Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-04-21

- - f'NNHNeSSeS--
that it was really his aifianced bride whom he
had seen. {" Whose is she now? What rela-
tion to those she chooses in preference to me? "
He went home with these thoughts burning at
his heart
Still he hedetermined with himself fthat he would
not be unjust. He fought brave hard battle
with his suspicians. The faith Of his heart in
Anne strove against that testimony of his senses,
and overcame. He concluded that his senses
had deluded him. But he also concluded that
if Anne were in the town, and could keep her.
self from him at time when she was so sacred
lily bound. it must be because she had some other
lover But he found this hard to believe. The
very memory, almost the taste, of her last kis-
ses rose to contradict it. He could not persuade
himself that those kisses were dccetful and
counterfeit.
A few days after, as he was walking slowly
along, musing gloomily over this mysterious
blow, he CHANGED suddenly to look up, and
saw the sunshine fall upon a shape which he
had no doubt of. He saw it was Anne who
hurriedly turned the corner at the end of the
street. He was determined to stop her and up
braid her he felt in moment half strong
enough to fling back in her face the love of long
years. On second thoughts, however, he re-
solved to discover where she was living, and for
whom and for what she had broken her faith.
He noticed that her clothes were very ragged
and ill-looking; perhaps already she had be-
gun to earn the wages of unfaithfulness by be-
ing cruelty used lie kept at a moderate dis
tance behind her, sinking and hiding between
intervening persons In this way he followed
her through several streets but, turning sud-
denly in more crowded thoroughfare, as he
was straining forward eagerly to keep glimpse
of Anne at the distance, quite regardless of
what was near by, a burly dustman ran against
him. He stumbled and fell Whtn he sprang
up again, he could see nothing of that soiled
bonnet and torn dress his eyes had been so stead
lily pursuing Alas he thought to himself,
what matters it to find where she is, what she
is doing. Plainly she was in the town near
him, yet not caring to see him; trying to con-
ceal herself from him. Her very rags, perhaps,
were but a disguise.
He felt so faint and bewildered that he had to
stumble into tavern and call for some brandy
As he sat still there, looking the awful changes
of his life in the face, he made up his mind to
depart out of the country. A map of New
Zealand hung on one side of the fire, view of
otass. on the other He talked with two men
in the room about emigration. The old town
of his youth, the theatre now of such mocke-
Try, seemed to grow hateful to him. He talked
with these men until they pursuaded him to
emigrate. But it was not the golden visions of
wealth which they set before him that tempted
him; he was impelled by the strong desire to
burst all his present trammels. He hardly knew
whether his pride and Indignation would save,
or his sense of loss destroy him. He made up
his mind to get rid of everything-shop, and
house, and business, at once.
In two hours time-having made an appoint
ment with the men for the next day-be re-
turned to his shop. Two or three painters i'm
medately came up to him with inquiries
Would be have the shutters painted? or grained
like oak or picked out with different colors
He pushed by them, answering "Oh, any
how"
The men looked confused. Experience had
taught them that any how was always wrong.
One of them advised oak.
II don't care the least how the shutters are
painted. shall never see them, hope.
shall sell the shop, and 60 off in day or two
to New Zealand"
The men fell back, and stared at one another
They looked at him again, as doubling whether
or no he was drunk, or had begun to grow in
sane through his troubles, which all of them
pretty accurately knew. The master determin-
ed to present his bill, and insure payment
William said that he would pay him immediate
H. While watching the painter make out his
bill, his young apprentice came whistling into
the shop After little while, he said to
William:
"Have you seen the person in the parlor,
slr?'
"What person? No." said he.
"There was one came for you an hour ago,
said the lad, land she told me she should wait
until you came in"
William gave a murmur, a sigh, and pushed
his way gloomily through the workmen, and
implements and packages into the room at the
back of the shop. Some one fell back as he did
so. All through the little window betwixt
the shop and parlor, Anne had been watching
him ever since he came in. Her heart lashcd
her with pain and woe as she saw the thin fig
ure and pinched, altered face, and felt that she
had made him SO meagre and so white. She
leaned on the sill and sobbed. She dared no
90 through to him, for she feared the scene
their meeting in the open gaze of the work
men.
Nor shall | describe that scene here. 1t wa
long while before either of them could realiz
its truth, and particularly before William could
lie asked if he had not passed her one night il
the fog. She answered yes, and that the nigh
and the early morning were the only times sh
dared 60 out, she dr. aded meeting him. IL
asked her if he had not seen her that very day
three hours ago She blushed, and pointed t
her dress. William looked down at it it wa
silken one. She told him she was rushing t.
fetch it out of pawn, on purpose to visit hin
and explain herself, when he perceived her tina
morning and then she added all the story O
her illness and penury, with many tears AM
prayers for forgiveness. William was SO thank
ful that he wondered what he could have to for
give. Her proposals to regain her little capi