Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-10-25

N-%'N- %~~N~-
hours Of hard travel the path suddenly
emerged from the forest, and Stanley found
himself standing on projection on the side
Of the mountain, and with view, lovely as
Swiss views always can ever be, spread out
before him. The mountain sloped downward |
in an almost sheer descent, perfectly bare Of
trees for The greater Fart Of The distance, and
glowing with the deep red tints of tho Alpine
rose. At the foot Of the descent lay smooth,
green valley, sort Of emerald bay Of YER
dure, which curved in horseshoe shape, and
was shut in on three sides by the mighty
amphitheatre of giant hills around. On the
fourth side road stretched away into the
distance, and was lost to- view as il curved
round the base Of far-Jf mountain. A few
houses were scattered over the sward, look.
ing, at the distance which Stanley bcheld
them, like the toy cottages Of child, placed
at random upon a carpet Of green velvet.
The sight of these dwellings cheered his soul.
He had been walking for some hours, he was
getting very hungry, and an idea Of dinner
arose pleasantly before his mind.
81 wonder if could manage to scramble
down that decivity," he said to himself
al will try, at all events"
SO saying he attempted with all due pre-
caution to descend the steep side Of the
mountain, aud for few minutes he got
along admirably. But at last he stepped
upon a moss-ooyered stone, and his foot
slipped he caught at the trailing tendrils of
a wild vine to recover himself, but the plant
was uprooted by the sudden strain, and he
fell. He was conscious of plungng down
the descent, of seeing great bowider, loosen
ed from its place by the uprooting of the
vine, came rolling down toward him; then
came shock, thrill Of intensest agony, aud
then darkness closed around him and he knew
no more.
He awoke to consciousness at last, dim
and clouded sort of consciousness, broken by
throbs of rending pain yet he became aware
of the fact that be was lying on bed, aud
that a gray-haired man was bending over
him and causing him exceeding suffering by
endeavoring to ascertain the extent Of his
injuries. His first ejuacu' alton was met by
look of pleased surprise.
"Ah, conscious ~ sand the gray-haired
{ individual, half to himself "Theu the brair
is--here, Charlotte--the sponge and ether
quick !"
And the nextmo IN eut sponge was held
} to his mouth, and the sweet, half-sudocatiDl
: atmosphere Of ether filled his lungs and stole
! his senses away in a delicious dream, Of
which the first phase seemed to be vision
{ of lovely girl, tall, slender, graceful, ant
! blue.eyed, who bent upon him a look of wO
; manly pity and sympathy.
D When he again came to himself it wa
! night. He glanced around him, conscious
that any motion would be almost impossible
so bruised and stiff and sore did he feel il
} every part of his body. He was conscious
. too, of dull pain in his side, and that hi
. left arm lay helplessly across his chest
) bound up in splints and suspended arounC
/, his neck by sling. He was lying upon /
low bed in room of no great Dimensions
B furnished as simply as possible, yet with I
: Iervading air of neatness and freshness tina
5 was very attractive. The window was open
J aud through it he could catch glimpse o
= the mountain wall beyond, rising blank am
4 dark into the night, and but feebly illumine'
4 by the rays OF the full moon. Beside tbi
: window small table was placed, on whic
4 burned shaded lamp. A woman sat nea
}. this table-not the slender, graceful, youth
full being, of whom he had before obtained
feetipg glimpse, but a gray-haired, bOny
e sallow-complexione female, seemingly be
i tween fifty aud sixty years of age, and ella
n in black gown of the plainest pattern an
It scantiest cut. She wore white cap, whit
l. apron, and full muslin kerchief pinned owe
Ie her shoulders and brought down to point q
5, her waist; prim, Inonastic sort Of figure
4 lean, angular, anl severe OF outline.
y The slight movement made by the sufferc
e. attracted her attention. She rose, took
: cup and spoon from the table, and came Il
Of wards the bed
" The doctor said YOU was to take thi
" sr whenever you came to- 1...
N Stanley submitted meekly to the admin
e. tration IF teaspoonful Of bitter liquid, whic
to he recognized by the peculiar favor to be
ID solution Of morphia. He then asked
rs Where am Am much hurt p
ID The doctor said as how you was not I
% talk, sir
ID Just answer me those two questions au
y will lie as silent as you please. In who's
y house am 1, and in what placer
At "This is DIR. Severne's house, and tn
e. place is little village called Jex, about fOr
n miles from Chamouni.'
n -Four miles why, walked further tina
< that, surely"
;; Not if you had como straight sir b.
y you came a-twistiDg round on those mast
mountain roads as is not fit for Christia
Of COW to travel, let alone gentle folks. An
l. you're not much hurt, so to speak-an arr
g broke, sir, and two ribs, aud lot of bruise
d so heard the doctor say, but nothing th'
n will kill you--which is a mercy, considerin
II the uncertainties of them mountains"
d BY this time Miles had got sufficient