The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-09-21


have found out in some way. If this
story was true, would such man be
likely to marry poor girl? For Mllie
Warner was really an heiress in small
way. She was sole inheritor Of small
unencumbered farm from her father, and
| five thousand dollars in bank stock. But
the farm was two hundred miles south Of
this town, where she was visiting a cous-
in, and nobody Knew of it; and during
her visit she had helped her cousin in her
work as she had always helped her mother
when she was at home-capable, ,industr-
GUS little girl that she was.
This story agreed with things that she
had heard limited at, but only hinted at,
and even that the next moment was
smoothed over, for Squire Johns was Il
rich and influential man, and people
could not afford without some reason, to
lose his favor. She remembered it all
now. Could he in reality be such Il
scoundrel.
She could judge better about the truth
of the story when she had seen Ben
Who was he? Two or three enquiries
had amounted to nothing The children
spoke just as if everybody must know
who Ben was. Was he an uncle, cousin,
hired man, or what? Evidently some
body very old, by the way Hetty spoke
of him. But she shrugged her shoulders
as she looked out at the still pouring
rain.
Young Ben Hazwell, out in the field
pitched up the last hay on the land, lean
ed his pitchfork against tree, took off
his straw hat to cool his moist forehead.
His gaze followed the hay-cart, went over
the broad lands, and returned.
"The hay is all gone in," he said, with
long breath of relief 81 could not
afford to lose even one load now don't
know that | can do it; but if can sell
part of the land, | may. 1t will be
hard pull though.
The young man followed the cart into
the barn. The storm was at its height
when he went towards the house from
the back way. He stopped in surprise,
as he saw through an open window some
one standing at the table, with arms bare
to the elbow, mixing four.-It must be
Martha.
No; those fair, white arms are no
Martha's, neither hers the slender grace
full figure. As he came nearer, he could
distinguish the sparkling piquant face.
She was laughing and talking with Hetty;
and evidently giving her the directions
for what she was making. Hetty was gaz-
ing upon her, eager and absorbed Little
Eva was sitting at the table in her high
chair, working at piece of dough.
ga tato for Ben. 1t was as black as
her little soiled fingers could make it
but it did not occur to Eva that could be
any objection. 1t was pretty sight in
that long desolate home and he stood
there, unconscious of the pouring rain,
eagerly gazing at the yonug stranger,him-
self a picture of manly beauty, till the
voice of one of the men calling to the
oxen, awoke him from his reverie.
By and by there was sputtering of
water heard in the next room by Hetty;
ward fsI and deT opsHiHs sizing the haGSg aSSf: "''''S
"Ben has tum !" echoed the little girl,
clapping her hands and lisping, as he
came in, bright and smiling, what she
had in store for him, 81 is made tat for
90, | is"
He caught her up in his arms and
gave her kiss, while she laughed and
shouted but his eyes were seeking the
stranger.
Hetty said, prettily MY brother
Ben" Then to him: This lady got
caught in the shower, Ben, and is stay
ing until it clears up. She has been 50
kind to help me get dinner, and has made
some splendid biscuit
They both stood mute minute, she
with surprise at the real Ben, young,
handsome, and well bred he with admi-
ration and strange new feeling he could
not define. He had hardly made her
welcome, with return of his self-posses-
sion, when there was loud rap at the
street door. Hetty went to the door,
came back pale, and whispered to Ben
esquire Johns"
| Mile drew quickly back from the
halfopen door. Ben went in to his visi'
, tor, closing the door after him, but every
word was distinctly heard by Mile, fol
Squire Johns did not speak in the suave
tone she was accustomed to hear him but
loud and peremptory.
81 am in haste, young man; | just
stopped 10 say that the time for the pay
, ment of the money due me being day
, after tomorrow if it is not ready | shal
be obliged immediately y to resort to severe
: measures.
Impossible I" exclaimed the youn!
man in a surprised and excited tone
"you are very much mistaken. 1t is no
due till the 9th, it is now but the 18th
, AT that time, if sell the piece Of land
i partly expect to do hope, with somc
: other money coming in, to be able to pa,
it."
"You are laboring under a singula
mistake young man. Here is the mort
7 gage, you can see for yourself that it
the 18th" . a
:" Let me see it," .r....
The figure danced upon the page. H
y passed his hands over his eyes and cafne
e : himself with great effort. He grew ash
u pale as he read.
y at reads so, certainly, but | cant
! understand it." He went to the desl
q I" Here is memorandum my father mad
% of the circumstances, and it is the 2Stl
!, and he was very methodieal man, an
~ - would not be likely to make IL mistak
! that might be fraught with very importal
- ~ and evil consequences to him. al b.
,,ee lieve-" sudden suspicion coming in
his mind, as he detected lurking tt
?. umph in Squire Johns eye, A." | belie'
no there's some villainy about this matte
~ and that you are at the bottom of it,"
ID exclaimed excitedly fixing his eye firm
Al ~ I..... Il = loL.....ol a.lo.