Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-08-21

eyes glared Indignantly, as though he coull
have killed her where she sat.
l But her shrek was mingled with othel
shrieks, and died amongst them whilst hi
uplifted arm suddenly descended, not of hi.
own will, but from the force of tremendou,
: shock by which the carriage that they occu
: pied was thrown of the line, and. with sever
al Others, hurled down an embankment. al
the bottom of which it rested. broken int
, pieces.
Their train had come into collision with
another, and the loss of life and property
was fearful. But Margaret knew nothing
but that she lay crushed and all but insensi-
: bic beneath the debris of some of the fallen
, carriages, and that her life was slowly ebbinc
out Of her.
, She had no pity or fear for herself: she
only felt thankful that Heaven had permitted
her to die instead of live
Z" Don't touch me-" she murmured. when
some one laid a hand, as she thought. on her
shoulder " don't touch me. Thank God
| am dying.
She feared that a touch might recall her TO
life she dreaded lest some good Samaritan
should strive to retain in her that which the
loss of John Hartley had converted from
blessing to a curse
'Don't touch me- she again WHISPERED. AZ
the handling became more patent to her sen
ses ' oily leave me alone
Only leave you alone, little wife When
the fire has completely gone out and the
room as cold as cellar, and am waiting
for my tea. Why its not like my busy bee
TO be sleeping on the hearth-rug when her
husband wants her. W hats the matter. Ner
Are you tired, my darling, or only lazy 3''
Margaret Hartley started to her feet as IL
She had been shot. The room in utter dark
ness the fire burnt out in the CRATE and the
baby on her bosom even shivcring with the
cold. How could she have been 80 foolish as
to slumber there whilst all her duties were
neglected
But the next moment her dream and it,
import flashed upon her mind, and, feeling
the glad relief which comes to Us when we
have experienced some unfounded dread. She
burst into a food Of happy tears
80 John John " she exclaimed. "a, she
hurg about her husbands neck. Il dream-
ed that had lost YOU that We were seTara-
ted "
God forbid, my love ~ he answered s1I-
have the power to separate us, except death.
But give me the Daisy, Meg, and let us have
candles and tea. I'm as hungry as 81 hunter
tonight, and shall do justice to anything You
may have to give me- -
She dried her ewes, and set about seeing o.
her husbands comfort. whilst glad thanks
giving that her fear was " bat as dream
that Is told kept unginga halleluiah in her
heart. In a few minutes the fire was burn
ing again in the CRATE. the candles were
lighted and On the table, and Margaret had
decided that she could spare John a morsel Ut
cold meat for his tea from the provision for
next DAYS dinner. When she returned. She
found him dancing the child upon hi- knee.
whilst he sang lively tune TO mark the time
What could have happened To her usually
sober and sedate husband % make him 81.
merry tonight? Margaret thought. as She
looked at his bright face and listened 90 his
cheerful voice, that she he'd never seen John
80 gay before But, as his spirits r-e laui
they had not reached their ultimatum unit.
after teal, herr seemed to fall. Sel.-reproach
was heavy at her heart her husband bright
content contrasted most uniavoablv with her
feelings Of the afternoon; and the more she
thought on them. and on her dream. the more
she despised herself for having given way ta
their indulgence. She was depressed and
halfteariul all the evening and her husbands
remonstrances only called forth what were Q.
him most mysterious expressions Of pen.ter-
humility.
' am not worthy to hc your wife John,
she exclaimed, on one ocrusiou. .' ann far
worse than YOU think me to be- Al ifyu
knew all and then John laughed at Der.
and affirmed he would not be afraid even o.
know "all, lie was TOO sure OF m, little
wite's integrity and love for him.
Nv hat O'Clock is it, be askci more
than once during the evening
"' What makes You SO curious about the
time. John 3' inquired hi- wife. Have
you TO 20 out again? hope not for iti.
raining harder than ever; and she -huI-
dered to recall how she had been dragged Gu
iancy) bareheadei through thar very rain
prisoner in the grasp of Robert Nelson.
b. Nothing Of the sort, replied her bus
band my work l. over for to-day. And
vet ! am anxious about the time. Me-. and {
wish il were nine O'Clock"
'' 1t must be nearly 80. size answered. a.
she peeped behind the blind for the post
man is next door
Jchn Hartley rose from his seat. and. com-
ing behind her, placed hi- hands upon her
shoulders.
How he trembled or was it her own
frame which shook beneath hi, weight
80 l. the postman coming here" be wins
pered, eagerly (Why, what ON earth could
John want to know that for.-hc who sell
dom received or wrote letter D lie i--
il be not, Margaret yes mo yes De
Is Hurrah my darling-its all right 90
and. with one fond kiss on her astouishei
face. he had dartel like boy into the pass
age, and opened the hall door himself
" Here it is 80 he exclaimed. as he rush
ed back with an open letter in h, hand
' | could not tell You before dearest. lest
YOU should be disappointed, but hal seen
Lord Chester this afternoon, and was almost
sure Of it.
" OF what-of what?' she said, eagerly.
'' OF living in the country. dearest of
the lncumbency Of Middlecross. the village
where my mother and sisters live An !
can take You there now, Meg. darling -
take down my dear wife and my little child,
of whom | am SO proud. and show my people
| am Justly 70 take vou to one of the Vret-
tiest parsonages in England Just such
home as we have always pictured and l1nged
To have together where Daisy shall learn %
to walk upon the green grass and We shall
haYe garden, and a meadow. and keep our
cows and pgs and YOU shall have your
poultry and-why, what's this. darling p
in tear when | thought YOU would be So
glad.
- o John John soLbed the little VIC
mon. d" don't deserve it indeed | don't
Take me in your arms, John, and let me tell
you all. shall never be happy again until
you have forgiven me-
And with her head upon her husbands
breast, and her arms about his neck, Meg
Hartley told Of her former discomfort and
present penitence, and received his full for
giveness ere she slept.
Fruit oF GOSPEL TEACHING.-A missionary
in China, on approaching village on the
Sabbath where no European had ever been,
noticed the stiffness that peryaded the place.
reminding him Of a Scottish Sabbath. AZ
most the whole of the people Of the village
had met for Christian worship, az was their
custom, and were keeping the sabbath day
holy, having been instructed in the Christian
religion by native ministers.
Results OF PRAYER IN THE NAvY.-ln Is
30 az tho instance nf tho erreat arctic uoyifra-