Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-02-19
The Silent Witness.
FROM A LAWYERS DIARY.

e Among those who came first in my list
friendship was Fred Elliot, and / al
ranged to visit him as soon as / coul,
Fred and bad grown up together; an
when entered upon the practice of la
he entered his uncle's store in the capaC
iiy of bookkeeper, with good promis
ahead. And there was another tie be
tween us--a near and dear one-nea
and dear TO us who were both orphan,
and who had few relatives living. Ere
had married my cousin-sweet Haiti
Keens. He had married her since
went away, though the event had beef
on the docket long while before. AM
thus | was TO meet two of my deares
friends under the same roof.
1t was just dusk when the carriage
left me at the door of the house which
hadsbeen pointed out to me as that occu
pied by my friend, and which at once
recognized as the former home of old
Timothy Elliott, the uncle Of whom !
have spoken. My summons was answer.
ed by light quick step upon the hall
floor and when the door was opened
recognized the fair, fond features Of nv
dearly remembered cousin. She was
five years older than when | last saw her
and grown to be little more womanly
and little more sedate. In fact she
bad put on the holiest Of characters, that
of mother. The beauty, the life, the
animation, the smiles of other years were
not gone but they were elevated with,
softened by, and blended into that noble
character. At first she did not know
me but when called her Hattie as
use, to in olden times, she caught me by
the hand, and in a moment more had
both e soft white arms about my
neck. She was a sister to me in heart
and soul, and with sisters love she
greeted me.
We went into the parlor where the
astral lamp was already burning upon
the center table, and where fire was
rejecting a genial warmth from the pol
ished CRATE ; for it was autumn, and the
evenings were quite cool. Upon chair,
near the table sat little boy some three
years playing with the richly ornamented
bride Of rocking horse; while upon
the carpet was gleesome child not yet
able to walk with safety, engaged in
tumbling about large martin nuf.
Aud these we're Hattie's chldren-two
as bright and beautiful things as ever
made music in an earthly home. She
told them l was uncle Enoch. She had
neither brother nor sister, so / was
forced to be an uncle to her children.
Where had been? What had l been
ioing? How had l been? Was |
married Did ever mean to be? and
A hundred more questions of like char
lcter were showered upon me before |
lad time to ask any in return. BY and
by Fred came. There was a cloud up
IN his face as he entered the room, saw
/ very plainly-but his wife hurried to
lis side, and kissed him and whispered
n his ear, and in a moment he brighten
ID up; and when be greeted me, and
lelG my hand a patted me on the
houlder, he appeared the same warm
md genial spirit as Of old. AT The tea
able he asked after my fortune in the
listant home had sought and when |
old him / had succeeded beyond m y
most sanguine expectations and that ma
erial wealth was fast acumulating for me,
10 was not only pleased, but intimated
hat such prospects would suit him.
l laughed outright at what consider
d the absurdity of this last idea. 1t
would do very well, told him for a poor
elbow, with only two hands and his wits
o help him, to get off into the western
vilds but for one like him, with an in
dependent fortune at his command, to
hink of such thing is simply ridicu>
Gus. He smiled as l spoke and turned
he subject of the conversation.
Within an hour after We had returned
0 the parlor L was sure something had
one wrong with my friend. He tried to
e cheerful, to talk of our old pranks and
lugh and joke as in the days of our
outh and, as last resort, he endeavor-
d TO arouse himself by caressing his
weet children. But it would not do.
ad seen too much. Hattie succeeded
'etter than he did and yet as the even
1g wore on, / could see there was a
eavy load upon her heart as well.
AT length the children were abed, and
he mother soon followed them. / plain
7 Leard her sob as she left the room
nd smothered groan, which could not
scape me, burst from her husbands bo-