Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-05-28

ana still no sorrow lad come TO them, ana
Mildred had ceased TO dread the retribution
which in former years she had feared would
be sometime visited upon her for her sin.
About this period Percy formed the &C
quaintance Of young man belonging to one
of the most respectable families in the city.
Ross Gaylord was handsome man Of about
twenty-eight years, and fluent and agree
able talker. His visits to the home Of the |
Cliffes, which soon became frequent, were |
seasons Of pleasant and usually instructive |
conversation, and Percy soon entertained |
for him sincere friendship, but Mildred |
though she could have assigned no reason, |
felt toward him an unconquerable repusion. |
Gentlemany in his manners, friend of her
husband, E,vorito with her children. pos
sessed of good habits, she know Of no reason
why he should not DO her friend also, and
nance she felt toward him, but in vain.
When she clasped his hand in greeting she
shuddered. and If she met his eye she was
conscious Of an undesirable thrill of terror,
as when one encounters the fixed gaze of the
serpent who seeks to charm that he may de-
stroy.
Thus the months passed on until suddenly
came blow which desolated Mildrod's
home. aud for time almost dethroned her
reason. Her husband was taken from his
home and thrust into prison to answer to
criminal charge. His trial soon TRANSFERRED.
lie was convicted and his sentence pronounce
ed,--a long and dreary Imprisonment. How
| Mildred bore up under this dreadful shock
she never knew, but never for n moment did
she lose faith in her husbands assurance of his
innocence. Daily she visited HIM in his prison
cell, and daily they separated, each strength
ened by the hopefuness and fortitude of the
other.
Ross Gaylord's visits to tho prison were
also frequent, and his assurances of cOntinu-
ed friendship for the unhappy prisoner. and
his promises to try to obtain reprieve, or "a
new trial, or something which might liber-
ate his iIieHd, for time assisted to uphold
Percy's dropping spirits. Neither did Gay
lord forget the wife of his friend in her worse
than widowhood, and bitterly did Mildred
censure herself. that while receiving the as
suranoe which in many ways. he delioatey
proffered, she could not rid herself OF that
feeling of repulsion toward him which had
always attended their intercourse.
At length Percy begun to lose all hope of
being liberated until the end of the period
allotted him by the stern decree of the law, so
often called Justice Gaylord's assurances
of assistance seemed less inspiring than for
merly, and Percy, in despair of being restor-
ed to his family for many years, even should
he survive his long imprisonment, besought
Mildred to take her little ones, and return to
her father. Surely in her distress he would
pardon her error, and receive her with her
children to his home. Mildred had but little
! fear that her father would repulse her, but
} she could not endure the thought of placing
such distance between herself and her
husband.
, NO" she said, "while the labor Of my
) hands will support myself and children and
! keep us from actual want, will not leave
the city. Twill remain where can see you
( for how could be happier, even amid the
: atiluence of my childhood's home, knowing
that you were here alone, and l could moi
, look in and comfort you? We have many
. articles of furniture and clothing not alb
: solutely necessary. but really unsuited to our
I poverty. These 1 will sell and place the
proceeds in the savings-bank. 1t will add
! to itself, though but little. and in case o.
sickness we shall be preserved for a time, al
. least. from Distress" ..... .tt Ia
Again she babe her husband farewell. and
( returned to the lovely children who awaited
! her in her humble home, now only two
2 small rooms in the third story of an OLD
r frame house. The evening shadows gather
9 ed,-night came,-the mother saw her littl,
n ones safely in bed, and, after committing
: herself and her loved ones to the care of
g kind Providence, she retired strong in TIN
/ conviction that it was her duty TO remain
= near her husband rs long rs she could pro
3, cure the means of subsistence for herscl
= and children.
/, At midnight she was awakened from
il troubled sleep by sense of suflocation. Thu
@ room was filled with smoke. Hardly abb
/, to realize the dreadful reality, she rushed tC
y the outer room. There was nothing dis
o cernibe. but here, too. the air was dens
with smoke. Unable to discover the loca
l. ton of the fire, not knowing how to escape
IS she threw open the window and gave tn
a alarm. But her voice. though it frightene
+ herself in the stiffness, was unheard. Agar
Us and again she tried to call assistance. and a
5. length an adjacent window was thrown oper
IS and mans voice caught up her treniulou
e cry of fire and shouted it until the deserte
streets resounded with the echoes A crow
!, soon collected, but not until the flames
II which originated in the second story Of tn
y building, had burst forth, and their fer
: tongues already bid defiance to the heples
r, inmates of the rooms above The fire In
h by this time attacked the staircases, and tn
5 windows afforded the only means of escape
y Mildred hastily wrapped few articles {
T. clothing about herself and her children, nov
ID awakened and, though frightened. great
Id reassured by their mothers calmness, an
ut securing the little money she possessed sll
" waited, waited with the smoke almost SUI
ir locating her, with the flames Kissing an
~ cracking beneath her, heating the floor III
d der her feet, and threatening every momer
ut to destroy the last hope of rescue,-waite
j. while ladders were hastily placed and BRAY
l. men sprang 10 aid the helpless. Caml
if Mildred stood there, and when the DARN
& man assembled the ladder, she handle
lie out her little girl. Rapidly she was born
ut down, and the crowd called loudly flor th
of mother to save herself Save YOURSELF
OF they cried; there may not be time to say
ID both; save yourself first"
he mo" she cried; and now her voiC
he rang clear above the roaring of the flame
+, and the shouts of the excited crowd, " l wi
not leave my boy alone. Wall no one dal
rs come for himpn
m A moments hesitation, and again bra,
IT, man sprang up the ladder. Mildred place
N, her boy in his arms, and moment lat
ed dropped herself lightly over the window-s
ns | and Lnllnwnd him -Iha nnras reanhad n1