Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-22
VOL. XXXVI.

hours cautious stepping, we stood below
the mist, the blue lake cleaning like a
mirror still further down, and my uncle's
house within sight. Conscious of the SER
vice she had rendered, did not confine
my thanks to words, but was liberal with
my coin.
As she took " the siller, =" she scanned
my face curiously, then seized my hand
and peered into it closely. while sort of
creepy sensation (excusable in Il girl Of
nineteen) stole over me.
"Once, twice, thrice! Three pcrils, my
bonnie Teddy. One is past. The ithers
lie before. Perils of your ain seeking.
The gates of death stand in the path of
your true love. Open them not with rash
or needless hands before the year be out,
or love may mourn for love that coudna
bide. The air of mountain and of lake is
na guide for ye, bairn. Keep mair at home
and dinna be misdoubtin. Thers'sa guide
God above n, Remember! One danger
is overpast. TAX heed ye seek not the
ithers and dinna scotf at old Elspa's warm
ing words. "
The old woman trotted off with her bas-
ket on her head, garments poor but clean,
hid OnlJ OuNCh NOOlCh
chief to protect her from the chilly noun
tain mists.
| had scarcely decided whether to laugh
at her maunderings or to yield to the sn-
perstious feeling she had awakened, when
| opened the house door TO find all within
in IL state of excitement.
1t was long past the dinner hour and my
absence had alarmed them. OF course,
explained the cause of delay, and it was
only by Aunt Ritson.s agitation that full
ly comprehended the danger had escaped
| think her motherly concern made me
more communicative than usual.
We were still speaking of Elspa when
my uncle came in.
"Ah!" said he as Winnie helped him
off with his overcoat, " All! my dear, you
might thank your stars Elspa was on the
mountain side. | dare say she had fol
lowed you. The old Scotch woman i,
shrewd and far-seeng; she has turned her
eighty years experience to account, has Il
good practical knowledge Of common all
ments and curative simnles. l should lose
my own credit or might do worse than
take her rs an assistant and he laughed
Then she can read character with any
physiognomost in the world, and the silly
folks think her prophetic, when she is on
ly clear-eyed."
think my uncle was using an invisible
probe. | know colored and he laughed
again, but said nothing-nor did |.
| The excitement had not all been on my
account Bella had received an invitation
to spend some months with u newly-mar
ried friend in London, and good-naturet
Winnie was in high glee. Even aunt ac
knowledged it was "a chance not to BIT
missed, if possible" )" and l saw her glance
furtively in Uncle Ritson's face, which
fanced was graver than usual. Still, pos
sibilities were not discussed in my pres
ence. 1t was not until had retired to m,
own pretty room for the night that | over
heard the sisters discussing the problem
unmindful of the thin partition betwecl
the head of my bed and theirs.
| found that money-or It's scarcity
stood in the way, and heard the chance
of the matrimonial market calculated witt
a balance greatly in favor of London.
Money! How | hated the word!
would have given every shilling | pos
sessed to be assured that Edgar Nevill,
was true to me, and would seek me ou
when the period of probation prescribet
by my father was gone by. But wher
could he seek for me? Correspondent
had been forbidden. He knew not my nd
dress, and my father had withheld Edgar
from me. All, how he repented before h
died How glad he would have been t,
have left me in those strong, protectiv
arms.
l soon bridged the monetary difficult
over in spite OF my uncle's opposition, an
| think | showed something of my old sci
in the spirit with which l entered into til
needful preparations for Miss Rtson'
launch on the sea of London society, littl
thinking what might be its import to m,
self.
1t was May when she went. l suggeste
that she should tighten her mourning bt
/ ing about to visit Il bride-a hint sh
, seemed glad to take for her prettey laver
| der bonnet sci off her face much bette
than her heavy Grape.
= She kissed me very heartily before sll
/ got into the gig beside her father to /
| driven to the station, to which her boXt
[ had already been dispatched, and | fe
more satisfied with myself than had don
} since had crossed the Cumberland bo
der.
Letters filled with the wonders she ha
| seen and the places she had visited brok
9 up the monolony of our lives. The
/ came one from Hastings, in which 81
r spoke of her introduction to II Mr.. NJ
vile.
? | think my pulse stopped us Winn
e read out the name. | know aunt askt
me if | was ill-if the heat was too mut
r for me. But | drew myself togethe
t said nothing" was the matter, and trit
8 to convince myself that the name was
{ common one.
!, Again and again we heard of this san
/ Mr.. Neville, and my heart began to
o torn with doubts and suspicious and We
D demon of jealousy seemed to take posse
f sion of my breast. felt assured th
s Bella was in love with him, and that
e was the Edgar Neville of my adoratiol
g all that she stated of his appearance al
+ family were convincing.
4 At length letter came addressed in
@ manly hand to Uncle Ritson, with Edgar
well known crest upon the seal. 1t was
e proposal for my cousins hand
q My head swan round, but l summons
: courage to ask Mr.. Neville's Christit
name. He had elely signed j. i, N
t vile.
g Ah, that was it, sure enough-Jol
II Edgar!
d had my back towards my uncle. stan
# ing in the doorway, as | asked. No O
d noticed how staggered into the hall,
how snatched my hat from the stand a
: darted up the mountain side to cool Il
r fevered brow and still my throbhing puls'
How l went or where l wentl could neV
n remember. | have some recollection
@ falling as bounded across beck, of {
1t Elspa's face bending over me, and then
more, until | found myself in my oy
IS snowy bed, with Winnie watching me a
!, an array of physic bottles on the wind'
/, seat.
s. Espa had found me where had fallt
1t half in half ont of the stream. Unable
q drag ME thence, she had summoned he
,. with peculiar whistle she kept susper
ed in her girdle, the shrill note OF viii
IL no shepherd dared to disobey.
,s 1t brought couple of shepherds to
ID spot. My limbs were lifted out of
IN stream She had already bathed my br
ic and plastered up my temple-and ther
WAS slowly carried down, to interrupt