Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-19


voice and flooded all my soul with its pss.
3lonate cry" my heart, my life, is yours -
II was enough the sea swept over me nv
resolution was taken Blame me, depise me,
lom, If you will, but remember that the stran.
ed cord must break sometime, the spark may
leap into living fame
How long | wandered there, | know not.
but when | returned TO the house lights were
cleaning IN the upper chambers and the guests
were dispensing But one thought possessed
me to meet her if but for one moment. A
word, a look, signal would be enough, and the
same strong heart which did not hesitate to dc.
clare its passion, might be trusted for the rest.
10 see her was the first object to be attained.
l fingered about the hall near the first land
ing OF the broad staircase and one by one the
guests ascendend and passed by, some with a
smile Of recognition, some too full of the
evenings conquests to have eyes or thoughts
for aught else. Susie Barton tripped by with
a curt nod | was never a favorite with her
and the evenings mishap had not improved
me in her estimation. The bandits sauntered
up the stair and stopped to ascertain my opin-
ION concerning the relative merits Of peacock
and ostrich feathers as adjuncts of brigand's
apparel, filling me with mortal dread lest their
pleasure should defeat my cherished hope Of
moment with her alone. At last they pass
ed on, still full of their momentous theme:
and then--I saw her
Slowly she approached and as she placed
her foot on the topmost stair our eyes met.
seized her by the hand and drew her hastily
into my alcoye. All footsteps had ceased to
sound we are alone. What said know
not. fell at her feet, and the fountain of
feeling burst forth raised my eyes 10 hers
at length, but to my astonishment, they looked
coldly upon me. | seized her hand but it
was hastily withdrawn
Let me ring for servant" she said
" You are not well the wines OF the heat of
the room"
" Emily" | said, this is no time for tri.
Hing You do your deeper nature wrong
and the moments are too precious TO be vast
ed IN idle sportiveness. The chambers of my
soul are yet ringing with your tender tones,
and to my latest hour those words will echo
thero-those words which fell from your lips,
warm with passions flame and ilumined the
darkness with the light of love Oh, let me
hear them once again-those precious words
NJ htaili my nv II youTs
Was it the reaction of overcharged nature
the relaxing of too highly-strained nervous
tension l-ior she sank back upon seat and
her whole frame quvered with suppressed
laughter endeavoured to soothe her, but
the effort only served to increase her sgita-
tlon. | racked my brain to recall the max
inns of Wood and Bell under the head of
" Hysteria,' and was at last sinking into ut
ter perplexity, when with mighty effort,
she rose and stood before me, but still with
spasmodic twtching of the mouth and with
tears glittoriug in her eyes.
VIII you please 60 to your room and
await a message from me" and her voice
choked again | would have spoken, would
have detained her, but she put her handker.
chief to her face and darted away.
Slowly making way along the hall, en-.
tered my room and throwing myself on
chair leaned my head upon my hand and tried
to think. How could account for her strange
behavior her codness aud dignity at first,
followed by so sudden an explosion Of almost
riotous mirth Steadily there crept into my
soul the chilling fear, the irresistible convic-
tion that, at the supreme moment, when her
passionate love was free to gush forth with
out restraint her reason had deserted its
throne Alas and alas
A knock at the door. "Miss Emily sends
you this, and will you be good enough to open
it at once ?"
hsstily tore off the cover thin pam.
phlct, open. At the head of the page " Clau.
dio and Clotlde, or the Midnight Mystery :"
beneath strongly marked passage, | read
Enter Clotilde L.
Clo,-lush breathe not n word, for
walls have cars My heart, my life, is yours
Let us fly together thus may Trend asunder
the chains that bind me Tonight, after the
reye we shall meet Hist no word the
s0uud"---
dashed the book upon the floor The
murder was out She had only been rehears-
ing to herself her part in the confounded play
and |, like consummate fool, imagined her
words addressed to me. packed up my
portmanteau instanter, scrawled a note to
Harry alluding vaguely to a suppostious tele-
gram, left the house before daylight hid in
the town all day, took the night train for
Brandon, and here | am Pass me the ab-
sinthe, Tom. Hang it, wish it were nepen-
the hate to think Of it
49,