The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-06-19

maids and matrons, whose solicitud'
Tor the near and dear ones, supposed
To be engaged IN the conflict, woult
not permit them to stay behind were
all found mingling with the victors
and participating in their civilizations
Bright lights we're streaming from ev
cry window,o or dancing in every direc-
tion IN the streets: while the smiling
faces and animated voices, everywhere
seen and heard among the commin.
Cling throng, seemed to tell only OF
scene of universal joy and triumph.
But as Joyous and lively as was the
scene. in its predominating features, il
was yet not without its painful con
trasts. The broken sob, or the low
wall of sorrow, was heard rising sadly
on the night air, in every interval that
occurred in the more hoisterous but ir-
repressible manifestations which char
acteriz I'd the hour. And, even in the
same dwellings, these two contrasted
choiy capture were not unfrequently
presented; for, while in one room
might be heard the notes of Joy and
exultation, in another might be distin
guished the stified groan of some
wounded soldier, or the lamentations
of the bereaved over the body of a
slain relative.
Among the most noted of the class
last mentioned was the late residence
of Squire Haviland, situated in the out
skirts of the village, and recently oc
cupied as the quarters of the officers
OF the Rangers, on the invitation OF
the patriotic but singular and mystic
rious man who at its sale by the com
mlssioners of confscation had pur-
chased the establishment among sew
eral others of valuable description
thus sold in this section OF the coun-
try. To this residence the scene of a
former portion of our story we will
now once more and for the last time
repair.
While in one part of the building
the officers with other distinguished
persons were engaged in discussing the
incidents of the day in another and
more retired apartment on pillowed
couch lay the wounded Father Herriot
who having been stricken down in the
| last moments of the battle as before
| intimated had been borne hlther to
complete the willing sacrifice he had
made of his life to the cause of his
| country. On small table within his
reach lay several documents which were
fresh from the hand of that ready
writer the accomplished secretary of
the Council of Safety who had just
left the apartment. And around his
bed stood those in whom all his pri
vate interests and sympathies had been
for some time secretly concentrated
though to two Of them personally un-
known till few hours before when
he had been brought in wounded and
committedto their care. Those persons
were Harry WOODBURY., Bart Burt, Sa-
brey Haviand and Vine Howard who,
ignorant of his particular good wishes
or intentions, and wondering why the
presence of all of them should be de
sired at the same time, had been sum
moned to his bedside to hear his last
comm un ication and receive his bless
ing.
my prayer is answered, said Her
riot. after looking round atfectionately
while upon his expectant auditors,
who, at his request after the room was
cleared of other company, had ad
vanced TO his bedside. My last prayer
has been to be permitted to see all of
you, in whose personal welfare ] have
been led to take a peculiar interest as
sembled before me, while life and rea-
son remained, SO that | could commune
with YOU; and the prayer has been
graciousy answered till when, at the
close of our first and as we all supposed
the final triumph today Miss Havi-
land with her friend at my request
was conveyed here to her former home,
of which l had become the purchaser.
| then thought to have met you all
in which | could have actively shared
victory so naturally calls forth as well
as in the happiness which AS tar as re
CARDS you, / believed ] could greatly
add by my own acts. But he who holds
the fate of individuals, as we'll as
that of armies, in his hands, has
seen fit to ueny me such participation
and He doeth all things we'll"
''Your wound is not necessarily a
mortal one, Father HerrIot, and | trust
you may yet live to enjoy the fruits of
a victory you have contributed so
much by your bravery to win," OBJ
served WOODBURY., feehngly.
THAT may not be. | feel the de
stroyer busily at work here, under
mining the CITADEL" responded the
other, placing his hand on that part of
his chest where the bullet had en-
tered. 'But regret not having made
the poor sacrifice of my life for so
righteous cause. And though | shall
not live to see the happiness | would
be the means of imparting, yet the
wish and the duty of doing what | pro
posed to that end remains to be full
filled, and for this purpose | have
requested youi presence.
The speaker here paused as if at
loss how he should open the subject
VIII ich seemed to rest on his mind
But at length he resumed
Miss Haviland, what you have done
and suffered for the cause, IN which
you SO nobly took your stand. is
known to many. The part you have
acted in the events of this day is
known to still more; but have not
those events had bearing on your
ha ppiness beyond what would arise
fir om the Liberation of your person.
"They have, SIR" replied the maid
en-, frankly but with an air of sur
prise at the unexpected question.
And have been correctly informed
by the person who has just left MS, and
who has long been my confidential
friend and adviser, that, by the relin-
enlistment of certain contract, you
are now left free to bestow your hand
on one whose character and feelings
NAV be more congenial with your
ownf'
"Why am l questioned in 50 un-
usual a manner, and by one SO much
49, r.l,al fba faro,ar IN a