Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-24

Ellen DaCeS, ana 90 greatly WISH
only | would never leave my sister
here alone-that | was going home
with you and your good husband, to-
night"
"Come home with us, both OF you,
by all means" exclaimed the black
smith, with a good-humored laugh,
"and leave the toll-bar to take care
of itself"
"Nay, that would be a pretty thing,
indeed" said the widow, gravely shak-
ing her head; "if we must be muir
dered, then we must-or at least
must, for Ellen, of course, is free to
go if she chooses-but | will do my
duty by my employers, let what will
come of it."
you're an honest woman" OBJ
served the blacksmith, approvingly,
"and ] hope you will never suffer for
sticking to your duty"
"Ah, she's a martyr to it, as | am
always telling her," remarked Ellen
Bates. "The times and times she
gets up in the middle of night to put
that gate open and let folks pass, and
perhaps only to take ticket from
the last gate; and then after all, tC
be robbed by burglarS-fOr that's
what'll be the end of it all, fee
surew
"And l must say I've got a feeling
of the same sort" added Mrs. Alison
solemnly; "l'm not a superstition:
person, but the idea has struck me
of late, so as | have turned icy colo
with it a dozen times"
"But see your doors and window:
are very well guarded" said tht
blacksmith, still doing his best to re
assure his hostess; land before any
villain could make his way through
so much wood and iron, there is M
knowing what help may not come
along the road"
"Ah, but it's only our door anC
lower windows that are safe," Mr.
Wright" broke in Ellen Bates; "anC
any wretch has but to take the chick
en-ladder from the yard and set it VI
against our bedroom window, an(
he's in the house in two minutes" "
ITO be sure, the villain might d,
Mat," said the blacksmith, in the ton
of one convinced against his will"
"WelI, | do pity you both." oh
served Mrs. Wright, in a tone Of gen
uine commiseration. "But it's get
ting near dusk, Jacob, and high tim
tor you and me to be going. AM
thanks, | am sure, to you Mrs. Alisor
and to you, Miss Bates, for a mos
cheerful and pleasant afternoon.
For the two sisters were understoo,
to bear the expenses of the house
hold, and consequently Of any occa
sion of hospitality, in equal shares.
When the bluff blacksmith and hi
kindly wife had taken their leave, tn
tenants of the little dollhouse foun
themselves (as well they might NOR
dispirited than ever. Their fears, il
deed, grew to such a pitch as to bt
come the very presentiments whic
they had hitherto perhaps only imae
ined them to be.
Something will surely happen t
us this very night, Mary" whispere
!. Ellen. in melo-dramatic accents; San
| shouldn't wonder if it did, Ellen,
was the widows discouraging reply
In short, the two old ladies, who ha
as yet no experience as unprotecte
females of a toll-gate winter, wer
fairly panic-stricken,
1t was quite relief to them wheI
about six o'clock, they heard the CT
of "Gate" and the sound of wheels
for they did not fear that robber
would come otherwise than on foo
and every honest face was welcome t
them at such time. What was thei
!, joy, then, to find in the present pas;
er-by an old and trusted friend, Mar
Palmer, a travelling peddler, but wh
in this season used a cart to carry hi
wares, which were of a somewha
costly nature. He threw a rug owe
, his mare and fastened her to the gat'
: while he got out to have a crack an
glass Of spirits with the sisters. Fl
was a short but resolute-looking fe
low, Of middle age, whose calling i
those times exposed him to more dar
/ ger than we have any idea of now;
days; and he carried with him fo
protection, an enormous mastiff, VIII
| remained in his cart on guard Will
he entered the house. He could nc
fail to remark the downcast appea
ance of the women, who were cage
enough to communicate to him th
) cause, "Well, in my opinion" o1
served he, when he had heard the
| woes, this alarm of yours is all mooI
| shine. You're terrifying yourseIv(
about nothing, Why, there's tt
> coach at eleven; and the horse patr,
at any time in the night; and you,
[ strong doors and windows, as yor
. friend the blacksmith has told yor
t while, dare say, you have not on
/ tenth of the moneys worth in yor
cash-box that have in my cart yo
r der, and have never been robbed "
| and don't intend to be-"
3 "We've more than forty pounC
n there" said the widow, pointing
r, the cupboard, which contained th
n treasure, as we'll as her little stol
of tea and marmaIade, "for it W;
n Wellborough market the day befol
r yesterday, when scores and scor,
= ride through the bar, and we've nj
been able to cross the moor since"
+ "Forty pounds is good deal
S money" said the pedler thoughtful
y "and affords the greater temptatic
t because it's all in coin."
l. THAT is so indeed, Mr.. Palmer
e pleaded Ellen Bates, clasping b
S hands; " and oh, if you would be
/ kind just for this one night-for il