The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-05-31

pray you to let me rise, andpromise me
faithfully that so much of land as
can walk over may be given from
henceforth and for ever to the
Church"
II promise you that, and welcome,
said the hus band, with covert smile,
for he felt certain that her first step
from her bed would be her last in life.
She caught the smile, though, and her
spirit rose within her; for, with the
"ruling passion strong in death" the
desire of Disappointing her husband
gave her even more strength than the
fear Of the flames of pnrgatory.
She rose, supported by the priest,
and staggered to the door Though
scarcely breathing, yet, as the door
was opened the fresh air of the even
ing blew down upon her and revived
her wonderfully With unexpected
energy she crawled II few yards, then,
to the growing alarm of her husband,
she raised herself upright, and abso-
luteiy walked; but walked SO far and
so steadily that he, old and lame, could
scarcely keep up with her. and strug-
gled behind, invoking Ftn6usand oars
es Oh her head, as, step by step, he
saw the best part Of his property pass
ing away into the hands Of the Church.
On she went, and more than ono gate
was opened by the eager priest, and
more than one obstacle cleared out OF
her path, ere she gave up tie race with
death; and sank at last on the bare
earth. Her husband came mp Just in
time to hear her last ~ords--to hear
her calling down Heavens bitterest
judgments on any member of the fam
lily, however distant, who should alien
ate these lands, which her dying ener
gics had gained, for the Church to
hear her invoking a special curse on
his head, should he attempt to forego
his promise-and to hear her last
words of all. "And when these broad
lands have passed away from the
Church may the family have a male
heir never more - And so she died,
out in the night air, with a curse on
her lips.
The confessor stood by her side tri-
umphant; her husband raging, swear
ing and stamping as only deceived
man can.
Still he made over the broad lands
to the Church. He was too much awed
to cheat them Of as much as IA square
inch of it. And when he had deliver
ed over the parchment deed, duly
signed and attested, the priest poured
into his astonished ears the news that,
though his son was dead, his grand
son survived, and was heir to the place,
impoverished as it was by the large
piece taken from it.
"And where is he ?" asked the wild
over, who was beginning to find con
ISOLATION for the loss of his lands in the
fact that he had lost his wife; and to
whom this possession of a grandson
opened a vista of comfort for his de-
Ginning years
"Not far of, said the priest "That
youth who works in the monastery
garden is your grandson"
"But my son died childless, so il
cannot be, continued the old man,
returning to dependency. He died
abroad, just after his mother refused
TO consent TO his marriage
"He was married already, and his
child was born when their last inter
view took place., said the priest, eau
tiously.
"He was p he exclaimed, with sur
prise But speak out, man, speak
out. You know more than | do
Why should not l know all? There
is no one to prevent me now And
he laughed with some bitterness.
"What l know" said the priest, 81
learnt under the seal of confession,
and may not tell.
"You must prove to me that my son
was married, that | may believe that
that lad is my grandson.
"Does not bis likeness prove it
asked the priest
at may, it may" said the old man,
musingly. But" he added, with bis
voice lowered 10 kissing whisper,
my son. what OF him p
"Your son was murdered said the
priest, boldly "and by the hands Of
his mother; and you will find his
bones in the deep well behind the fiji
wood If You find them you will be-
lieye me, and may believe me, too,
when ! say that the boy is your grand
son. And can give you written
proofs, besides
The old man 5 eyes were glazed, and
he stared transhxed at the priest.
Horrible horrible !" were his on
ly words.
They sought and found the bones
The boy was indeed ana in truth tho
grandson. His gentle though low
born mother was for the first time ac-
knowledged as the daughter-in-law o
the house, and cordially welcomed by
the grey haired but still warm heart
ed old sisters.
The rest of the story is soon told
so long as the lands over which the
resolute old woman had walked wer'
left in the peaceable possession of th'
Church, an heir male was never want
ting to the family of Wychcombe. Blu
when, a hundred years or so after The
death of the wicked dame, they were
commuted into money, and a ycarl,
sun. paid but paid irregularly anC