Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-04-05

uoudI plq udlt CdpTlClOuS Scll, Gllo us
position to coquette with me seemed
about returning. Yet after a mo-
ment's hesitation, she grew serious
again. Had [ deemed it possible
that she could ever experience the
sensation of personal fear | should
have tancied that she was afraid of
something or somebody, for her hand
trembled as she laid it on my arm.
And at the same time there was an
inscrutable something in the melting
darkness of her eye that seemed to
appeal to me with voiceless cry
for help.
"What is it, Barbara ?" Iquestion-
ed instinctively.
| She looked wonderingly at me-the
look had all gone out of her eyes now.
Nothing. Did I speak ?"
"But what ails you? Why are you
so depressed in spirits ?"
Il feel there is something wrong
} that man-you have escaped him this
time, but | want you to be wary of
: him.
!, For your sake ?" [ ventured, slut
tering and hesitatingly.
"For your own sake" she answer
= ed: and then both of US were silent
for sometime.
What delightful, dreamy walk
, that was, down to the bridge, whose
rude planks spanned the shallow,
: brawling stream, with the low sun
hanging like ball OF gold above the
r purple woods, and the air full of fra
: grant breathings of the Spring-tide,
whose coming footsteps were already
sweet upon the hills! Pleasant in
spite of warning and Walker. Bar
, bara's softly-spoken &c o d-by Y e =
sounded like saddest music as | turn
ed away from the bridge, regretting
4 that | could not prolong the rambling
< tete-a-tete to an indefinite length.
=. A few PAGES higher up | turned once
G more to watch the scarlet CLEAN Of
Barbara's wrappings through the col
umn-hke trunk of the leafess trees,
: and, as my eye rested on this one
G bright glimpse Of color, a tall figure
emerged with a stealthy air from the
+ thickets beyond and joined her.
T. 1t was John Walkers self How
the sharp pang OF jealousy shot thro
my heart as | saw him bend over hel
n little hand, and still hold it in his as
he walked by her side, apparently
d talking in the most earnest manner
1t Was it a preconcerted interview be
Is tween them? Had she told him tC
+: meet her as soon as |, the deludeC
y, dupe was safely out Of The way? Die
they make my home a rendezvous, t.
1t escape the eyes Of her father? o.
did they
!! Hark Surely that was a cry
E. wild and startling, full of horror, tina
disturbed the gloomy current Of m,
t. meditatioos--a cry from Barbar
r Wyclile's lips From my command
IN ing post on the high ground | coul
see that she had started back fror
as him and drawn her hand away. NJ
first thought was to spring down int
1 the ravine and Join her, but | desiS
nj ed when | saw him take the han
/. once again. IcouId see-not hear
that he was talking in an eager maj
re ner, making frequent and impulsiy
en- gestures, pointing in my direction
ee and then saw him grasp her again
re, | saw his arm around her waist. he
head upon his shoulder; and l say
lie too, that she did not again repul:
an, him.
a | am glad / did not make a TO
he of myself" | muttered, bitterly, b
ed tween my set teeth, turning away al
or. Fastening with long irregular STRIDE
0d up the hill. "Let them 90 on the
,re way. 1t is the last time shall {
low myself to be duped by the brig
ear eyes of a heartlesS coquette. | a
glad have discovered her in her tr
on light at last!'
ou; But | deceived myself. I was n
not glad. The SoreSt pang that ever re
L true and honest heart was gnawi
felt at mine as I slowly returned to t
hat house, or rather cabin; and the live
refrain | forced myself to whistle a.
went died away into melancholy l
the nor ere | was aware of it, As
re- tered the room looked up inyolun
.eS rily, with the instinct which gro
Jain from constant habit, at the clock.
the The hands indicated the hour Of s
had somehow tancied it to be la
all than that. The sun had dipped do
to behind the purple line of woods;
long shadows of e tree-trun
|. stretching out across the brown tt
lon- in front of my doorstep had vanisht
'nce and just in the warm orange 81
d. of the west great golden star fau
and and quivered, like a solitary eye
the fire.
''lt can't DC that the sun sets ear
for than usual" | said to myself,
h in doubtfully; "and yet"
red, While | stood there hesitatingl
tible knew not why, the silvery sound of
far off village bell-the church
tho of st. Marks, at Branhill, heard Q
meet in the clearest and stillest days,
At when the wind set in peculiar
v rcction-rang out its strokes '
marvellous distinctness.
?" OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
will secen !" Like invisible writing sudt
hur- ly flashing into view at the magic
ton of fire, the whole chain of circ
cor stances became frightfully diabolll
had ly clear. John Walkers myster
presence in my cabin but two hc
,u as since was sufficiently explained I
He had writhed in, deadly and NJ
sitat- less like serpent, to work my ]