Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-09-17

day of July, 1851"
For several minutes the prisoner contem-
plated these lines in silence, and then
aroused himself looking warily around.
"Three times I have tried to escape in
canoe" he muttered, land every time 1
was caught, and visited with tortures. To
be caught again in such an attempt will be
certain death. Yet 1 will risk ali the first
opportunity that offers. This longing for
freedom and my family is becoming pos
tive madness. Oh, my God! what is
that?"
He gazed in perfect stupefaction to the
eastward, far out upon the ocean.
There, miles and leagues away, was
ship, her white sails cleaning as she lay
becalmed upon the waters
"a ship! ship" cried Lester sobbing-
ly. "At last, oh Heavenl At last my
prayer is answered.
THE PRISONERS HOME.
On the east bank of the Elizabeth river,
just out of Norfolk, and overlooking Hamp-
ton Roads, stood a beautiful cottage, the
home of the wife and daughter of David
Lester, the prisoner of the lone island in
the far Pacific.
Near the close of lovely afternoon in
May, Mrs. Lester and her daughter sat to-
gether upon their front verandah.
The mother was lovely, sweet faced,
sad-eyed woman of two and thirty years.
The daughter, Amy Lester not yet fif-
teen, was a strange compound Of child and
woman.
You are thinking of father, dear moth
er?' murmured the maiden, as she mark
ed the lady's longing gaze.
Yes, child. Your father, my husband I;
whore is he? Somewhere under the sea
waves wrecked on desert island or Ian
gushing on a hostile shore? 1t is five
years sinco,he left us on that fatal voyage
to China. My reason assures me that he
is dead; yet Amy, l can only think of him
as living"
1t is so with me, mother said Amy,
with tremulous culver of her lips. Il
dream often that he is hving-that he is
coming homer
we need him in hundred ways, said
Mrs. Lcster, signing. IF anything were
to happen TO me, Amy, l shudder TO think
what would become of you. You have
been brought up in luxury, and would feel
keenly any change to poverty.
Are we not rich, then, mother?' asked
Amy, in surprise.
4 supposed so, dear, until three years
ago. replied the mother sadly. Your IA
ther was merchant and ship-owner,
partner of Colonel Nichols. But two years
ago Colonel Nichols informed me that the
outstanding debts of the firm more than
balanced the assets; in short, Amy, that he
was on tho verge of bankruptcy, his for
tune and ours alike wreckedp
4 don't like Colonel Nichols said Amy.
thoTghtfuly. IF he lost all his money
with ours, how does he live in such grand
style? To whom do his ships and great
house belong?'
80 his nephew, Ally Bell. Colonel Mich
OILS is Ally's guardian. The Colonel has
nothing of his own, excepting farm or
two up-country which were not risked in
tho business
Amy contracted her little brows reflect
lively, and was about to reply when the
garden gate swung on its hinges, and a
boyish figure came lightly up the walk.
IT'S Ally, mother-its Ally Bellp ex-
claimed Amy, all smiles and bushes. III
bring him to YOU
The young girl ran lightly down the YER
andah steps and met the newcomer, link
ing her arm in his, and drawing him gent.
ly towards the house.
He was a lad of seventeen, an orphan,
the ward of Colonel Nichols. Bright and
gay and handsome, Allen Bell was also inn
petuous, ardent and intelligent-one OF
those noble, manly boys who mature early
into grand and noble men. Boy as he was,
he loved Amy Lester with a pure and
chivalrous love, which babe fair to deepen
in time into the great love of his life.
He was the bearer of a letter from his
uncle to Mrs. Lester, and having delivered
it, he strolled with Amy down the wide
garden walks into the cool shadows Of a
grove at the bottom Of the garden.
I've boon expecting you this good while,
Ally said Amy, with charming frankness.
/ thought you would be down here to try
those scientific experiments to-day
Wen try them tonight, Amy replied
Ally. "rhe blue lights show better at