The Rangers

an make a b

ud names,

sense and pr

r ranks tha

on, to few others in New England. In addition to the advantage of a situation along the banks of

es through rich

sea a lovelier

ast amphitheatre, which the place, with the aid of a little fancy, may be very easily thought to resemble; for, from the principal street, which is nearly a mile in extent,

protection of its frontier, that led to the early settlement and rapid growth of this charming spot, which, having been entered by the pioneers as far back as 1741, continued so to increase and prosper,

ldings, as might be expected, was the Court House, 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,

of the legislature of that colony for this part of her claimed territory. This house, at the sessions of the courts, especially, was the fashionable place of resort for what was termed the court party

tance 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 companions, always widely different, was particularly so at the present moment. Miss Haviland, with her chin gracefully resting on one folded hand, and her calm and beautiful, but now deeply-clouded brow, shaded by the white, taper fingers of the other, was abstractedly gazin

o see you so dejected. I would not brood over that frightful scene any longer, but, fee

verie; "I am both grateful and happy at my providential escape. But you

have been attributing your dejection and absence of mind, this evening, to that cau

in a low, serious tone. "It is the discovery which I have made, or at least think I have, this day, made, r

llude. But what new trait have you discovered in him

, in spite of all my endeavors to resist it. You recollect Mr. Jones's account of the lawsuit, in which Mr. Peters

cert

ry, when rightly viewed, was

tood the case sufficien

me that an unjust advantage had been taken. But perhaps I could have been brought to believe myself mis

lse did

uch as it pained me. That pretended accident, in runn

how can you believe, so about one whose

ful to do so; but

not have be

on accompanying the final act. And even now, I shudder to think what guilt he might have incurred! Even as it resulted, only in the destruction of property, how can I help being sho

what has he done?

as we were coming away, that there had been a great excitement among the people in the street, about the o

animity in one of his class. It was truly a noble r

life, he has still more nobly revenge

s tell your father, that it was the settler who lived in the

entioning Woodburn?" asked Miss Haviland, wi

th the news, while we were getting

f ice, with which I was borne onward down the stream, I saw all that was done. He led the way from the first, contrived the plan, and with the assistance of the hesitating settler, carried it into execution, with a promptitude that alone could have saved me. It is true, that we both must have perished but for the timely arrival of Colonel Carpenter; but that detracts nothing

mething should be done to save you," replied Miss McRea, after a thou

o another to save me?" resp

d himself, and I heard him offer five guineas, and I think he doubled the pr

singular fountain must that be, from which such a thought, at such a time, could have flowed! Had it been one of those favorite horses, it would have sounded

n put on what she had communicated, and mortified and half vexed, that every attempt she had made to remove her frie

empt to deprive Woodburn of the credit he had gained. Jane," she continued, with softened tone, "

But I should have had no occasion to have any thought about it; for I know he would have been the one to save me, or die with me. O, I wish Mr. Jones had

nt he had received from Peters, and then return good for evil? And was it low to rescue me from the ra

t, when I heard Mr. Jones's account of him, I was disposed to think highly of the man, for one in his situat

one that has right and reason on its side. And as to the claim of belonging to what is called the first society, I can only say that I wish many, who are allowed that claim among us, were as worthy of the place as I think Woodburn is. I have always loved Justice for her beautiful self and hated her opposite; and I never could see how those who a

of the right of the confessor. I can easily understand how painful it would be to have doubts of the character of one's lover, and I can also understand," she continued, looking a little a

f midnight. Let us dismiss these embarrassing thoughts, and retire to our repose. Your prospects, Jane," she continued, rising and speaking in a sad and gently expostulatory

end it. Forgive me, do; and we will dismiss the subject for something which wi

, we will now repair to a lower apartment of the house, to note the doings of a select band of court dignitaries there assembled, for a purpose concerning which a spectator,

, cracking his jokes and ridiculing "the boorish settlers," in which he was sure to find a ready response in the boisterous laugh of Peters and other young supporters of the court and loyal party. Here, too, sat the fiery and profane Gale, the clerk of the court, with his thin, angular features, and forbidding brow, occasionally exploding with his short, bitter, barking laugh, as, with many an oath, he dealt out anticipated vengeance on all those who should dare cross the path of the established authorities. And here also was Chandler, the chief judge of the court, with his plausible man

f the house, to serve him in such work as might be wanted about the house and stables, was a youth, of perhaps eighteen, of quite an ordinary, and even singular appearance. His figure was low and slight, and he was made to appear the more diminutive, perhaps, by his dress, which consisted of short trousers, a long, coarse jacket, and a flat woollen cap, drawn down to the eyebrows. His hair, hanging, in lank locks, to his shoulders, was light and sandy, and his face was deeply freckled; while a pair of long, falling eyelashes contributed to

Burt, to give the whole of his euphonious name, gentlemen, may be considered an excellent specimen of the rebel party, who talk so wisely about self-government, sitting under one's own vine and fig-tree, and all that sort of thing; for; in the first place, he has a great deal of wisdom, handy to be got at, it all lying in his face. And

ks I see a flaw therein, friend Brush: you said our young republican's wisdom, alias ideas, all lay in his face; and then, in the matter of the fig-tr

usly suspected Bart to have ideas, or, at least, one whole idea of his own; and if you think that is too much to al

Brush!" shouted several, with ano

that was uttered; and but for a certain rapid twinkling that might have been seen in his eyes, which, as he deliberately returned to his seat in the corner, were o

e pushing his way into the midst of the company. "We have done nothing but drink and joke since you went out, scarcely; at

breath, and a glass of this glorious old Madeira, firs

her stolen the march of us. They have been swarming into town all the evening, as thick as bees, whi

a sidelong glance towards Bart, whom the wary eye of the judge had detected in slightly changing his position, so as t

o ask whether there was any danger to be apprehended from talking before the servant. "Pooh-nonsense!" said Brush, readily understanding the mute appeal. "Nonsense! You

y Satans, and are in earnest about carrying their threat into execution. Now, the question is, what shall be done-yie

ill my pistol bullets have drank the he

derstand quite as much of that kind of play as we do; and so long as they outnumber us so greatly, the fun of doing what yo

ow, emphatic tone, and with a look of p

up the sentence where the other left it, or rather

ight; all of which may be said truly. And in this manner, if the thing is well managed, their suspicions can be allayed, and

s bridges," gruffly replied the sheriff. "Yes, and if these mobbing knav

said Sabin, with

t any offensive implements with them, do you, Patterson? It might be done covertly, you know. Has this be

arms with them, at any rate. We are undoubtedly indebted to

hat piece of diplomacy with the fellows. And no one but he can carry out

would listen to none of us." "The thing is settled

to negotiate in this delicate affair. But you will understand, in case I accede to your wishes, gentlemen," he continued, with a look of peculiar mean

knowing winks and laughter, "we will all unde

f the intelligence and spirit of the common people, now rose and retired to their respective lodgings, inwardly chuckling at their sagacity, in being able to concoct what they believed would prove a succes