St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-04-07


from the clcviccs in the shutters of which
Strramcd long bus Of ruddy lamp light,
and whence the sound of music was plain
ly heard. 1t was the only dwelling with
| in sight.
That the house was not an inn did not
matter To- either Of them. Hospitality
was never refused in the land 10 any one
at that day.
They rode boldly up To the gate and
gave q loud halloo. In an instant the
door opened and they could see within a
sudden stop in Il lively dance,as all heads
turned 10 see what had cau>cd this infer
| rmplion.
"Can you let Us sleep here to night ?"
inquired one of the iricnd-, as one asks
who fears no refusal
"Ccriainly, gentlemen" said a pleas
ant voice. "Iuu'rr welcome. Yuu'll
find stable there and com for your
horses. Our man Jack is on the floor
To NIGHT hut here is Il lantern if you'll
ten ! 10 yourselves"
"AIl right, stranger, said Harry, "and
(pu ipO.
And the two men led their horses into
Il stable, already full Ned wAtercd
them and secured them for the NIGHT, and
would have left the place at once, but
that one Of the animals attracted llarry's
attention lie turned back 10 look at
him; rXrmincd him from head to foot,
turned rcd and pale, and suddenly clutch
cd N,d's arm.
"Iuu remember the Ii, rsc we bnn"ht
for Charley Chester ;" he asked.
"lcs," said Ned.
"I.ook at the fellow" said Harry.
"les, the very one. The star on his
forehead, the scar on his lorclcg, the col
II, the height. Ned, its Charley's horse"
1T is the horse" said Ned, slowly.
"Ilarry, if Charley had lived 10 90, his
horse would have gone with him"
Tho owner of this animal may know
all we need to hear" said Harry. at
won't ho good news, Ned"
Ned shook his head, and sadly and
slowly the men went toward the house.
They ioun the dancing at its height,
and that this was the homecoming of
the farmers brldc-a pretty, young wo-
man, with rosy checks and sparkling eye,
of whom the stalwart bridegroom seemed
very fond and proud.
"s,t down, strangers" SAID AN old
man near the door. "lou'vr come at a
merry time and don't oct much attention.
My son i just the happicst fellow out,
bclicvc--g"t no eyes Tor nobody but that
"al. lou see they've been waitin quite
II spell, and he had no luck, none at all,
and it seemed he'd got 10 give it up
but six months back he ha,! "a streak.
Wonderful .-cxplained it, but don't
rem ,mbcr, SO he sends for her and me
from Connecticut ''She'S an orphan
cal and ~ soon us her school term Was
ovcr-shc was teaching, ye know-shc
come. This is their warming, and thcmS
the neighbor~. They all like Ike. Ikc's
a good iellow-a real good fellow, though
| say it. Take Il MP, stran%cr-don't
be- afraid of the jug. I'll fill it a@ain,
Why, what ails your dog ;"
Tie dog left outside was howling ralh-
e, irarfully.
"WanlS 10 come in perhaps" said
Ned, ''but it mi.htn't be agreeable To
the ladies"
'Brin. him in," sad the old man
but the dog would not come.
lie stood near patch of grass in the
garden bowling woetuly; and scratch
ing and tearing with all his might
Leave the spot he would not, and the
friends, rs they saw him and remember
cd the horse in the stable, felt the blood
curdlc in their veins.
"WhUsc horse is that with Il white
star on the forehead and Il scar on his
iorcleg-hand-ome brown horse, with
wonderful eyes ," whispered Harry 10
the old man.
'That< MY sons horse" said the old
man.
"Where did he buy it ," SAIL the other.
"Don't know" said the old man laugh
ing childishly. Come TO him with the
rest of his good luck, six months ago"
Again the dog outside began TO howl.
AGAIN the friends felt cold chilIs creep
over them.
"Wherc are we to Sleep" asked Ed
ward Of the old man. "Wc don't want
suppcr-wc need rest"
"rll show YOU" said the old man.
''Thc house will be full tonight, but
yoall not mind roughing it,"
And hc led the way TO an upper room,
where Il rude bed was already spread.
''Iuat lie down here, strangers" lie
said. "Ihcrc's blanket, if you are
cold, and there's a candle. Good night"
Aud he left them. But not TO sleep.
The two men had sought solitude that
they might commune with each other.
Yet now they could only say, "What
does this mean - They had said it as
many as u dozen times, when Harry,
by accident, lifted his eyes to peg in
the rough wall. On it hung something
which rivitcd his gaze with horror. Yet
it WAS an object quite common and in
noccnl in iisclt-onIy pair Of saddle
bags, rather new in appearance, and with
the letters &C. c." on the side.
"Look :" he cried; ''look, Ned ~
The other, in turn, stood mute for n
time, then gave II spring toward the peg,
lore the bags down and opened them.
Within they found garments they knew
their friend had worn, an empty belt and
the daguerreotype of Il young girl Of
whom they had known him to he very
| fond.
ellis horse in the stable, his saddle
bag. and belt here, and the do. howlng
on the turf without what does all Tins
mean ," cried Harry again.
AnJ \.J answered s.W, SL,lI Sam