The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-11-15
BRArrLEBoRo. NOVEMBER is. 1895

the place, together with it's proximity
to the old fort at Walpole, (3) at which
a military establishment was once
maintained by the government OF New
Hampshire for the protection OF its
frontier, that led to the early settle.
ment and rapid growth OF this charm
ing spot, which, having been entered
by the pioneers as far back as 174l, az
continued so to increase and prosper,
though on the edge Of wilderness
unbroken, for many years, for hundreds
opening of the American revolution,
built village in Vermont.
the beginning Of our tale, had been,
for several years. the seat of justice
for all the southern part Of this dis
puted territory, under the assumed
jurisdiction Of New York, in which a
majority of the inhabitants seemed to
have tacitly acquiesced. And the
most prominent Of its public buildings,
as might be expected, was the Court
House, a embracing the jail under the
same roof. This was a spacious square
edifice, conspicuously located, and Of
very respectable architecture for the
times. The village, also, contained a
meeting. house, school-house, and the
usual proportion Of stores and taverns
The whole place, indeed, had now
nearly passed into the second stage OF
existence, in American villages, when
the pioneer log houses have given place
to the more airy and elegant framed
buildings; and, compared with other
towns, which, in this new settlement,
were then just emerging FROM the
wilderness, 1t wore quite an ancient
appearance.
Among the most commodious and
handsome OF the many respectable
dwellings which had here been erected,
was that of Cream Brush, (5) Esquire,
colonial deputy secretary of New York
and also an active member OF the legis-
lature of that colony for this part of
her claimed territory. This house,
at the sessions of the courts, especial
ly, was the fashionable place Of resort
for what was termed the court party
gentry, and other distinguished per-
sons from abroad. To the interior of
this well-furnished and affectedly
aristocratic establishment, we will
now repair, in order to resume the
thread of our narrative.
In an upper chamber Of the house,
at a late hour of the same evening on
which occurred the exciting scenes
described in the-preceding pages, sat
the two young ladies', to whom the
reader has already been introduced
silently indulging in their different
reveries before an open fire. They
had safely arrived in town; about an
hour before, with all their company,
except one, who had been left at
marlborough and having been con
signed to the family Of this mansion,
with whom they had formed a pre-
vious acquaintance at Albany, where
Brush, the greater part Of the year,
resided, and where both of the young
ladies were educated, they had taken
some refreshment, and retired to the
apartment prepared for their reception.
The demeanor of these fair compan-
ions, always widely different, was
particularly 80 at the present moment.
Miss Haviland, with her chin grace
fully resting on one folded hand, and
her calm and beautiful, but now deep
ly-clouded brow shaded by the white
taper fingers of the other was abstract
edly gazing into the glowing Goals on
the hearth before her while the gentle
but less reflective McRea with a
countenance disturbed only by the
passing emotions OF sympathy that
occasionally fitted over 1t as she
glanced at the downcast face of her
friend, sat quietly preparing for bed
by removing her ornaments and adj
justing those long golden tresses with
which in after times her memory was
destined to become associated in the
minds of fearful thousands while read
ing the melancholy history OF her
tragic fate.
"Come Sabrey," at length said the
latter soothingly, "come cheer up. |
cannot bear to see you 30 detected.
would not brood over that frightful
scene any longer but feeling grateful
and happy at my escape would dismiss
it as soon as possible from my mind.
II am, Jane" responded the other
partially rousing herself from her rev.
erie; II am both grateful and happy
at my providential escape. But you
are mistaken in supposing it is that
scene which disquiets me tonight.
Indeed ~ replied the former with
a look of mingled surprise and curl
osity. "Why have been attributing
your detection and absence of mind
this evening to that cause alone
What else can have occurred to dis
turb your thoughts tonight let me
ask !?'
"Jane. in confidence will tell you"
replied Miss Haviland looking the
other in the face and speaking in low