Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-01-31

Aue NuidAo utEiue ul asAlhI hln uuer-
ti1ns about his invalid parents, his own
prospects and desires. The lad, with a
hand upon the bent knee, answers meekly
and gratefully. Presently they get round
to the point by gradual approaches.
The curate understands the boy has a
letter for the rector. Yes, he has. Ii is
from the slater who was killed to-day?
The boy, with his wrists in his eyes,
acknowledges this to be the case.
"He lived in my court, SIR, and often
talked to me, ond often gave me things to
eat and to play with. lie was as good as
you, but he was dilfrrent. He was Kind
to me in particular, and rm going to carry
this letter in parti,ilar."
Here he clutched at his small Jacket at
the side. aud looked at the rector's win
dows, whimperiug.
"Yes, you should be careful. Now
an going in directly. The rector is busy.
and you cannot see him but | shall.
will take the letter."
The boy, having pitched upon a high
key Of faithiulness, for the reason that h.
was intrustcd with his dead friends com,
mission, shook his head, anA loo,kd
at his feet, with which he made ma
the mud.
"Ah," said the curate, persuasively
"but you friend wished that the rector
hould get il directly. Now | will put its
in his hand, while you must give it to a
servant, who would forget it."
The boy still shook his head, and be-
came restless. The curate persisted mild.
ly, aud stepped before him. The boy
grew sullen and dogged.
The curate tried bribc.
Hi cried the boy, with snarl, ''you
want the letterw
The curate disclaimed it, and laughed
81 what could want with it? But
| want to help you. Think of your poor
friend
Il am thinking of him. | can't think
Of anything else. He was particular kind
to me, and I'm goin' to be particular kind
to him."
The repetition of this phrase served to
frame his resolution anew.
He felt for the letter-it was safe. The
curate heard the rattle Of the paper. and
it served to beittle the object which pre-.
vented his attainment Of it.
lie put his hand on the shoulder of the
boy. The boy looked up. The placid
expression had vanished and the street.
light exhibited portentious fac
The boy put on his cap, and shut bis
fists. He endeavorcd to get away, but
found that he was held.
"What are you goin' to dop'
"Give me the letter !"
The demand was savage. The boy
clasped his arms about his breast, and
held his breath. He was so brave that tC
cry out did not not occur to him he re.
mained, braced by every muscle, awaiting
the onslaught with resolution. The curate
released him, and pretended to beg. lie
dropped his thin disguise as benefactor,
and came out plainly as a suppiant.
1t was useless. The boy was immova.
BILE. They dropped into their true posi-
tions as antagonists, and stood silently
eying each other; one lame boy, and
the other powerful man.
Suddenly the curate threw himself up.
on the boy, and bent him back, so that
his shoulder rested upon his knee.
He thrust his hand into his clothing.
The boy fought with desperation, strik.
ing the curate fercely about the head with
one rapid hand, while be seized the letter
in grasp of iron, with tie other
The curate became blinded. The boy
slipped from beneath him, and arose t(
his feet two yards off. The curate dashed
upon him with outstretched arms
The breathless boy fed, painting ht
crossed the street into the shade. anc
vanished in the narrow passage opposite thu
church, like an animal hunted, tht
boy ran into haunts close by his home.
He heard the curate close upon him.
His imperfect limb, though much short
er than the other, was fully as strong
and, though at every step he seemed t.
stumble, itwa only the popularity of hi
pace.
They hurried through several street
until the passages became complex anc
the buildings overhanging,
A steep hill confronted them. TIL,
ceaseless rows of houses looked like cliffs
and the two runners appeared to be in
deep gully.
They were alone, and the fog began tt
rise under the impulse Of an easterl,
: wind. The boy appeared like spider a
he ran in the moonlight, and looked owe
his shoulder at the struggling curate.
Sometimes he dashed into the middl
Of the street. and sometimes he plunge'
into narrow passages, hoping to hide o
r double on his path. But the form of tn
curate would surely follow him with a
eager hand almost upon his shoulder, s
he would dart forward again hardly be
9 yond his reach.
He heard his name pronounced in
thick voice. and also promises, and en-
treaties, and denunciations, calculate
with short breath. He replied to moth
: ing; he was wholly bent upon gettin
: away.
He became filed with terror at the dei
J. perate manner Of the curate. Somethin
9 more frightful than the vision of robber
arose before him. The steps behind hi
:. were those of a resolute, persistent mar
! and even when the steps became i'll dt
! fined, when they we're reducd to mer
! scrambling from exhaustion, the drea
a increased, and he struggled on, DOW to