Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-12-20

Auastasa could think Of herself now, auC
instead of the heroic worker became once
moro a timid, shrinking woman. If she
stayed here she would haze to face half the
people of the village. Acting upon a sudden
impulse, she cxtinguished the light of the
lantern, ard keeping to tho shadow Of th'
trees, crept off hOmeward, exhausted as she
was, with her icy garments dragging hel
down like leaden weight Not even tht
warming up Of her heart at the thought oi
what she had done could convey warmth to
her chilled limbs. Her feet were like clogs
OF ice, her hands so painful that she could
scarcely refrain from crying aloud. She be.
gan 60 think that home was too fur off for
her too think of reaching it that night, and
that heaven might BE a great deal nearer.
Presently she stumbled against a tree and
IN her weakness tell to the ground. As well
to lie there as anywhere, since to 70 on far
ther was impossible. Accordingly, after one
or two feeble efforts TO rise, she gave up the
struggle, thankful even in this extremity
that all Slyebcrg would not BE in mourning
on the morrow. No one would mourn for
her. I5 would not even be known, perhaps,
that her life bad been sacrificed to save life
No matter God knew, and she, for Der
comfort, ia this hour.
Not so very far of she could see her fire
still burning brightly, and men walking to
and fro III its light, Investigating the state
Of affairs. She could hear likewise the
sound Of their startled voices. but only as
confused murmur. Then all sights and
sounds seem to be floating away into space.
She ielt that she was losing consciousness
and thought, with a lifting Of her heart in
prayer, that when she came 70 herself again
It would he IN eternity
But now there came a hurry of footsteps
4
from the hollow in which she was lying
Some men mad seen her as she was slowly
rotreating had noted the glimmer Of the
lantern and is sudden dying out. Remem-
berlng this when the first confusion cOnse-
quent upon discovering their danger escaped
was over, they went in search Of her. She
bad just sense enough lett 70 attempt "a cry,
which ended in feeble gasping moan. IL
was sufficient. however, 10 call attention 70
the spot where she had fallen. She was car
ried tenderiy home, and being soon recovered
by the cxertIJns of her bearers, was ale t.
answer their eager questions on the nights
occurrences Then they could almost have
w0rshipped her.
y Rheumatic fever followed her nights
exposure, lasting for many weeks but the
shy stranger had now nu lack of friends The
deyJsIon Of that young couple, who had
hitherto thought rather c0ntemptuously of
their quiet ucghJ0r, was pleasant ID see.
Then almost every family IN town had one
Or more members on the train. who owed
perhaps their lives u her All hada personal
interest i1 her recovery. and showed it by
-uca tender attentions as they could devise
She dad rec over, though the fingers of one
hand were bent like croquet-hoops, and she
would never walk with nc lump.
II ever any Irreverent youth now speaks Of
4uastasia Brande as that old maid :" there
Is always some one % tell the story Of her
nights work, and what SkyeberE owed TO IL
aud LIppur5H's NoR'hy