Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-05-12
The Faithful Guest.

neral or some religious meeting for they
both drove off dressed in their best in
the gig, with old Alex harnessed to it,
and after [ had tucked Iii grandma's
iron gray silk skirt and ran back to the
house for grandpa's speetacles and had
seen the gig vanish in the distance, |
felt lonely. Burns Hollow was lone
some place at all times and the hand
some rambling mansion, which might
have sheltered regiment had a ghostly
air about it when one walked through
the upper rooms alone.
There were but two servants in the
kitchen, Hannah Oakes and the Irish
lad, Anthony. | heard them laughing
merrily together, for, though Hannah
was an old woman, she was full of fun,
and in five minutes the door opened and
Hannah came in with the tray.
please Miss" said she, as she set it
down, may I run over to Mapleton to-
night ? My sisters daughter had a boy
last night they say, and l want to see it
nat'rally-it's the first I've ever had of
grand niece or nephew"
"Who brought the news?" l asked
'Anthony, Miss" said Hannah. "He
met George-that's my niece's husband
when he was out after the COWS, and
told him to tell Hannah she's a great
aunt
"You may CO., said ''but don't stay
late. Grandpa and grandma may be
away all night, and I feel nervous To
be sure there is Anthony. but | never
rely on him. Be certain not to stay late. J"
repeated this injunction with a sort of
fright stealing over me-a presentiment
of evil, | might say-and something
prompted me to add. ''Be back by nine. -
Why, l cannot say but felt as if by
nine, should be in some peculiar dam
ger.
Hannah promised, and after doing all
| required, went away, and / heard her
heavy shoes on the garden walk outside
Early as it was, | had dropped the
curtains and lighted the wax candles on
the mantle, and l sat long over my tea,
finding certain companionship in it, as
women of all ages will.
l sat thus a long time, and was start
ed from my reverie by a rap at the door
"a timid sort of rap-so knew at once
that it was not member of the house
nor an intimate friend. | waited ex
pecting Anthony to answer the door, bu
finding that he did not, went to it my
SELF
1t had grown quite dark, and the moor
rose late that night. At first I coult
only make out crouching figure at tn,
bottom of the porch. But when spok
: it advanced, and by the light of the hal
lamp saw black man. I had alway
, had a sort Of fear of a negro, and in
stinctively shrank away, but as ] did so
he spoke in husky whisper. "This i
Massa Morton's, isn't it ?''
, '"Yes, | replied, "but grandfather i
out"
retreated as he advanced
: "Please miss he said, Judge B. sen
me here. He said massa 'ud help m
!, on. my way. Let me stay here night
miss. Is trabbled five days since lei
him. Hidin like. Is awful hungry
0 pears like I'd drop, an ole massa's al
l ter me. For the lub oh heaben, Miss
= let me hide somewhere's. and glib m
jes' crust. Massa Morton 'ud hel
!. me and its kept me up. Missus will
Q know"
Y | knew that grandfather had give
succor to some of these poor wretches b,
I fore; but | felt that / might be doin
= wrong, by admitting stranger
i his absence
Caution and pity struggled within m
d At last | said: "You have note fro
/ the Judge, | suppose sir o.
81 had some writin' on paper" sal
y the man, "but rs lost it, de night it rail
: ed so. All miss, rs tellin the truff-
# Judge sent me sure as rs sinner. |
(" been helped along so far, and pears lii
y | must get to Canady. Can't go bat
~ noways. Wife's dar, and the young un
Got clear year ago. Miss, I'll pr;
; for you ebry day of my life if you'll ju
p be so good to me. Tank you miss
: "For somehow when he spoke of wi
b. and children, had stepped back al
let him in
:, 1t was the back hall door to which t
M rap had come, and the kitchen was Gle
t! at hand. | led him thither. When
e; saw how worn he was, how wretche
ls- how his eyes glistened, and how und
&c his rough blue shirt his heart beat
that you could count the pulses, l fl
is got my caution. | brought out &C
al meat and bread, and drew mug of
y. der, and spread them on the table. Z
IL nu negro ate, and | left him to find Anti
mt ny, to whom | intended to give directie
ed for his lodging throughout the night.
10 my surprise, Anthony was nowh,
,re about the house or garden
m Hannah must have taken him W
her across the lonely road to Maplet,