watch her sitting there in her
strong impassiveness an indefnable feel
ing of shrinking and dread took possession
of him, for which lie could not account
He had been thinking of his rivals bloody
death, and it struck him that the implaca-
ble s. maiden" who had taken Argyle's
young life might have been itly repre-
sented by this weird damsel who sat there
so like blind, inexorable Fate, weaving
web of inevitable doom.
The gallant knights of those times, who
feared neither death nor danger, were
: greatly prone TO superstition and Hamil-
: ton, hot blooded and impetuous as he was,
2 proved no exception to the general rule.
D He was, therefore, heartily glad when the
t innkeeper returned and broke the omin-
: Gus silence which had so impressed him.
: Here, EIspeth,' said Campbell ad
n dressing the figure in the broad Scotch O
y those days which we viii not attempt to
e reproduce, i" here's a gentleman, cold anC
l. hungry; come and see what you can fine
n, for his supper
Is Hamilton listened anxiously for tn
J. sound of her voice, feeling as if it woul
le be relief to hear her speak, but she neV
g er opened her lips; she rose up, however
at once, and began 10 move ABOUT IN
ut strange mechanical manner, her blindne;
a. becoming more apparent as she guide
I'D herself by the touch, while the starin;
n CLASSY eyes seemed TO him absolutel
he ghastly as she passed near him. ST
IS placed some oatmeal cakes and dried f:
ht, on the table, along with jug of whiske
ny and then returned to her place by the fir
where she sat unmovable as before.
ry as that your daughter" said Ham
,re ton to the innkeeper, as he invited him
] a draw near and eat.
es- "My only child; and blind from h
he BIRTH" was the reply, uttered almost wi
the sternness as if the subject were-painful.
his i" Elispeth is not like other folk, and y
the had better take no heed Of her.
ON Hamilton took the hint and said no mo
yho while he applied himself to the rude fa
SOL set before him with a keen-set appeti
Igle Nor did he spare the whiskey, which "
wonderfully cheering after his wet rio
, :. and when he had finished his repast,
felt as he said, like new man altogeth
n Filling his glass again, he invited Can
c. bell to join him, and the two began TO c
9th verse together on the events of the day
Kenelm sat with his back to the blind 2
g. and, as she never moved or spoke he S
mos forgot her presence altogether, and
.o.ts we'll nigh forgotten also the necessity
>, concealing his name and lineage fl
II % these retainers of his foes, when he
LA startled into a sudden remembrance OF
~ 70 position. Abiding to some political ev
ding he mentioned mat he had oeen 10 Il
cred rood the day before.
iefy come from Ealhooro' tue
with said the innkeeper, kindling with a
.ould den fierceness, and clenching his fist,
Wis struck it on the table with violent
exclaiming: Curses on the bloody {
dis the city of murdersl and may
rown Ere from heaven come down upon it,
,ered consume itp'
"a sat Amen" said deep, stern voice
huge most at heneim 5 ear ana ne s'ar'e'
10 see voluntarily as he saw that it had {
from the blind woman's lips. Sonnet
look too, in the sudden passion of Cam
y the had stirred the angry blood within
, the self, and whilst an involuntary ins
was told him what train of thought had
and fred the retainer of Argyle, be had I
and ado to hide his own antagonistic
figure ings.
near 3 You speak sharply, Master CampI
e only he said at last. @The capital of SEQ
beside is beholden to you in truth.
nv pc "Aye," said the highlander, his
which growing red with suppressed rage;