St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-03-13

~ oOiiIl w stihtIs anu piNNAOuoiy
she had seemed almost unlike her usual
piquant, capricious self, the disposition
to coquettc with me seemed about return
inc. Yet, after moments hesitation,
she grew serious again. Had l deemed
it possible that she could ever experience
the sensation of personal fear, should
have fancied that she was afraid of some
thing or somebody, for her hand trembled
as she laid it on my arm. And at the
same time there was an inscrutable some
thing in the melting darkness of her eye
that seemed to appeal to me with voice
less cry for help.
What is it, Barbara p questioned,
instnctively.
She looked wonderin2ly at me-the
look had gone out of her eyes now.
Nothing. | did not speak"
"But what ails you. Why are you 50
depressed in spirits -
Il feel there is something wrong-that
man-you have escaped him this time,
but | want you to beware of him.
For your sake | venturcd, stutter-
lnTIy anu hcsltatln9lv.
"For your own sake she answered :;
and then both of us were silent for some
time.
What delightful, dreamy walk that
was down to the bridge, whose rude
planks spanned the shallow, brawling
stream, with the low sun hanging like a
ball Of gold above the purple woods, and
the air full of fragrant breathings of the
spring time, whose coming footsteps
were already sweet upon the hills Pleas
ant in spite of warning and Walker.
Barbara's softly spoken goodbye -
sounded like the saldest music as | turn
ed away from the bridge, rcgrct,ing tha,
could not prolong the rambling tste-c-ttt,
to an indefinite length.
\ few PAGES higher up turned once
more to watch the scarlet gleam OF Bar
bart's wrappings through the column-like
trunks of the leatic>S trees, and as my
eyes rested on this one bright glimpse OF
color. 4 tall figure >tcalthily came from
the thickcts beyond and joined her.
1t was John Walkers self. How the
sharp pang of Jealousy shot through my
heart as | saw him bend over her little
hand, and still hold it in his as he walked
10y her side, apparently talking in the
most earnest manner. Was il prccou-
ccrIcI interview between them Had
-hc told him To meet her as soon as |. til,
drludcd dupe, was safely out OF the way
! Did they make nv home 4 rendezvous tc
escape the eyes of her father Or did
/ they
IIark Surely that was a cry, wild
and startling, full of horror, that disturb
eI the gloomy current of my meditation,
"A cry from barbara Wycklitie's lips
From my commanding post on the high
cr ground | could see that she had start
cl back from him and drawn her Lant
away. My first thought was TO spring
down in the ravine and JOIN her, but
desi<tcd when | saw him take the han,
again. | could sec-not hear-that h,
was speaking in an eager manner, max
ing frequent and impuloivc gestures
pointing in my direction; and then | saw
him grasp her hand again, l saw his arm
around her waist, her head upon hi
shoulder; and saw, too, that she di,
not again repul>e him.
I'm glad | did not make a fool o
J myself" | muttcred, bitterly, bctwccl
my set teeth. turning away, and hasten
ing, with long strides, up the hill. "Lc
them 20 ON their way. 1t is the las
time | shall allow myself to be duped 10y
the bright eyes Of hcartlcss coquette.
am clad have discovered her in he
true light at last"
But | deceived myself. | was no
clad. The sorcst pang that ever rent
| slowly returned to the house, or rathe
cabin; and the lively refrain | force,
myself to whistle as | went died ava,
into melancholy minor ere | WAS awar
ot it. As | entered the room, | looke
| up involuntarily, with the instinct tina
| grows from constant habit, at the clock
The hands indicated the hour of six.
i. had somehow tancled it to be later thai
that. The sun had dipped down behin
, the purple line Of woods; the long shad
ows of tree tops, stretching out across til
| brown turf in front of my door step ha
vanished and Just in the warm orang
= glow of the west, a great golden sta
famed and quivered, like a solitary ey
OF lire.
at can't be that the sun sets Garlic
l than usual said to myself, half doubt
, fully, ''and yet
, While stood there hesitatlng, kney
i not why. the silver sound OF Il faro
1 village bell-the church bell of 81
Marks, at Branhill, heard only in tn
clearest and stillcst days, and when tn
+ wind sets in peculiar direction-ran
e out in strokes with marvellous distinct
| ness:
t -three-four-five
-Hrenr'
i Like invisible writing suddenly FLASHED
e into view at the magic action of fire, til
whole chain of circumstances becam
frightfully diabolically clear ,Joh
: Walkers presence in my cabin two hour
e since was fully explained now. He ha
writhed deadly and noiselessly, like
C serpent to work my ruin, and elevat
himself upon my good name and trus
Il His hands had moved backward the il
T dices Of my time-piece upon the dial wit
:. a motive too horrible fer me to conten
plate without shudder. He knew 0c
V had not told him myseltO that I'll
: Lightning Express going north met tt
Is branch road train at seven O'Clock, ths
: it rushed forward without stopping, wit
only whistle of warning.
The switch was set to the branch roaC
: it must be changed at quarter to sever
y or the Lightning Express would lea,