Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-20

look which had before marked them, and seizing
1t, he pressed spring which caused the lid to
fly open 1t was fearful to look upon his fea-
lures now-learful to think that the heart of
the man who sat there was the dwelling place
of the fierce passions, hate and revenge, where
the love of man and the respect of the duty he
owed to Superior Being, should have calmed
the troubled spirit. Hurting the miniature
rudely against the wall, he arose, and with
clenched hands strobe the room.
Oh, that she should have perished thus -
How my heart throbs as remember that scene
1t seemed as if my very soul was on fire, when
| found that she was dead. And still he lives
lives to penetrate another home, perhaps, and
snatch a lamb from it to ruin and Destroy
Oh, is it just that he should live? How I've
been tempted to kill him, and yet waited till
the time should come, when dishonored he will
receive the doom he 50 justly merits. have
him nova few more weeks-months, it may
be, and then, oh, my sister, thou shalt be
avenged "
He paused in his walk, and approached the
couch. Lifting the counterpane, another min
iature was revealed beneath it, and taking it,
he seated himself once more, and opened the
case Long and earnestly he gazed upon the
face within, and then with trembling hand he
pressed 1t to his lips, while his bronzed features
were hedewed with tears. The great deep of
his soul was broken up, and the man, who but
moment before exhibited such unholy pas
sions, wept Ikea child.
There are, in the lives of all men-no matter
how depraved, nor how long the fires of evil
passion have scared their hearts, and the weeds
> of sin have choked the plants of virtue, which
should spring up in their bosoms--times when
there comes over them those better moments
which relieve their character of some of its
4 detormity, and shows that often it needs but a
word to lead the erring from the path of vice
back to rectitude and virtue. Long did that
man sit there, his thoughts busy with the past,
the image Of his sister arousing within him the
nobler impulses Of his nature, which had SO
long lain dormant. At last he raised himself
from his recumbcnt posture, and as he did so,
his eye caught reflection of his features in a
small mirror over the stand.
/" Tears he exclaimed, closing the case and
returning it to its former place. Thomas
Rand, the Tory renegade, traitor to his coun-
try, and the scoi of the virtuous, in tears -
Few would believe that tears ever bedew my
cheeks. but they do not know me yet. Oh,
they know not how oft have saved their homes
lets of Skinner men. No, they do not know
all this, and so they despise me and even their
, children are made to associate my name with
all that is to be despised. WE'LL WELL let it be
thus; let them think SO, if they will but by
and-by, when the motives which influence me
in my course are revealed, when they know
h what have saved them from, then perhaps they
h will bestow blessing upon my head instead Of
a curse. But this is foolish " he muttered,
l. suddenly brushing tear from his eye. My
4 sisters face makes child of me ; and yet why
,s should it not? She was all l had to love, and
IS if had no tears for 80 pure being, should
be unworthy the affection she cherished for
), me-
Such was Thomas Rand when in his calmel
moments and uninauenced by the men with
whom he associated, or the passion of revenge,
. he sought the cabin to gaze upon the image o
!. his sister, who had fallen victim to the unholy
=, arts of Palmer, the Tory. Yet it was not often
that such moods came over him, and the desire
4 of bringing ruin upon the destroyer of his sis
4 ter's honor, had so changed his whole nature
:, that he often committed deeds which in after
h moments he regretted. He had joined Skinner
W band that thus he might, from time to time
,t meet Palmer, and plan some scheme by whlcl
|. to bring HIM into disgrace
ID Thomas Rand took up the light from tn,
l. stand and left the room, closing the door care
OF fully behind him. Extinguishiug the light h
n. passed into the yard, and was about turnin,
= once more towards his sisters grave, when
it stopping suddenly, he leaned upon his rifle in
cd listening attltude.
,h 81 cannot be mistaken-that was huma
e, voice, and in distress, too but in what diret
Ill tion it came from cannot tell"
I'D lie listened attentively, for a few moments
by when quickly starting up, he examined tn
y. printing of his rifle, and walking towards til
path, struck it, and moved away at rapi
pace.
he There's something wrong here. It's to
'ot late for any Of Skinner company to be ou
nd unless they have sent man to dog my footstep
9re Right or wrong I'm bound to see what cause
zen that sound Ha he exclaimed after a M
ch ment's pause, quickening his pace to rul
I" there's q pistol shot So it seems | w,
er right, and though perhapsI I'll get bullet t,
'as my pains, I'll sec INTO this affair, if possible.
Tea As he sprang into the road, a sight met h
gaze which brought him to sudden halt. III
OF moon shonc brightly, SO that objects for son
'de distance were distinctly visible, and just befo
8 him lay man vainly endeavoring to raise hir
'et- self to sitting posture. Kneeling by his sid
ing Rand raised him partially up. and said
. You are wounded, sir-tell me how tl
an happened
ing :" am, indeed, wounded but | know n
vas whether you are friend or foe. Bend near
cry that may see your face"
ut' Thomas Rand complied with this reque,
ich As the wounded man obtained more distiu
her view of his features, he exclaimed
,hc Thomas Rand No, no, you are no frien
lde OF at least you would not be did you know II
'ue Higher. sir raise me higher. There, the pa