St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-02-28

pay Reuben visit. 1t was very diff
ferent meeting from that which took
place few mornings before. The re-
turned soldier had gained in health, but
not in spirits. The rapture of reaching
home once more, the flush of hope and
happiness, had passed away with the
visitors who had focked to offer their
congratulations. He had had time to re-
fleet he had reached home, indeed but
now every moment reminded him how
soon that home was to be taken from him.
He looked at his wife and children, and
clenched his teeth hard to stihe the emo
tions that arose at the thought of their
future. The sweet serenity, the faith
and patience and cheerfulness, which
never ceased to illumine Sophronia's face
as she moved about the house, pursuing
her daily tasks, and tenderly waiting up
on him, deepened at once his love and
his solicitude. He was watching her
thus when the Ducklows entered with
countenance mournful as the grave.
How are you gittin' along, Reuben ?
said Ducklow, while his wife murmur-
ed solemn good morning to Sophro-
mia.
Il am doing well enough. Don't be
at all concerned about me 1t ant pleas
ant to lie here, and feel it may be
months before I'm able 70 be about my
business; but | would MT mind i'll
could stand it tirst-rate,-I could stand
anything, anything but to see her work
ing her life out for me and the children
To no purpose, either; that's the worst
of it. We shall have to lose this place,
spite of fate y
'Oh, Reuben y said Sophronia, hast
cning to him, and laying her smooth
hands upon his hot forehead why wo' mt
YOU stop thinking about that DO try
to have more faith We shall be taken
care of I'm sure =
If | had three thousand dollars.-yeS,
or even two-then I'd have faith said
Reuben. Miss Be>wick has proposed
to send a subscription paper around town
for US but I'd rather die than have it
done. Besides, nothing near that amount
could be raised, I'm confident. You
needn't groan SO, Pa Ducklow, for |
ant limiting at you, l don't expect YOU
to help me out of my trouble. If you
had felt called upon 10 do it, you'd have
done it before now: and don't ask. |
don't beg of any man added the soldier
proudly.
That's right like your sperit =
said the miserable Ducklow. But was
sighing 10 think of somethiug->ome-
thing YOU haven't known anything about,
Reuben
Yes, Reuben, we should have helped
YOU, said Mrs Ducklow, and did take
steps towards it
In fact, resumed Ducklow, you've
met with great mi>iortin, Reuben.
Unbcknown TO yourself, you've met with
"A great mistortin' Yer Ma Ducklow
knows
Yes, Reuben, the very day your came
home, yer Pa Ducklow made an invest
ment for your teneft. We didn't men
ton it.-you know / wouldn't own W
to it, though | didn't exactly say the
: contrary, the morning we was ovcl
here
, Because said Ducklow, as she falter-
ed. I'VE wanted to surprise you we was
keerin' it Il secret till the right time then
, we was goin' 20 make it pleasant sur
, prise to ye.'
| what in the name of common sense
are you talking about ? cried Reuben
locking from one to the other of til,
l wretched, prevaricatng pair.
: 'Cowpon bonds = groaned Ducklow
Three thousan' dollar bonds. The
money had been lent, but | wanted tC
make good investment Cor you, and
thought there was nothin' SO good Z
; gov ments--
= That's all right, said Reuben. only
if you had money TO invest for my benefit
r should have preferred to pay off tho
| mortgage the first thing
r 'Sartin sartin y said Ducklow anC
you could have turned the bonds righ
e in, if YOU had so chosen, like SO mucl
= cash. Or you could have drawed youl
4. interest on the bonds in gold, and paid th,
: interest on your mortgage in currency
= and made so much, as | rather though
&. you would
Y 'But the bonds?' eagerly demanded
r Reuben, with trembling hopes, just a
Miss Beswick, with her shawl over he
: head, entered the room.
we was Just telling about our loss
: Reuben's loss said Mrs. Ducklow, in ;
L manner which betrayed no little anxict,
r to conciliate that terrible woman.
5 very well don't let me interrupt.
5 And Miss Beswick, slipping the shaw
from her head, sat down.
r Her presence, stiff and prim and sar
castle, did not tend in the least to re
o lieve Mr.. Ducklow from the natural EN-
barrassment he felt in giving his version
t of Reuben's loss. However, assisted oc
e casionaly by judicious remark throw
e in by Mrs. Ducklow, he succeeded II
t telling sufficiently plausible and candle
n seeming story.
= Il see d. l see y said Reuben, who ha
c listened with astonishment and pain t
t the narrative. You had kinder inten
: tions towards me than gave you credi
for. Forgive me, if l wronged you
: He pressed the hand of his adopted faith
It er, and thanked him from heart file
o with gratitude and trouble. But don
feel so bad about it. You did what yo
n thought best. 1 can only say the fate
: are against me-
Hem y coughing, Miss Beswic
o stretched up her long neck and cleared he
Ne throat SO them bonds you had bough
y for Reuben was in the house the yer
'r night called.'
1t Yes, Miss Beswick,' replied Mrs. DUCK
st low; 'and that's what made it so Ill