Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-01-06
VHE HIDDEN HAND
US Has. sutuWuHuh
.8o, Of Tho Bride Of aR EreaiHH
The Deserted VIE &c., DC d'c.
rnAWrrR l.
ran HIDDEN HAND



l., Noir. lie then shut up Eugcse'. widow
In nj. residence, known as the Hdde" HOUSE.
nl as he supposed, made aw'l WIN ner
newborn infant But Eag'ne INFANT enld
was saved, and finally gotm'o 'he possession
of Major Ira WWhei', 'enlpes'uous oid
n.iribor and rcleuaes- Zoe OF Loioncl lie
Vor'a On account Of Major Nartield'-
,r,r-essibe tompcr he was called Old llurs
. ar. and his residence was known as llur-
eue lialL
Years before our story opens Col. Le Noir
had ..u.cd separation between Major War
fal and bis wife. and the latter, under the
mann, OF Nlarah Rookie, with her son Tray
,rsc. had had bitter struggle for bread
Bat they had got along, and Traverse had
become aApNysiciau, and was betrothed to
Clra Dlv the only daughter Of a rich doc
nr But Dr. Day dying suddenly Clara
had come ldcr the contro Of the unscrupu-
lon. Col. Le Noir, the executor Of the Doc
ufs ,gi. and her guardian. The Colonel
blI turned Mrs Rocke and Traverse out Of
ID. Day- House. and taken Clara off 20 his
own residence. the Hidden House, where he
.r.eI TO compel her to marry his SON, Craven
&. Nor But Captola Black the heroine
aror story ,aud who, though now grown mp,
rt th. pmo infant child OF Eugene Le Noir
tr.the Colonel supposed be- had silcucel
t-.r.-. aul who is as keen as an eagle and
i.ayo as Ion,) undertook TO get Clara out
.G'h. clutches OF her per-eoutors.
ltHa. desperate game that Capitoa un-
Uros toulav, for the he Noirs both lathcr
m .ou. were interruptions aud cruel to the
na dc.rae. They would not hesitate TO
commit murder 10 carry teir point if they
could mot gain IL by the pepetratiou OF lesser
crimes. But nothing daulted, The spirited
C1pito'a determined to aid her friend Clara,
ai ior iaat purpose ri-k'd visit to the
Hmdcn House while Col lie Noir was at
iome She learned from Clara that the Col
na. and Craven wore going 20 take her to an
o1t-0i-the-way chapel in the evening, and
force her into marriage against her will
THE 0diiatiur clergyman is their FRIEND 80
Ia cluri mn even IT ! ,,,,,,a ,,....--.. .-
H.J deee.tlb part and should 60 to church
ii 90 marry Craven. and upon getting there,
.nounae him, instead Of receiving the pro-
ueton of the cIeryman, | should be restored
go the hands OF my legal guardian, and be
m1ugh, back here to meet fate worse than
la.a.' Thus Clara spoke In a tone of de-
-rair
Clpitoa did not at once reply, but fell into
deep thought which lasted many minutes
Then, speaking more grayey than She had
spoken before she said:
There is but one plan Of escape leit, your
only remaining chance and that full Of dam
ger'
Oh why should fear danger? What
evil can bellll me So great as that which now
hrcatens mc?' said Clara
" This plan requires on your part great
courage, solf-contro and presence Of mind
Teach me, teach me, dear Capitola. 1
viii be an apt pupil =
Co. 1 have thought it all OFT, and viii tell
you my plan. It is now ele' o'clock in the
forenoon, and the carriage + 20 come for YOU
at six this evening ! bclievC
Yes! yes sw
Then YOU have seven hours in which to
save yourself And this is my plan First
Clara, you must change clothes with me, Civ
ing me your suit Of mourning and putting on
nv riding habit, hat and vail Then leaving
me here in your place, you are TO pull the
pil down closely over your face and walk
Hght out Of the house SO one will speak
20 YOU. for they never do TO me. When You
have reached the yard, spring upon my horse
md put whip to him for the village Of Tip
Top My servant, Wool, will ride after you,
bat he will not speak to you or approach near
enough to discover your identity-for he has
been ordered by his master TO keep me in
sight, and he has been forbidden By his mis-
tres. to intrude upon her privacy You will
reach Tip Top by three O'Clock, when the
Smunton stage passes through You may
then reveal yourself to Wool, give my horse
into his charge get into the coach and start
for Saunton Upon reaching that place, put
yourself under the protection Of your friends,
Che two old physicians, and get them to pros
e'l.a your guardian for cruelty aud llagrunt
abuse Of authority. BE cool firm and alert,
and all will be well! -
Clara, who had listened to this little Napo-
Icon in poticoats with breathloss interest,
now clasped her hands in a wild ecstasy Of
oy and exclaimed
II win try it! Oh, Capitola, | viii try
it, Heaven bless you for the counsel :"
BE quick, then, change your dress, pro-
vide yourself with purse OF money, and
will give you particular directions how to
= make short cut for Tip Top IIa, ha, ha 4,
when they come for the bride she will be al
ready rolling on the turnpike between Tip
Top and Saunton'
But You! Oh, you, my generous deliy-
erer?"
/ shall dress myself in your clothes and
Stay here in your place to Keep you from
beng missed, so as TO give You full time to
make your escape"
But, you win place yourself in the en-
ragged lions jaws You will remain in the
power oftwomenwho knowneither justice nor
mercy who in their love or t,eir hate fear
neither God nor man. Oh, ]apitola, how
eau taso an adventage af yonr generosity,
and leave you here in such treme peril ?
Capltola, | cannot do it."
We'll, them believe you must be anxious
to marry Craven lie Noir.n
Oh, Capitola.'
Well, it, you are not, hurry aud get rea-
iyi there is no time to be lost
But you but you, my generous friend ?.
Never mind me- l shall be safe enough.
am not afraid Of the lie Noirs Bless their
|lgs, | should like to see them make me
,tnch' On the contrary | desire above all
Aags to be pitted against tho SC two. How
snail enjoy their disappointment ond rage.
w. il will be n rare irolic."
While Capitola was speaking she was also
9aslIy engaged doing. She went softly to the
aoor aud turned the key in the lock, to pre-
vent any one from looking through the kew.
hole.
Then she began to take off her ridine-hab.
l Quickly she dressed Clara superintend.
ag all the details of her disguise as carefully
Is though She were the costum of new
4etwaate. When Clara was dressed, She
" was 50 nearly Of the same size and shape Of
Oaptoa that no one from behind would have
suspected her identity,
There, Clara, tuck your light hair out Of
'le way; pull your can over your ewes
gather your vail down close draw IN yonr
lgarei throw back your head walk with a
lle springy sway and swagger, as If YOU
admit care for anybody, and there de.
olare, nobody could tell Won frnm mo - ~