Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-06

4 mile or two. when pretty young girl
came along, with Il tripping pace. which
showed precisely how her little heart was
dancing in her bosom. Perhaps it was
this merry kind of motion that caused
is there any harm in saying it?-her gar
ter to slip the knot. Conscious that the
silkcn girth-if silk it were-was relaxing
its hold. she turned aside into the shelter
of the maple-trees, and there found Il young
man asleep by the spring! Blushing As
red as any rose, that she should have in
truded into a gentleman's Northumberland
for such Il purpose. too, she was about to
make her escape on tiptoe. But there was
peril near the sleeper. A monster of a bee
had been wandering overhead buzz,
huZz. luz now among the leaves, now
flushing through the strips of sunshine and
now lost in the dark shade, till finally he
appeared to be settling on the eyeld of
David Swan. The sting of a bee is some
times deadly. As free hearted as she was
innocent, the girl attacked the intruder
with her handkerchief, brushed him sound
ly, and drove him from beneath the maple
shade. How sweet picture! This good
deed accomplished. with quckened breath
and Il deeper blush, she stole a glance at
the youthful stranger for whom she had
been battling with a dragon in the
air.
{" He is handsomc'' thought she. and
bluShed redder yet
How could it be that no dream of bliss
grew 50 strong within him, that, shattered
by its very sir ngth, it should part ;,ssnn-
der, and allow him TO perceive the girl
among his phlntoms? Why, 1T least, did
no smile of welcome brighten upon his
face? She was come, the maid whose soul,
according to the old and beautiful idea, had
been severed from his own, and whom, in
all his vague but passionate desires, he
vearned to meet. Her. only. could he love
with u perfect love = him. only. could she
receive into the depths of her heart-and
now her image was family blushing in the
fountain by his side should it pass away.
its happy lustre would never glcam upon
his life again.
"lIow soundly he sleeps" murmured the
girl.
She. departed. but did not trip along
the road so lightly as when she came.
Now, this girls father was Il thriving
country merchant in the ncighborhood.
and happened, at that Identical time. to be
looking out for nst such 4 young man rs
David Swan. Had David formed way
side acquaintance with the daughter, he
would have become the fathers clerk, and
all else in natural succession. SO here
again had good fortune-the best of for
tuncs-stolcn so near that her garments
brushed against him; and he knew nothing
of the matter.
+ The girl was hardly ont of sight, when
two men turned aside beneath the maple
shade. Both had dark faces, set off bv
cloth caps. which was drawn down a>lant
No, 1,.,.y
shabby, vet had a certain smartness
These We're 4 couple of raScals. who got
their living by whatever the Devil sent
them. and now, in the interim of other
business. had >talked the Joint profits of
their next piece of villainy on u game of
cards. which was to have been decided
here un ier the trees. But. finding David
asleep hv the spring. one of the rogues
whispered to his fellow
Hist. DO You see that bundle under
his hc,td?"
} The other villain nodded. winked, and
lcercd
"Ill bet You 4 horn of brandy said
the first. " that the chap has either a pocket
book or Il snug little hoard of small change
slowed awav amongst his shirts. And if
not there we shall find 1t in his pantalOons
pocket.
But how if he wakes" said the
other.
His companion thrust aside his waiS.coat
pointed To the handle of 4 dirk. and nod
drd
$50 be it, mattcrrd the second vii
lain.
So they approached the unconscious Da-
vil, and while one pointed the dagger to-
ward his heart, the other began to search
the bundle beneath his head Their two
faces. grim. wrinklcd. and ghastly with
guitl and fear. bent over their victim
looking horrible enough TO be mistaken
for ticndS. should he suddenly awake. Nay.
had the villains glanced aside into the
spring, even they would have hardly
known themselves as reflected there But
David Swan had never worn more tran
quill aspect even when asleep on his moth
tr'S breast.
must take away the bundle" wills
pered one.
If he >tirs, III strike" muttered the
other.
But at this moment Il dog. Scenting along
the ground. came in beneath the maple
trees, and gazcd alternately at each of
these wicked men. and then at the sleeper.
He then Tapped ont of the fountain.
"P>haw,' said one villain. 1--WE can
do nothing nov, The dogs master must
be close behind"
Let Us take Il drink and he of" said the
other,
The man with the dagger thrust buck
the weapon into his bosom, and drew
forth II pocket-pistol, but not of that kind
which kills by a single discharge. 1t was
a flask of liquor. with block-lin tumbler
screwed upon the mouth. Each drank a
comfortable dram, and left the spot. with
so many tests and such laughter 1T their
unaccomplished wickedness, that they
might be said to have gone on their way
rejoicing. In few hours they had for
gotten the whole affair, nor once imagined
that the recording angel had written down
the crime of murder against their
souls, in letters rs durable as, eterni-
ty.
AS for David Swan. he still slept quietly,
neither conscious of the shadow of death
when it hung over him, nor of the glow of
renewed life, when that shadow was with
drawn.
He slept, but no longer so quietly as at
first An hour S pose had snatched from
his elastic frame the WEAKNESS with which
many hours of toll had burdencd it. Now,
he stirred; now moved his lips, without a
sound, now talked, in an inward tone, to
the MONDAY spectres of his dream But a
noise of wheels came rafting louder along
the road, until it dashed through the dis
persing mist of Davids slumber and
there was the stage-coach. He started up
with all his ideas about him.
Halloo, driver. take Il passenger9'
shouted he.
Room on top" answered the driver.
Up mounted David, and bowled away
merrily toward Boston, without SO much
as Il parting glance at that fountain of
dreamlikc vicissitude. He knew not that
a phantom of Wealth lad throwna golden
hue upon its waters. nor that one Of Love
had sighed softly to their murmur, nor
that one Of Death had threatend to crimson
them with his blood; all, in the brief hour
since he lay down to sleep. Sleeping or
walking. we hear not the airy footsteps of
tho STRANGE tninpS that almost hannpn