Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-23

rner selt-a poor, degraded, hlthy wretch.
Mrs. Howard pursued the even tenor Of her
way. Fortune seemed to favor her, and at tho
end of each year she had enjoyed u comfortable
living, and had her surplus of cash to pay the
rent.
The greatest change was wrought in Emma,
who from an artiess child Of ten years, had
grown to quiet and unassuming young lady in
her fourteenth year. She was oneof those strange
beings-more angel than woman-who seem to
be let down from heaven till their loveiiness be-
gins to unfold, and then pass away. Here and
there, the world over, such spiritual beings come
and go. But they never stay long The rough
winds of earth are too severe for their frail bod
les, and just as their sweetness begins to diffuse
itself around, they vanish! The hectic flush
had already sealed Emma for an early grave.
But Mrs. Howard never dreamed Of it-She could
not see but the same strength Of limb, and the
same power of endurance was there still. En-
rna was SO perfect-so exactly what she would
have had her be, that with the pleasing expecta-
tion that Leon and her husband would soon re-
turn, the days passed with quiet and subdued
happiness.
knowledge is sometimes a curse, and igno-
rance is sometimes blessing. If Mrs. Howard
had knOwn that her husband was besotted mem
Der of a band Of outlaws, or that Death had al
ready fastened his icy fingers around the heart
of her darling Emma, how different would have
passed the days
! Leon, in the meantime, met with good de-
gree Of success in his pursuit of gold. From
San Francisco to Sacramento, and the gold mines
above, he dug the precious metal by day, and
deposited it in safe keeping at night. Week af-
ter week, and month after month he toiled on,
keeping always the great object in view, and
feeling something more than miser'S pleasure,
as day after day added to his store Of wealth,
and shortened the time that kept him from his
Green Mountain Home.
1t is given only to those who have toiled long
and arduously for high object, and at length
successfully, to know the feelings Of Leon How
ard, when on the 23d OF May, l8-, just three
years, lacking month, from the day he set out,
and a day ever celebrated in the annals of the
Howard family, he exchanged his pile of dust
for nine thousand hard golden dollars, and start
ed on his homeward journey.
1t was a curious coincidence that on the very
same day, about ten o'clock in the forenoon,
Mrs. Howard was in receipt of letter, which
demanded immediate attention, and which
proved to lead to series of events, as remarka-
BILE and unfortunate as these which followed
Icons departure for home. 1t was simply
commonplace business letter, and ran as fol-
lows -
Chatham, May 20, l8-.
MRS HOWARD :--Ishall be at Delevan on Tues
day, the 23d, at half past three precisely, and
leave at four, for Montreal. Please have an agent
there at the exact time, to receive the amount
your due, for beef and dproduce, some $575, and
Oblige Yours truly,
j. S. LANGLEY.
1t is worthy Of note, that Fred Stygle, the
"help," procured by Slocum, had proved, in
the estimation of Mrs. Howard, very faithful
and efficient hand. Acting upon the principle
that Familiarity breeds contempt" he kept
aloOf from Mrs. Howard and her daughter, but
was always careful when in their presence to as.
sumo a respectable and defevential appearance,
and when entrusted with business, to have it
promptly and faithfully done. When he could
no longer deny his beastly appetiteS the indul-
gence which they imperatively demanded, he
managed to absent himself, sometimes being
gone for week at time, and always from Sat
urday night to Sunday morning. In short, he
was an adept at his profession, and could SO COM
pletely blind the eyes of those about him, to his
faults, or more properly could behave with such
propriety, when such behavior was necessary to
the attainment of his ends, as to pass in very
respectable society for very respectable man,
though really he was one of the most corrupt
of villains, as we shall in due time see.
AS soon as Mrs. Howard had read the letter,
she summoned Styge to her office, a small room
fitted up for that express purpose, back from the
kitchen, but entered from the hail.
lie came with woebegone look, and seated
himself heavily in a large Office chair by the
window, Topped his head upon the window sill,
and cramped his knees up nearly to his stomach,
as though suffering acute pain.
al have letter from Langley" said Mrs
Howard, as soon as he appeared not noticing
his altered appearance, saying that he will be
at Delevan at three clock, to pay for the beef