The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-29

form bespoke long and terrible suflerings.
When the latch was lifted, and the door
swung open, she raised her head with
nervous terror, to sec who had come
Mother, it is L. said Rachel stepping
towards the bed, and bending over her.
How do you feel now.
'Oh. my dear child said the invalid,
stretching forth her thin hands q feared
you we're gone forever Where is the
villain that was here 2
we left him down on the beach
Walter. here, rescued mo from his clutch.
es just as he was lifting me into his boat.
The young man approached the bed.
side, and suffered his soil stained hand to
be grasped by the sick woman.
Bless you, Walter = she said fervently,
God bless you, my dear boy, and when
am gono ] hope you will take good care
of Rachel.
But you must not talk Of leaving us
yet, Mrs. Chester said Walter, soothing
IT, Are you feeling better now .
No, believe | am growing worse.
| am so nervous tonight that the slight.
est noise startles me, and causes my heart
to throb so violently that it seems at
times as if it would burst from my bosom.
Rachel, isn't it time your father return
ed 2
Yes, mother but DO not SEQ him
coming get
Rachel looked out through the window
upon the moonlit waters, hoping to see
her fathers boat coming around the point
at the entrance to the little bay, but in
vain so she returned t. the bedside Of
her mother, and carefully arranged the
pillows beneath her head, and brushed
the long black hair away from her face.
Presently the invalid dropped into quiet
sleep, and the young couple seated them
selves before tho ire, and began to con.
verse in low tones, occasionally turning
and looking out at the window, expecting
to discover the approach Of the old fisher
man, and wondering what could keep him
so long
Slowly the moon rose toward the zenith,
still shedding mellow light over the face
of nature, and presently the Old clocl; on
the mantel struck eleven. causing the
sufferer to start ncryously in her sleep,
Dut she sank back again without waking.
Rachel, must leave you uow,' said
the young man, rising for | was up late
last night, aud promised Dan Duncan |
would be ready to 60 to with him
at four O'Clock to morrow morning. You
are no: afraid to be alone, are you7'
oh. no. replied the girl, 'ahere's moth
ing to fear except that man who tried to
carry me away this evening, and it seem.
to me you have bottor reason to fear him
than have
Don't be alarmed about me, Rachel,
fer | shall be on my guard, though |
hardly think he will show himself around
here again. Be good girl, and don't
forget me in your dreams Good night.
GOOD night W.l,ar
The lovers lips met in long, affection
ate kiss; then the young man passed out,
and started toward his humble home
/ Rachel watched him until his form ming.
led with the shadow of high jagged
rock, and then turned and closed the door
and, peIcciying that her mother was still
sleeping, seated herself before the fire
again, waiting anSously for the coming oI
her father.
Half an hour had passed quietly but
tojiously by, when, upon looking ont ar
the window, as she had done nearly ,
hundred times before, she bounded to hcl
feet with n cry Of terror, but quickly re
covering her self.posession, she sammed
to the window shutter, which opened OF
the inside and fastened it, and then bar
red the door
Rachel, Rachel wha. is tue matter
Where is Walter p cried her mother
nervously starting up, but sinking bacl
again upon hSr pillow, with both hand
pressed over her wildly .throbbing heart
'Oh, mother, | saw two hidoous face
pecring in at the window just now, an'
one of them belongs to that man that wa
here this evening What shall do
Oh. mother what shall
Her utterance was interrupted 10y lou,
knock at the door, to which she dcignc,
, no response, but in the agony OF tcrro
kept close to the bedside Of her mother
The knock was repeated, and the bloc
seemed really to freeze in her veins as tb
latch WAC impatiently lifted, and hcav
| weight pressed against the door till
r seemed tho bar that held il shut mu,
give way, and place her at the mercy c
the ruffans.
, Halo, eighbor. let US in wont you
at leugth came voice from without
we are travellers, seeking shelter for til
ught.'
This Rachel was positive was false
hood, for no one ever came to the littl
island except TO transact business wit
those who lived there, and it was not 5
large but that one nigh. traverse throug
it from end to end in couple Of hou
= SO she maintained her position withor
J uttering word.
+ i say, there, my fine girl, continue
the speaker, after waiting few minute
his manner Of rafting the latch showir
that he was getting exasperated at u
} being admitted ii you don't open th
, ; door pretty suddenly, we'll burst it open
and again the bar seemed ready to gi,
!. way under the heavy body pressed again
it.
!, Rachel. said the nervous invalid,
a hoarse whisper, while her eyes, the p
y pill Of which had grown unnaturally lari
. and bright with terror. seemed to be {
!. the point of starting from the socket
. what if they should get inside The
y would Kill nc and carry you away
. Shoot them . shc cried Mortified at 4
T. thought to which she had given EXPIRE
T. sion take the gun and shoot the villain:
u Ready to adopt the first plan that car
. to mind, the girl spraug upon chair /
le iore the fire, and took down from I
u, HOOKS in the wall over tho man,el, h
~ fathers old gun, tog tber with the powd'
~ horn and bullet aud cap pouches. The
latter she carried to the table, aud tht