Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-09-08
BRATTLEBORO, VT: SEPT. s, 1860

oneg aud after few moments at table | left
the house, telling Somers that should be back
by the morning. / accordingly struck out
stoutly for Rattlesnake Hill, accompanied by
his uttered blessing, and his wife's nnrticulate
bcnison but when | reached the first brook, |
made my cane into jointcd fishing rod, and
INDUCED till sundown in the finest sport. The
trout never bit with more avidity; and having
caught goodly string, carried them to a farm
house not far away, and had them cooked for
my supper Late in the evening returned to
my friend Somcrs, and enjoyed fine night 5
rest upon his haymow. At daylight aroused
the family by knocking at the door, but greet
cd them with simple shake of the hand, gaz-
ing abstractedy at Mrs Somers. She looked
troubled.
'Somcrs,' said l. please leave me a moment
with your wife. 1t is matter that you may
sometime know, but not at present. Have YOU
not heard Of my wonderful developments as a
seerp
He said he had not, but, without explaining,
| pushed him out and closed the door, knew
that he would listen, however.
Mrs Somers,' said /, my mysterious move
ments are fast growing to u climax. | last night
pucked dragons tongue from the mouth of
the ral,lcsnakc's den; laughed with the mid
night echoes, and stood face to face with the
darkness, in order to gain what sought. Your
hand, please thank you. The lines are brought
nearer together, and it needs but one word Of
yours, in response to an inclnation that ! shall
utter, to make my mystic charm complete You
must say les, or all is as naught.'
looked wildly as | spoke, and saw that
she was, as it were, spell-bound.
And this is my incantation,' | continued,
you swear that YOU hatc Tim Somers.'
NO" She almost shirkcd.
hal ko.,, H., bc,,
to his wife from my supposed lunacy, and hear
ing the question had put and the response, he
rushed in, frantic with JOY, casped her in his
arms kissed her over and over again, and
jumped about the room with the widness of a
madman. She did not seem to comprehend
what she had done for an instant, but when she
remembered that she had spoken. and OWNED
the meaning of my cabalistic efforts, she came
near fainlng with her emotion.
Thank God the spell is broken" " she said
|. the hidcous spell that has bound me to silence
and sorrow 50 long
The mystical word having been spoken said
|, that brought the divereing lines together,
am free to tell what | sought at midnight on
Rlttlesnlkc Hill
What was it q they both asked in breath
a womans tongue" replied, 'and since
have found it, never allow any trihing cause tc
silence it again
My theory was correct with regard to her Lo'
speaking She had vowed perpetual silence
and had kept her VOW until brought to utter
one word, by stratagem, which had unSealed
her tongue again. The children were delighted
and IAN all around the neighborhood telling ev
cry body that their mother could talk, and eve
~ body rushed in to ascertain what it meant
For time it seemed as though anarchy and
confusion had become installed on Tim Somcrs
hearthstonc, 10 make up the silence that had
so long hrooded thore but he bore it all good
humoredly left them. week afterwards. the
happiest couple yo1 ever saw, and my midnight
excursion to Rattlesnake Hal was frequentl,
alluded to.
did you really go there p Mrs Somers asked
the morning before came away.
No" said |, initiating her emphatic accen
of the same monosyllable in reply to my incan
SRetg bsA that ff" nv seefsb i,I tie 5G
ever known and my magic had wrought n hap
pier effect than that of all the fairies he hac
ever seen exhibited at the museum.
'Good-bye,' said Burner, as he finished hi
story. and he left me well satisfied with tn,
manner in which he had spent his vacation -
Boston Saturday Erening Gazdtc