Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-02-16
OncsIsaid,
"a tsceIiGHy.
nAcuuL.s WAITING.


ET KATE W. ia A'-4'H-
The mist hanging over the river sre" soiu-
en- in the bright October SUI ugn1 anu 'he
trees on the hills wore their II s' gorgeous
Autumn col5rins. All the view uo"n lue
valley and over the city was loveh V9'' Du.
the brown eyes at the windows of th, BleS'
house on toe hillside for once looked sr.
through the beauty as seeing it not and wa. ''l-
ed only for q prosaic carriage ON the ayenu, =
the girlish head bent TO listen to no music OF
rustling leaves or ripping riyer-only Tor
the sound of wheels. q tiny clock told out
the minutes relentiesslv, until the last one
that could hold any expectation in 1t was
gone, and Rachel turnedaway saying, little
anxioGsly, but more impatiently.
He isn't coming this morning eIther-oh
dear
Probably the same thought concerning the
same individual found echo in many dlber-
ent voices, in different tones Of sorrow or
vexation, as the morning train from the
East rolled into the city depot, for Judge
Kendall was President of the road. and IN
variably wanted at one end of the line when
he was at the other. It often amused Ra-
chel-the stream Of inquiries made Tor HIM
in bis frequent absences. Anxious c0ntrac-
tors, eager place-seekers Terplexed oihee-
men, all wanting to know when the Judge
would come home.
As if you were like the sun, papa, and
nothing were left for one half the world but
to wait and sleep when You visited the o, her
half, she said, laughing.
But it happened this bright morning thai
she was herself among the waiting ones. 1T
was no very serious matter-0nly pleasure
trip planned for this delicious weather, while
Cousin Nat was ready 60 accompany her.
She had wanted % start thar morning, sut
could not well . until her father came
home They had expected him all the day
before. and he had no- arrived vet. Ii was
very provoking.
She said to Maj, who saunterei into the
pleasant room and threw himself upon the
sofa, TOO amiably acquiescent TO be altogether
a congenial companion.
Rather. Ofcourse its all for the best
though. some way" responded the young
gentleman, philosophically
Seems to me that bit of consolation is worn
about threadbarc by this timo,' remarked
Rachel, petulantly. lisa patch that YOU
comforting people think will fit into any rent
of whatever size or shape.
Nat laughed good natureily.
| didn't announce it as altogether new
and original, did [? May he it was old IN
Balaam's time, too, for if | remember rightly
he was just as indignant at not getting Tor
ward in his chosen path as any later day
people. We are all wonirou-ly alike, and
suspect that if our onward way were not
sometimes stopped by our good steed, cir
cumstances, turning US hither and thither, We
should meet the angel with the drawn sword
much oftener than We do
But YOU see, said Rachel, afte- mo-
ment's pause, Il bad planned SO surely to
20 to-day that now don't know what to dc
with myself
sDon't do with yourself al all then, Dc
with somebody else-you might find it q
pleasant novelty, answered Nat rehectively
If YOU have got a spare day in your life you
had better put it into somebody elses, to'
there are plenty Of people TO be lound VIII
haven't all they want
Rachel turned toward the young studen
with mischieyious inclination to inquT
from which Of his six sermons completed, o
six hundred vet 70 be written, he was max
ing such ediiying extracts; but seeing hi
ewes fixed in dreamy content on the glowlni
Goals of the CRATE, she refrained-
The door opened little way, Just enougl
for Prudence to insert her smooth head Wit
its funny little knot of hair at the back, am
say, in her quick, short style, Somebod.
down stairs wants to know bout the Judg
course there'll be a whole string Of 'en
now You hsin't nothie' partic lar to tell t
'em about it, Miss Rachel?'
No; | might tell them what little | d
know though, if that will be any satisfac
tion, said Rachel, feeling new and sudder
sympathy for the disappointed ones, and re.
solving to answer their inquiries herself. Sh
remembered remorsefully how anxious an,
troubled were the faces that sometimes pre-
sented themselves there. Doubtless it is
far more serious matter to some of them
than this deferring of little pleasure tap i
to me. wish while I'm waiting | coul
help some of the others to watt she said
thoughtfully as she passed down the stairs.
young Irishman looked up with pleasan
though not altogether cheerful, face as sh
entered the room.
Its wantin to ak about the Judge, | wa
beg parding for disturbin' ye, Miss. II
didn't come home the day?