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

I" Yes, " replied Mrs Archer. :" 1 would sec
you once more. Perchance can add another
CLEAN to the one you now possess.
The Maniac started quickly at these words.
" Woman, what mean you?' he exclaimed.
" cannot explain my meaning tonight.
Come here again, and you shall know all have
to tell you
With another earnest, searching glance at the
features OF Mrs. Archer, Ward bade her good
night, and left the cot. He did not proceed far,
however, ere hostopped and seated himselMpon
bed of moss which had sprung up at the foot
Of grant oak. Here he sat for sometime mo-
tionless There wasN deep study going on in
his mind. and the circumstances Of the past few
hours afforded him ample meditation which
caused him to study yet more deeply for the So
luton of an ovcrt which had always been in
volved in obscurity.
One ray at last, murmured Ward, raising
his head. "0h, if it but leads me to the end
seek life will indeed even in its latest hours, be
fraught with one blessing" Thrusting his hand
beneath his hunting shirt, he drew forth small
ivory locket, richly chased and set with gold,
which, upon pressing Il spring. flew open.-
Within, upon small tablet. was painted the
features of man and woman, in the morning
of life. The woman was surprisingly beauti-
full, while the man-though perhaps not what
one would term handsome possessed a frank
open countenance which seemed to inspire con-
fidence and esteem He closed it again, and was
about replacing it, when Il deep voice ex-
claimed
Ward, where did you obtain that locket?" ;"
He arose and beheld Boyden the Spy.
"Who are you that questions me thus?"
asked Ward, gazing at Boyden, who stood like
statue, while pallor was discoverable upon
his bronzed features.
" 1t does not concern you who am. m ere
ly asked you SIMPLE question
" True, and by what right do you ask it? |
am under no obligations to reveal a secret to a
stranger"
You are right, sir [ have no right to ask
you, and yet, if it is not prying into that which
you do not wish to reveal, would know from
whence you obtained the locket which you have
just placed in your BOSOM
"Did you obtain Il view of the foatures it
contained?"
"No, sir; the locket itself, merely caught
my eye"
" Then you can have no good motives in ask
ing the question, and refuse to answer 1T. =
The Spy was silent for few moments, while
his ey Q seemed to scan every lineament of the
maniac features.
"You can, at least, have no motive in refus
ing to give me your name =.
- Certainly not. am called Mat Ward"
'You do not live here?'
Il live wherever night overtakes me- There
is no place which can call home
:" You have not always been wanderer?"
"Not always, sir. Years ago, in another
A tear rested in the speaker'se eye, and he ceased
abruptly.
forgot that was talking to stranger
pardon my emotions"
- Go on--I would hear what you was ahon
to say"
81 have nothing farther to say. You are {
stranger, and the circumstances which have at
tended me in life, would be uninteresting t,
you--besides care not that many should know
them
" And yet. did but know something of tn
events which took place in the earlier portion o
your life, might aid you in the consummatol
of an object which you are seeking
can object am seeking exclaimed Ward
" What mean you by that remark. y
"Just what | said, sir. | do not wish t
speak unless am satisfied that by doing SO
can benefit you"
81 know not why it is, but there is sometbin
strangely familiar in your countenanee. Hay
/ not seen you ere this ?"
Perhaps 50. think have seen your fea
lures before -
"Where was it? Here or in London"
: "It was not in London,-nor yet am I ce
l tain that your face ever greeted my vision b
fore. | can only tell you this after having fir
learned something of your previous history"
1.-The request, sir, is not Il reasonable on
nor am willing to grant it. | have reyealt
o my name to you, and you have refused to gi
me your own"
+ Since you desire it, will give it to you.-
n Though my life is in danger, were some ca
near this place to hear it. am called Bo
den.
ii "Tho SPY! uttered Ward in surprise.
it "'Sh " said Boyden, do not speak tn
h name so loudly"
= "There is no one here to listen, sir.
/, Perhaps not, and yet if you were to lo'
yordcr, think you would find one who is e'
IDENTIFY an observer of our movements"
is ala f" exclaimed Ward, look of fearf
d import passing over his face, as glance in t
1t direction Indicated by Boyden, revealed t
partially concealed figure of man, a short d
\. tance from them. 9 'ris one of his tools, a
almost with the rapidity of thought, he drew
pistol and discharged it in the direction of
~ figure.
re " Foied again." said Ward, as the man G
o. from the spot "Well, his time will Co
or sooner or later "He turned to Boyden, a
st after gazing steadily into his face for few n
! ments, said
"The name you lave given me is ample
IS surance that can place confidence in you, Il
as if you will seat yourself here, | will give yo
"a portion ofmy history" Boyden complied W
this request, and the maniac revealed his hist
ut in substance, as he had before done to Nj
re- Lncoln-omtting his connection with Gle