The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-08
.erself, trembling between fear and eager

nothing left to fear, and MEETINGS l am
ten times more coward than ever.
Seizing the lamp from the hearth, she
fastened to the window that overlooked
the street door. 1t was a lattice turning
upon hinges; and having thrown it back,
she stretched ber head little way into
the moist atmosphere. A lantern was
reddening the front of the house, and
melting its light in the neigbboring pud
dies, while deluge of darkness over>
whelmed every object. As the window
grated on its hinges, a man in a broad
brimmed hat, and blanket coat, stepped
from under the shelter of the projecting
story, and looked upward, to discover
whom his application had aroused. Mar
garet knew him as friendly inkeeper Of
the town. -..rrHrsrs
"What would you Lave, good man
Parker?' cried the widow. -.--
".Lack> day, is it you, mistress Mar
garet 2" cried the inkeeper. l was afraid
it might be your sister Mary, for hate to
see a young woman in trouble, when I
have not word # comfort to whisper to
her. q & -r &. -TT n III
"For heavens sake what news do you
bring" screamed Margaret. r. IE#...
"There has been an express through
the town within this half hour" said good
man Parker, ''traveling fro-n the westward
jurisdiction, with letters for the Governor
and Council. lie tarried at my house to
refresh himself with drop and morsel,
and | asked him what tidings on the from
tiers. He told NE we had the better in
skirmish, you wot Of, and that thirteen
men, reported slain, are we'll and sound,
and your husband among them. Besides
he is appointed one of the escort to bring
the captiyated Frenchers and Indians
home to the province Jail. / judged you
wouldn't mind being broke of your rest,
and SO stepped over to tell you. Good
night. .r..T- .r .e. s
So saying, the honest man Departed !;
and the Lantern cleaned along the street,
bringing to view indistinct shapes of
things, and the fragments Of a world, like
order glimmering through chaos, or
memory roaming over the past But
Margaret stayed not to watch these pic
turesque effects. Joy flushed into her
heart, and lighted it up at once, and
breathless, and with winged steps, she flew
to the bedside of ber sister. She paused
however, at the door Of her chamber,
while a thought of pain broke in upon
her.
"Poor Mary !" said she to herself; shall
| awaken her to feel her sorrow sharpened
by my happinessl No, will keep it
within my own bosom till the morrow.
She approached the bed to see if Mary's
sleep was peaceful. Her face was turned
partly upward to the pillow, and had been
hidden there to weep; but q look of mo-
tionless contentment was visible upon it,
as if her heart, like deep lake, had be
come calm, because her grief had sunk
down so far within. Happy it is, and
strange, that the lighter sorrows are those
from which dreams are fabricated. Mar
garet shrunk from disturbing her sister in
law, and felt as if her own better fortune
had rendered her Involuntary unfaithful,
and as if altered and diminished affection
must be the consequence of the disclosure
she had to make. With Sudden step,
she turned away. But Joy could not be
repressed, even by the circumstances that
would nave excited heavy grief at another
moment. der mind was thronged with
delightful thoughts, till sleep stole on and
transformed them into visions more de-
Eghtful and more wild, like the breath of
winter (but cold compa,ison) working
fantastic tracery on the window.
When the night was far advanced, Mary
woke with a sudden start. A vivid dream
had latterly involved her in its unreal life,
of which, however, she ceuld only remem
Der that i. had been broken in upon at
its most interesting point. For little
time, slumber hung about her like a morn
mist, hndering her from perceiving the
distinct outline of her situation. She lis
tened with imperfect consciousness to two
or three volleys of rapid aud eager knock
ing. At first she deemed the noise mat
ter of course, like the breath she drew
next appeared thing in which she
had no concern; and hastily she became
aware that it was a summons necessary
to be obeyed. At the same moment a
pang of recollection darted into her mind,
the pail of sleep was thrown back from
the face of grief, the dim light of the
chamber, and the objects therein revealed
had retained all her suspended ideas. and
restored them as soon as she Enclosed her
eyes. Again there was quick peal upon
the street door. Fearing that her sister
would also be disturbed, Mary wrapped
herself up in cloak and hood, took the
lamp from the hearth, and FASTENED to the
window. BY some accident it had been
left unclasped, and yielded easily to the
hand.
"Who,s there!" asked Mary, trembling
as she looked forth.
The storm was over, ard the moon was
up; it shone upon unbroken clouds above,
and below, upon houses black with mois,
ture, and upon little lakes of fallen rain,
curling with silver beneath the quick en-
chantment of a breeze. A young man, in
sailors dress, wet as il he had come out
Of the depths Of the sea, stood alone un.
der the window. Mary reccgnizel: him
as one whose livelihood was gained by
short voyages on the coast; nor did SIZE
forget that, previous to her marriage. be
| had been an unsuccessful wooer for her
! hand.