Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-06-21
Vol. 66.-3375. No. 35.

then Billy had been missed, 20 this some
one put two and two together, and said he
must be in the church.
Now Reuben the sexton was likewise Reu-
ben the fiddler, and when the young people
came to the old man and begged him to pro-
ceed at once TO the church and let out the
boy, he did not feel at all inclined 10 60. He
was so costly ensconced in Farmer Metcalfe's
chimney corner and 70 happy fddling and
tppling warm ale, that he readily consented
to let some one 90 in his stead. Five or six
big lads volunteered, " for the fun Of the
thing" Lucy let them out under pretence Of
seeing what sort Of a night it was. II was
bitterly cold one, and a dense raw fog hung
over the land
"What bad night for wilhelm's ride
thought Lucy however, It's good road
here from the market town, and he knows il
we'll It's halfpast ten now in an hour he
will be here
Mind yourselves, lads she cried aloud,
as the six youths, noisy with beer and dane
ing, set Of"
Never fear, Lucy answered one Of them
" we'll have such q lark Wen ring the
bells in your honor
" No. no, don't
&" Indeed We will just you listen
Lucy was in hopes it was only Joke it
would be 50 stupid if they did it, and every
one would wonder what it meant The bells
never rang except on Sundays or for some
great event, and the sound might puzzle vii.
helm But true enough, some moments later,
first chime, then a second fell on the air and
presently noisy, merry peal made itself
heard above the din of the party in the kitch.
en-. -Four Of the lads were bellringers, 80
they knew what they were doing, and soon a
regular swell Of sweet church bells reused
the quiet village and electrified the guests at
Farmer Metcalie's. Lucy repeated what the
boys had said People cried, I" All, boys will
/ be boys and went on with their fun
The bells chimed away IL O'Clock struck
Mrs. Metcale ddgcted. Unfortunately, one
of the lads was her own Jack, so that at the
FIRST hint Of a breakup every one yociferous-
| y put her down.
Those lads will want first good hiding,
ami then good roasting and toasting after
their cold freak wife, said the hospitabe
farmer.
The clocks hands stole along Lucy slip
ped out unperccived to the barndoor. 1t was
cold and dark outside, and Lucy had flung
a warm shawl over her. The half hour
struck no Wilhelm will be here" she
thought. But no sound or sight Of him
came. Five minutes more passed she grew
ddgety ten, and she grew impatient ff.
teen, she grew cold and miserable twenty,
she burst into tears.
4 Oh had he lorsaken her Was this a
sign he no longer loved her Why did he
3 not come
a Oh Wilhelm, Wilhelm, where are you?
t cried poor Lucy, laying her curly head against
] the barndoor, and sobbing aloud.
+, A quarter to twelve struck it would soou
be too late.
And where was Wilhelm all this time
, lie had dressed himself with particular care
! that day, and had set out early to the Currs.
D There he found that something had gone
= wrong with drain so, instead of returning
t as usual at four O'Clock to the town, he made
t up his mind to stop later at the works--in
t fact, as long as he could see.
' &" 1t doesn't look like bad night he said
to himself, and my horse and | can find our
r way bindfolded up to Grangely; I'll e
e about six o'clock, and get tea at the inn Just
d below the village, and wait there till eleven
c | wonder what is up in Lucy's clever littl'
o head.n
d At six, thick binding fog rose up from
d the swamps The workmen left; Wilhelm
n extinguished the candle in his little office
o where he had been making some calculations
/ and mounted his good steed, Hans.
4" Now, Hans" he said, quick as you eau
l. uphill"
y Hans did not like the fog any more thai
y his master, as he trotted off fast enough
3, They rode for many minutes through tn
d dense darkness. Wilhelm thought that Han
was extra active in getting up hill so nimby
e and yet it did not seem like riding uphill
P. either Had they got wrongl He coul'
e soon tell, for few minutes more would brinl
ie them to a steep, stony hill, whence they coul'
n see the village lights Half an hours NOR
A. easy riding convinced both Hans aud Wi
ar helm that they were wrong Hans stoppe
le suddenly and snorted.
lie Yes, yes, know you've come wrong, We
y enough muttered his rider What's t
lie be done? thought we started rightly
y. Where are we2p
* Hans turned round
as "You want to 60 back you sensible beas
H. do you2 Well if you can find your wa
" back to the town, that will do as we'll
in there, guide yourself; it won't be the fir
st time, eh, Hans"
y Hans trotted off, but after some time, b
Sc, pulled up at no other place but at the door
* the little office by the drains.
ng Coniound you Ilans2" cried Wilhelm
ng 81 thought We were to go back to town
H. however, it might be worse"
NJ lie disnountcd, and fetching out cand
he struck it into kind Of rough lantborn.
at. Now Hans we will try again in til
nd style"
W. Once more they set of, on the right roac
lily the candle threw an uncertain light; st
,ye even that was better than nothing.
ds I'VE must have gone wrong at the GRO
led roads, said Wilhelm &C. if this candle W
a but let US read the sign post, We shall do"
sip But suddenly Hans gave false st,
plunged, and over went Wilhelm. candle a
NJ ALL on to a roadside bank. He jumped
me unhurt but Hans aud candle were gone.
lgi Wilhelm swore some terrible Dutch oath
the all at once he started at feeling soft nc
'w, rubbing his shoulder Poor Hans had on
ar been looking for his master. With gro'
Wilhelm remounted. As he did so, he VIC
to dered which way Hans head was turned,
the was all so very confusing; if only the
lou would lift
10 But it didn't, and they got hopelessly lo
re- Hours passed, miles were traversed, once m
ms they found themselves back at the office. I
time Hans was stirred again with dificul
Ods but Wilhelm would not give up the effort.
oV- " II can't be more than nine o'clock !;
Oh won't fail Lucy, if there's mortal way
getting there"
M vas Again they proceeded, footpace this ii
lgn Hurrsh he could see lights shining in
'he distance.
"n Cheer up, Hans, old beast, we're righ
nut last. Now for Stony Hill"
au' Wilhelm had rejoiced too soon a mon
Has later and Hans had nearly sunk in qu
we we mire the lights were will.o -the-wisps.
py ter intense difficulty the poor horse was DR.
ere ged out. Hans shivered with fright,
'ere whined piteously. Wilhelm Van der II
ulL WAS in daupair all thnuoht of III. 49,,