Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-09-06

"POn my soul u Is the very same one.
Look here my boy, this umbrealla belongs
to a friend of mine, and l am going to
take IL to tho owner. Here's something TO
compensate" SO saying he dropped fifty
cents into the grimy paw, and rolling the
umbl ella up tightly, marched off with II.
"You're game old cove, you are wish
l could find an umbrella every day, If ov
erybodyd pay me for it," was the young
mans response. The next afternoon our
portly gentleman, with umbrella still in
hand, walked into the telegraph office to
send message. The operator looked Gu
riously at the umbrella, and then said,
"Excuse me, sir but is there a name
carved on the end of that handler"
Eyes, Isaiah Bent. What Is it?"
"Why, you see, sir, we received a tele-
gram yesterday, stating that an umbrella
answering to that description had been left
in The cars, and directing that it should be
sent back to Podgersvile this morning.
But they were unable TO find it, and we
telegraphed this noon to that effect"
al rescued it last night from the hands Of
dirty little newsboy, and am going to re-
turn it myself. It belongs to an old friend
of mine. What was the telegram signed?"
"John Dunstan, SIR
"Jack Dunstan Is ii possible? What
time does the train reach Podgersville?'
"At five o'clock. 1t starts in fifteen min
utes.'
$50 Jack Dunslan lives in Podgersville,"
soliloquzed the gentleman, pacing back
and forth on the platform. "Rare fun we
used to have in those days. l remember
hearing that he married Lucy White after
left. The course of his true love ran
smooth enough at all events. Pretty girl,
Lucy was, but she couldn't hold candle
to Harriet Bent. How could she throw
herself away on Zeke Poppy.
All the rest of the afternoon our gentle
man was plunged in reverie so profound
that he paid no attention toanything around
him until the conductor shouted Podgers-
vile. Then he rose hastily and gathered
up his traps, not forgetting the umbrella.
Inquiring of the station master the way 10
John Dunstan's, he was Informed that the
Squire was at the store opposite. "Thats
his wagon standing out at the door"
Our traveller marched across the road as
he did so a man came out and began 10 un-
hitch the horse.
"Well, Jack how do you dor" The
Squire, with puzzled expression, gazed at
the man who thus addressed him sudden
ly his face lighted up. "Rule Jackson, 1t
never can be you after all these years! Old
fellow, how are you? IIullo! how came
you by Harriet Poppy's umbrella?"
afr it hadn't been for this umbrella I
should not have been here" So in few
words our unknown friend, whom We
must call Mr.. Jackson, rejoined, "Wcll,
its curious how things do came about.
Wilder Siack,-you remember her, she
used to be Beisey Grove,-brought the UNI
brela from home by mistake and forgot
and left ii in the cars. She's worried sight
bout it. My wife is sick and Betsey has
come to take care of her. SHE'S capital
nurse. Now come homo with me and
spend the night. I'm sorry my wife can't
see you, but Betsey'll make you comiorta-
bic, and wen talk of old times
~ should like to but / want TO get to
Bentonville tonight. It's only a two hours
drive and it Will be bright moonlight. I'll
see you again, l hope, before long. VIII
you direct me to the stableT
"Ill go with you, its only right round
the corner. Pm sorry you feel in such
hurry. Myi won't Betsey Stack open her
eyes? Remember that sleighing party,
RUFF, Just before You left Bentonville?"
"Remem Der il Guess / do; twas the
cause of my going away. Zeke Poppy
made all the trouble; and then TO think
she married him after ALL"
"Zokc was sly fellow. ] guess she re-
pented enough to pay. We'll, he's been
dead aud gone these fifteen years. And
how bout you?"
al am a widower; all my children mar
ried off but one. have made money, and
honestly, too. My son will succeed me in
business, and l shall lie Off and rest after
while. l am going to see Harriet Bent,
and If she's of the same mind as 1, we shall
be married before winter"
"The same old sixpence, Rufe," laughed
the Squire. swell, goodbye, and good
luck TO you, old fellow"
With hearty hand-shakings, the old COM
rades parted, and the Squire turned home
full of the news
Wall ifI oint heat. Who'd ever have
thought it? | guess twas not mistake
after all, my taking that umbrella" ejacu-
,,,ad Ma S,ocr whom she was informed
81 ,ho roroooinc racts
Noa,,tiIo NJ Jool,eo, yvos DRIVING over
u1o ord road ,yh,c,, r,ar,v forty vears he
c|.o had hoo, 90 r,mi,i,r Now II was all
-, a,,,o,,,h no could disoorn bere
en', ,,,'s' IA %, arL
'"o .'''0 -
"Ihe years nave NOT 'cis 'ne COUNTY VI"
changed any more 'hah Tue c''y, anu We,
believe half expected 10 see II just Inc
same as 1t used TO De, ne thought
have changed too, l suppose; she won't
know me. She'll have changed rs much