St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-12-03
Not at Home.

An elderly man, Shabbily attired, was
seen walking through one of the fash
Ionable streets in Il large city, one colo
December morning, supported by large
staff, which he firmly grasped in one
hand, while from the other swung hi.
bundle. wrapped up in coarse cottor
handkerchief. His coat was of coarse
grey, and had evidently seen hard service.
though perfectly whole and neat. The
traveller walked slowly along, carefully
examining the door plates. lie finally
paused before Il door Of snowy exterior,
which, if We credit the testimony of the
plate upon the door, was occupied by
Alexander Beaumont.
"-AleXandcr beaumont, yes, that.
the honSe," murmurcd the traveller to
himself, as he ascendcd the stairs and
rang the door bell.
His summons WAS answered by ser
want, who after u moments scrutiny,
which apparently was II t of Il very ia
vorahle character, SAID, roughly :-''well,
sir, what do you want -
'Is Mr. Beaumont at home p asked
the old gentleman, without needing the
| intentional ruGenc>s.
''No, sir. he Is not"
''Ihen perhaps | can see his wife -
Il think it iS very doubtful, but | will
see, and the servant Withdrew, without
invitin. the man 10 enter, though the day
was cold, and hls clothes seemed hardly
sufficient to protect han from lis inclcm-
ency.
Mrs. Beaumont was reclining on q
iautell, III Il room handsomely furnished
Ihc last new magazine was in her hand,
and her eye was ii>tle>>ly glanclng over
lis pages. She was Interrupted in her
reading 10y the entrance OF the servant.
"Wcll, what now, Betty - she IN
quircd
There's Il man down stairs that
wants to see You, ma'am."
Man, gentleman YOU mean
NO. ma'aru, sad Betty, >toutly. Tor
she well understood what made up zen
llcmrm in the conventional sense OF rhc
term ITS not u Gentleman at ali. for
hc'- got an I'D -rcy coat aud docs not
wear .iov :.
Nv hat docs he want OF me '''
Il don't know, sure he inquiryl at
ter Mr. beaumont first"
"lou didn't triu- him INTO the Iarior,
diI You 20
i ur girI shook Lcr head
''Nou dld right and you'd better tell
him IN not AT home.
Mrs. beaumont l. not at home, ,IiI
Betty, repairing II the door.
That myau~ -hc l. cn.a-cd, SAID the
old man: ''but ! believe She will Lei me
~ wien She knows who | am. Tell her
that am her husbands uncle. and that
nay name l. Henry beaumont"
That o!d rag-tag masters uncle,
-;'id Betty. wondcrngiy. as she reu,-
crmlcd the -tair-.
'Good h,Acu-." said her mistress.
III it isn't that old Warrant who >iroIicI
olt many years a@", nohudy knows where.
| did hupe he'd never return AGAIN. And
now, | suppose, lac /, IL poor a. i rat
and wants help. Wei, ne wont .yt it
| il can help Il, but suppose ! must -
/ Gown and Sc him.
The lady DESCENDED, fully prepared to
.ivc him a lri@Id reception.
Iii am not mi-takru," said the oil
man with leri'r2, III !, my nephew
/ AicNaudcr's wiic."
You are right, -ir am the wlic ot
Mr. AlcNanIcr beaumont. and | sup
pose from your language YOU arr
Ills unr.c Henry. .th. me / have
been g"Ec Il great many, many years,
and il doe, me good to return once more
among my kindred"
The old man leaned on his staff, and
his features worked convul>ivcly ~
thoughts OF thc past came over his mind.
Mrs. beaumont stood holding the door
It's if wailiug tor him to depart She did
not give him an invitation to enter
'.ls yoIr husband well - inquired the
visitor, looking IL, as if he expected III
invitation to enter and refresh himself
after his walk by an interval of rest.
"IIe Is not. Il you have any message
for HIM you may leave it with me and
will deliver 1t, SAID Mrs. beaumont, dc
sirous of Kidding Acrself OF the INTRUDER
a> soon as possible.
"You may tell him that have call
ed" said the old man, i'll a disappointed
tone, '.and that would like to have
seen him
Il will tell him." and Mrs. beaumont
was about to close the door.
~ = e.
more, what has become of Alexander
sister Anna -
''Shc | don't know much about
! her." was the rather diadainiul reply
'.but believe shu married Il clerk, me
chlnic, or some such person. Ills name
Is Lowe, and he liv = in Norton street
l. that all -
That Is all. and the old man turnct
his steps toward the stree; Indicated
, with many torcbodings lest his secon,
visit should be as unwclcome rs his iirS
appeared to he.
Betty" said Mrs. Beaumont, Il
that old !ool comes here again, be sur,
I and tel! him / am not at home
Norton street was not Il i;tShiuuabi,
street, nor WAS the two-,tory buildim:
occupied by " William Lowe either fash
ionable Or costly, 1t was marked how
r ever, by an air of ncatncSS, which iuli
Gated that its tenants were not regardlcs
ot outer appearance.
We will take the liberty to introduce
the reader into Il little sitting room
where Mrs. Lowe and her three children
D were seated. A plain, service;,ble carpe
= covered the floor, and the remainder o
the furniture, though OF kind whicl