The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-02-07
have so vainly contended in another

81 feel additionally grateful to you
Mr.. WOODBURY., for your delicate AM
generous course under the circum
stances in which, as you seem to b
aware. am placed. But as | nov
perceive my companion approaching
in the road, you will excuse my depart
ure."
"Certainly, said WOODBURY. "ant
you will forgive what has been salt
by one who is so truly the prey of con
ficting emotions?
80, yes, SIR" she answered, looking
up with witching smile, as she bowed
her adieu; THAT is, l will when 20,
do anything worthy of my forgiveness. ,
WOODBURY. stood mutely gazing afte
his lovely visitor till her small aut
graceful figure, floating on in its de
vious course through the diversified
grounds in almost fairy lightness re-
ceded from his enraptured sight
when he turned away with sigh tt
commune with himself, try to analyzt
his feelings, weigh consequences, give
Reason her rightful sway, and follow
her dictates. After long and deer
struggle with his feelings he appeared
to come to some determination, and,
resolutely, bringing down foot to the
ground, he exclaimed
"No, never! l will not give way
to feelings which can only end in dis
appointment and modification. Begone
enticing vision, begone! | will harbor
YOU no longer. And under the impulse
of his freshly formed resolution, he
abruptly left the spot, and fastened
through the enclosure to take his way
homeward. AS he was about to pass
out into the road, his attention was at
tracted by the barking of small dog.
that. having followed the ladies. and
tarried behind on their return, seemed
to be intent on dragging out some
thing from under broad, fiat stone
lying in one corner of the graveyard.
Feeling some inclination to know what
discoveries the dog was making in a
spot so unpromising of any game that
would be likely to attract him, Wood
burn walked to the spot: when he
perceived the animal to be eagerly
Juggling at some object. which pre-
scented the appearance of the corners of
some old leatherbound book. buried
beneath the stone. His curiosity being
now excited, he stood by and patiently
waited to see the result. In a few
minutes the dog succeeded in dragging
out the object in question:. which
proved to be an old record book, or
rather the remains of one. for part
of it had been converted by the mice
into nest. and the rest was mutilated
and falling to pieces. Leaving the
dog to pursue his object, which was
now sufficiently explained. WOODBURY.
gathered up the remains of the book
and stepped aside to examine them.
On beating of the dirt and opening
the mutilated parts. he soon, and to
his great surprise, discovered it to be
volume of the town records; the very
lieved, had caused his defeat IN his
lawsuit with Peters. And hurriedly
running over the leaves. his eye. the
next moment, fell on the record of his
own deed, with the dates precisely as
he had commended, and standing in a
which would have proved
the priority of his title, furnished him
a complete defence, and saved him
from ruin!
The previous suspicious of Wood
burn, respecting the disappearance Of
these records through the agency of
Peters, were now confirmed in the |
mind IF the former. AS certainly as if
ne had witnessed the act; and this
iggravating discovery, coming as it
lid too late to be of any benefit TO him,
md at moment, too, when his feel
ngs, notwithstanding his recent dec
arations to Miss Haviland, and his
resolves, were sore from the
insidlous workings of jealousy, and
he revolving thought of the preten.
,ions of his hated foe to her hand
his discovery. we say, wrought up
lis mind, already imbittered to the
asst degree of endurance, to state
little short of absolute frenzy. And
the fragments of the book,
which contained the proof of the black
transaction, in one hand, and flourish
ng the heavy oak cane he had with
lin in the other, he rushed out of the
and, with a disturbed air
md hurrying step, took his way to-
wards his desolate home, resolved, that
n case he found, as he feared, that all
.hances of legal redress had passed by.
lie would at least unsparingly make use
# the means now in his power in
the villiany of Peters to
he world.
In his state of evaporation, after
proceeding short distance, he unex-
and unfortunately encount-
red the very OBJ ect of his pent indig-
lation, the naughty and hated Peters,
Who, on horseback, was coming up a
on his way to the Tory Tav-
IN, where, as the leader has been al
eady apprised, his tools and partisans
we're anxiously awaiting his arrival.
Ia here? Then he shall be the
irst to hear it, muttered WOODBURY.,
s with a flashing eye he suddenly {
urned and sternly confronted the other
n his path.
What now, sir?" said Peters,
eigning up with a look of surprise not
nmingled with uneasiness. {
81 will tell you what, now, SIR
eplied WOODBURY., in voice quivering
18th suppressed passion your frauds
re exposed Here are the remains of S
hose very records, you or your tools '
urloined to enable you to accomplish
our unhallowed triumph over me, a
nd now just found buried in yonder J
J" I
Away, sir ~ exclaimed Peters, re-
overing his usual assurance. Il know :
othing of your crazy jargon; stand
side and let me pass. !
"Not till you have looked at the y
roof of what | assert. or acknowledged p
Is correctness, - persisted the other, /,