Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-20

have cheerfully knocked the coarse lester
down, and watched his retracing footsteps
with feeling of hearty qualification. l
had never liked or trusted that man and
the very idea of his presuming to take
| Barbara Wycliffe's name In his mouth was
indescribably revolving to me.
The next day was one of those brilliant
bits of sunshine and brightness that occa-
sionally diversity the early weeks OF our
Northern Spring, arant couriers of soft
eyed April and blossoming May The air
was blue as liquid sapphire the folded
leaf-buds seemed visibly to stir and swell,
and here and there, in sunny, sheltered
hooks, the velvet grass glowed greenly be-
meath dead, rustling leaves. l had been
down in the woods piling up and trimming
the logs | had yesterday cut, and ON re-
turning up the narrow glen path | saw the
light tutter of a scarlet shawl cross the
window of my little dwelling from the in
side
:. More company" l thought, with a
quick, electric bound at my heart; for
knew there was but one woman for miles
around who would be likely to visit me,
and then, besides, Barbara Wycife's sweet
eyes were like lodestars to me, and | felt
it must be her. | sprang up the slope
with movement as light as my heart, and
entered at the wide-open door.
g Barbara" l said, holding out both my
hands, " this is an unexpected pleasure"
She had been crimson when my footstep
first sounded on the threshold ; now she
turned deadly pale with whiteness that
startled me.
"Oh, is it you, Reuben-Mr. Eyre :
I'm so glad you've come IT," She
stammered and suffered painfully, ant
for our stray guinea-fowls in the wood
above, and | went farther than | had any
idea of. was very tired, and thought
would stop in moment and rest"
t And you are as welcome as flowers IL
t May, Barbara but.you hnoao you are"
f For she had smiled up in my face will
e an arch, half-doubtful look. There wa
no question of absent color now ; he
cheeks glowed like-like-like the velve
; petals of Giant of Battles - rose,
5 suppose the poets would say; but
S thought of the red glare of the locomo
: tive's headlight, which was always beau
| tiful to me.
D g And did you find the runaways ?''
No think they must be down il
o the maple swamp | shall look there 70
e them Tomorrow But Mr.. Eyre, [ wante
n to say besides She hesitated and hun
f down her head.
: Well, Barbara, what ?' | added
$ +" | don't know" she said convulsively
don't know what But l came t
: to warn you
It Again the deathly pallor came over he
r face There was a strange startled loo
a in her large brown eyes.
d " Warn me, Barbara ? of what ?''
V OF him-of that man-John Walk
e err
: | had felt when she said she lad com
: to warn me that it was of that man. Sh
e was surprised that | was not startled, an
c asked me, hurriedly
e What was he doing here to-day, Reu
:, ben ?''
: did look at her i'll astonishment thi
: time.
: Has he been here to-day, Barbara
e You are thinking of yesterday evening ?
e [ suggested.
e " No, l am not" she answered, impetu
ousIv. 8. am not thinking of yesterda
: evening / mean to-day not an hou
: ago"
Il What makes YOU think he was here
e Barbara ?'
k :. Because | saw him because /
e tollo,ced him. | knew he was bent on mi.
' chief and mischief against you
il I shook my head doubtfully.
e Are you quite sure you are not mi
IS taken ? For if he had been here, woul
o he not have staid to see me? When dl
:, YOU see him here, and where p
'' | tell you it was but little while ag(
u He means you mischief, Reuben. be sur
of that. | sac him put large knife
t his breast as he left the house, and | 70
e lowed him-followed him until | saw hir
reach the door He stopped by the doc
J. and stood still minute or two as if
were listening
( perhaps he was listening to hear if
E. were at home"
J., % was sure of it, and / started on tt
y run to the house to warn you but L wa
e SO agitated could not move fast. L sa
him enter, and | tried to scream, but cou
not. | felt he would do you an injuI
le with that knife
,e Well ?"
st Well he went in and closed the do'
re behind him, but he did not remain the
r, more than two minutes ; for as L ran
saw him come out again and strike r1g
l. into the woods to the left"
{" That is the shortcut to the rallroa
of switch Perhaps he expected to find n
n there"
Perhaps he did, said Barbara.
i? Or possibly the =" green-eyed mo
ster - was reasserting its presence on
IN more, and trying to smile, l said" pc
o. sibly he knew you were out and hoped
,y meet you somewhere in the vicinity"
:" Barbara's long lashes dropped for m
ment then there was flash in her eyes
1t. and then she answered, carelessly with ju
ut perceptible sneer /:
e. :" 1t is just possible that he did. thous
he why he should arm himself to meet me
lv beyond my comprehension. At all even
nv he went the wrong way. Good evening
mt i" Surely you are not going yet Y
IS :. I must, thank you. Father will &C
r. tainly think I am lost if [ don't hur
ay home"
nd I glanced at the clock in the corner.
was rather earlier than | had though t.
in only half past FIVE.
on I" You will let me walk with you
far as the bridge?" | pleaded
sv Ordinarily she would have hesitated
no while, or else have uncompromisingly
fused nv escort. She possessed all t
,Iv impulses and wiles of finished drawn
room coauette, this little rustic maiden
IL. ~r;Jdornarc apd seldom missed an {