Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-06-21

and steel, but the fog prevented him There
seemed no help for it but waiting. He fretted
to think of Lucy, lest she should deem him
false 10 his word.
But bark What was that sound that
made Wilhelms heart beat quicker, and
cause poor Hans to plunge
One, two, three, cling clang, cling, rang
out the merry church bells through the fog
Gransely bells, Grangely bells ~ cried
Wilhelm, joyously. They sounded so close
and clear. "Weare saved, my poor beast"
The horse snorted as if he too, knew that a
good thing had happened Wilhelm mount
ed once more, riding in the direction Of the
sound.
Come this way, come this way the bells
seemed to be pealing loudly and more loudly.
Cling, clang, cling
1t was all right, the road began to ascend;
impatient Hans had to slacken pace up the
steep, stony hill. At last the village lights
began to glimmer
Cling clang, cling clang. still crashed
the bells, as Wilhelm rode by the church
lie had no idea what time it was, hut he
would ride straight to the barndoor. Fortu-
nately, the fog was not' nearly so dense up
here and he could see around him
When he reached the barndoor he jumped
of Hans and tied him up. As he did so
sound Of sobbing fell on his ear. and he saw
a'6gure leaning against the door
Lucy he cried
With spring she was in his arms. As fast
as he could he told her Of his peril aud how
the bells had saved him,
At that moment they ceased the fact was
the lads knew il was midnight, and they were
afraid to cross the churchyard later for fear
Of ghosts
Dame Metcale looked at the clock it
wanted one minute to twelve; she felt I'M
canny. Where was Lucy? she didn't see
her. She looked at the best tea-set, which |
She and some gossips had washed, replaced,
and locked up in the corner glass cupboard.
No games were being played now, and dane
ing was getting slack. Folks were growing
weary, and wanted to be home. They got
impatient at the heightened absence Of the
boys. Old Reuben, now that 6ddling and
tippling had ceased, began to wonder whether
the parson would blow him up tomorrow for
the untimely ringing Of the bells.
Lucy called Dame Meicalfe, sharply |
Lucy, child where are you2"
The big clock began 10 strike the hour
slowly and solemnly. At the first chime the
door opened, and in walked Meinherr vii. |
helm Van der Roost, wet and damp with fog,
smoking huge meerschaum pipe. Every one
looked up astonished. The Dutchman walked
straight up to the dame, utterly unconcerned
by the many questioning eyes fixed on him,
laid his pipe in her lap, placed his hand on
his heart, and drew shy little Lucy forward
with the other
A scene Of questions, answers explana.
tons, followed. A few minutes later the six
lads stole in, looking rather sheepish, for
they feared a licking. When they came in
they found Wilhelm and Lucy sitting hand.
in-hand aud the dame herself heapng hot
food on a plate for his supper. The story
was briefly related to them aud the boys
suddenly found themselves heroes, and gladly
pocketed the broad piece Wilhelm gave them
calling them the savers of his life.
In gratitude for this, Wilhelm, before he
returned to Holland, taking with him his
faithful Lucy, and her recipes for fat ducks
and sausage meats, left sum of money which
was to pay for the ringing of Grangely-super.
MOntem bells every 10Th of November. So
they ring to this day; and the stranger in
the village is surprised about 10 O'Clock on
this evening to hear the bells ring, cling,
clang, cling, through the night air. If you
ask the cause, the villagers say, Those are
the Dutchman's bells"
| have heard them; and SO can you if you
ever go to Grangely-super- Montem.
| forgot to say Silly Billy was found fast
asleep under the kitchen stairs, so some ones
ears had played them false" Clearly, it was
the good angels Of Wilhelm Van der Roost
who rang the bells.
As for dame Metcalfe, she became greater
believer in dreams than ever-The Argosy