Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-05-23

the flame wreathing the candle in the form
of a winding sheet, and one, especially pc
culiar, of funeral procession which started
from the Depeyster mansion the evening
of the day before the old generals demise,
and moved with a slow and solemn. pace
up what is now called South street. Grim
figures clothed in sable black carried
torches which sent forth sicklv glare, a
pair of skeleton horses covered S.ith the
same material, drew the heaise, and all
marched slowly and deliberately on over
the frozen ground, without the sound of a
tramp or the rumbling of wheels, until
they arrived at the family vault, when the
vision abruptly disappeared
Finally this congress, like most con-
crosses in our day, not having succeeded in
anything but to plunge the subject into
deeper mystery, and brighten each other,
took their way homeward with more trem-
ulOus and hasty steps than they were wont.
From this time forth Hans Anderson was
an altered man. His countenance still re-
tanned the haggard, care worn expression
which it had assumed on the day of the adj
venture, and instead of his former open,
manly manner, he became cold, suspicious
and sulen. He seemed to be haunted by
the memory of some great wrong; he
groaned deeply in his sleep; wild cries came
from his bed chamber, and when he ven
tured into the fields alone he returned more
sullen and troubled than ever. This change
was soon noted by the villagers; they all
knew of its cause, and marked him out a
man doomed by the vengeance of the dead.
There was one eye alone which shone for
him more lovingly, one hand which re-
turned his grasp with an answering and
sympathizing pressure, one heart to which
his presence gave a pleasurable futter, and
! this was kathrine Van Twiller, his be-
trothed Friends enLeavored in vain to
wean her from an attachment which they
believed would be fatal. Rival suitors
made merry with the misfortunes of poor
! Hans but the frown which followed the
sallies warned the joker that such at least
was not the path to the lady's hand and
! fortune
With that trait which so distinguishes
woman, and for which we love her the best,
| of ever feeling the more strongly for IA
! vOred ont in proportion he is immersed
| in difficulties was kathrine eminently en-
| lowed and the more sullen and morose
grew Hans the more did her young heart
yearn to comfort and cheer him.
She urged an immediate union, and it
was finally resolved upon. Gayly was the
Van Twiler mansion illuminated on that
eventful evening, and the rustling of silks
was heard i'll every apartment, for the old
PATRON was wealthy and hospitable man,
and an affair so important as the marriage
of his only daughter was not neglected by
the surrounding gentry. The ceremony
was impressively performed by the gray
haired Dutch minister, yet with percepti-
BILE culver in his voice, perhaps from age,
but more probably because vague suspi-
cion came over his mind that it was hardly
right to bind such happy girl to that
gloomy man.
The tables groaned under their load of
delicate viands, and the old negro who
piled the catgut nearly melted in his en-
deavors to satisfy the anxious heels The
company seemed universally to enjoy
themselves, even though the large hoped
dresses of the ladies, and the powdered
wigs, heavy garments, stuffed proportions,
ruffles and furbelows of the gentlemen
precluded the idea of that indiscriminate
hugging so common in our day.
The last reveler had departed, and the
groom with his bride stood alone before
the cheerful fire. She was leaning fondly
with both hands crossed upon his shoulder,
and as she gazed at his countenance, now
less dark than it was wont, an heroic
thought fitted through her brain and
frightened her features, that she was to
to happiness and hope a gloomy and lost
yet noble man.
But a cold breeze was felt by both, and
turning, there, i'll the half open doorway,
stood the spirit, in British uniform, Just as
it had before looked, the livid veal about
the throat, the marks of cords upon the
wrists, all horribly visible. An expression
of sullen despair crossed the countenance
of Hans, while his wife stood speechless
with terror. Slowly the spirit raised its
wan finger, and, pointing it at Kathrine,
spoke III a voice which sent the life blood
to her heart: when the turtle shall have
nine times crossed the porch, thou wilt be
where am, and the spy revenged."
\ year passed by, but with no change
for the better in the case of poor Hans. He
grew, if possible. more bitter and sad; he
spent days in solitary and gloomy mus
ings; he neglected all ordinary occupations,
and incurred the fierce dispeasure of his
father-in-law by his reckless conduct. 1t
was reported that the murdered spy never
left him, but was always present both in
his sleeping and waking hours. He even
became IA drunkard, and sought to drown
in the bottle the gloom which he could not
dispel. Everywhere he was avoided or APP
preached with shuddering. Yet the in
tensity of his suffering seemed to intensity
the affection of kathrine until she almost
worshiped him
But Arnold's negotiations with the Brit
ish we've now in full progress, and sloops of
war far up the river from one of which the
troops landing easily drove the small body
of provincials from the heights around
P, and sacked the town. The Van
Twiller family took refuge with the other
villagers in the woods, but soon became
separated from Hans in the tumult On re-
turning they discovered that the enemy,
not content with the slaughter of human
beings, had waged war even against the
brutes cutting off turtles head and
leaving the animal on the piazza of the
Van Twiller mansion, where it lay CULVER
ing with that tenacity to life which enables
it when so mutilated to survive for weeks.
But night came on, and Hans Anderson
was not found in his accustomed seat
The morning of the second day arrived,
Stikl he did NOT anDpar and NOW "a tarrihla