The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-01-31
Otstcps, winged its way from the

Z" THIS does look like change! ?
muttered MIR. David TO himself
eyeing the weed-grown garden ling
eringly. What spell could have
fallen on the old busy life that kept
the place astir +?
Must have moved" he con
cluded, as he went down the hill K
the road below.
At that momenU the village
school broke up, and out burst 0
orincopia Of youngsters, shout
ing and tiyirg along the road.
"My lad," said Mr.. David,
catching at ore Of the hindmost as
he scndded past, " can yon tell me
where old Farmer Nichols has
moved TO p
The boy eyed the stranger with
rustic shyress, wriggling himself
from the OBTAINING hand. 1t sros
yexatious to be stopped IN that way.
"Guess you llay"'t been long in
these parts,n he said, giving his
hat knowing thrust on one side.
"No, not long. Where has the
old man gomez"
"'ro the berrin-ground, Treckol,"
said the boy, viciously, unable to
resist the Jest. "0ld Sexton Simms
ill tell you where" he added, look
ing backas he sped after his com
rades.
Old sexton SilnmS had been a
village institution IN David's young
days, No change had oyeraken
him, it seemed. a thin and wrillk-
led little man, bloodless as q last
years mosquito, he pondered the
strangers face with wise and side
wise glance, as though studying an
illegible inscription.
/" Shouldn't "a knowed you no
more'n tile dead" he cried, when
Mr.. David mentioned his name;
"though | did think, soon's ever
| sot eyes on ye, you must be. some
one or natller. The old folks? Oh
yes. the old folks? Oh yes, the
old folks is gone, both on 'em died
within six months of each other,
over three year ago come next
spring. The old place has been in
limbo ever since"
"And the girls!"
"Niarried and settled -leastways
Jane aud Betsey. James done
first-rate-frst-,ate. She's Squire
JohI,sot's wife, up there in the big
house yonder. Aud l;etsey, she
always was 4 sharp one, thought,
but somehow or another her hus-
band isn't a bit forchanded."
And Hannah 7" was on David's
lips, but anola customer came in
and absorbed tic sexton's attention.
David concluded to make his
way to Squire Johusol's.
4lt tie moment OF coming to this
conclusion n few big drops fell orni-
noilsIy from a hot and tlmlUlerous
Sky. hut the white house was just
in Siyl,t, and he made a bee-line for
it. The shower increased toa flood,
but there was no shelter midway,
aid he hurried on.
1t the gate Of the mansion stood
a zig, from which . stout lady at
tI,at moment descending obviously,
tucking up Ter rannent and prepar-
ing to make q run for the house.
She eyelsl'arply tile stranger stand
ing there under the dripping mn-
bplla.
N;r. David held open the gate
" lane !" he said, stepping forward
and offering the shelter OF tie m-
brella. give been eight years
com ng, but lave just arrived il
time, you see
"la" >ai,l the lady, starting
back. She It'll retained tic sharp,
inc;sive voice he remembered, sur
vivirg over all these years., though
the former .Iane was vanished Ut !
terly. crowded ont by a matronly |
figure in lowing skirts.
l,ayid'S brown, bearded face bore
q boyiSh smile as he spoke, and per-
haps that helped Mrs. Johnsom's !
,5le Lad to accept tile umbrella,
and consequently tie escort, but