Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-07-18
The Leisure Hour.
n Jy'O.N.fN-s COURsGR.

The blood-red light of sunset was mir
roring itself in crimson flashes in the tur-
bid tides of the great Western river; the
blackbird was sounding its sweet whistle
through the old primeval forests and JON
athan Beers, sitting by his cabin door,
smoked his solitary evening pipe, and
| thought vaguely of the chui ch bells that
used to ring at evening time in the far-ofi
Eastern village where he had been born
scot Bay in his ears.
"Id like to hear them bells once again
before l die," unused old Jonathan. "But
it amt likely I'll ever go back now.'
Even while these disjointed meditations
passed through his mind there was light
step on the cabin threshold, and the rustic
of stfiy starched pink calico, and his neice
Dorothy came 10 The door.
"Tea's ready, uncle, DEAR" said sho
"And I've baked real New England corn
bread, and some ginger-snaps, such as
| grandmamma used to make. And see,
uncle, I've sliced up the little red peaches
from the tree you planted yourself on the
south side of the hill. Israel Esmayne said
| it wouldn't grow, but it has. 1 mean to
| keep a saucerful and a little cream for
Israel tonight, just 10 Sho,O him."
Old Jonathan laid down his knife and
fork.
"Do you mean that Israel Esmayne is
coming here Tonight"
ayes, uncle" said Dorothy, STOPPING to
recover a teaspoon she had .dropped-a
slim tea spoon with an antique silver shell
carve' on its handle-and coming up very
rosy from the search. "Why nol?"
Take care, Dotty. That's ALL"
"Uncle, what do you mean?'
"I mean, child, that had rather lay you
in your grave in the new burying-ground,
where there's only one mound yet in the
shadow of the church spire, than to see you
married TO man who drinks. That's
what mean, Dotty!'
Dorothy's head drooped over her plate.
"Uncle, that is hardly fair. Because a
man had a bad habit once"
"And has it now -
The soft eyes glittered into defiant
flash.
"You are mistaken, uncle. Israel Es-
mayne has not touched a drop cf ardent
spirits in a year. He has promised me
never TO touch it again!'
81 hope he never will, my GIRL" said
Jonathan Beers, although his tone betrayed
no very sanguine feeling. "But it amt a
safe thing to do. It's q Madness love of
liquor is, and nothing short. It's liable to
break out at any time. Israel Esmayne's
good fellow enough. 1 hain't anything
agn him, but it amt SAFE"
Dorothy was silent. Why was it, she
asked herself, that men were so severe in
judging one another? Why did they al
ways look at the blackest and least promis-
ing side Of everything? Israel had prom
ised her. She believed him. And that was
enough.
And while she tripped lightly back and
forth about her household duties, her mind
was full of the underlined future. She could
see herself shadowy and underlined as in a
mirror, moving about bright little home
where flowers bloomed in the easements,
and birds sang, and a clock licked, "He is
coming he if comingr
zone Of these daysW said Dorothy to
herself as she put away the saucer OF
peaches and the little pitcher of thick
cream on Whitley secured pantry shelf
lone of these daysr'
She was thinking of the future. And old
Jonathan, smoking his pipe, was living in
the past.
"You've somelhin' to do with the rail-
road, stranger, haven't your"
~ reckon have,' said Israel Esmayne,
ndflerently. "Pm switchman."
at don't take up much of your time,
guess ?"
cts got TO be looked after just the same,
though" said the tall Westerner, as he lift
ed the last monster log from the cart he
was unloading to the thrifty pile at the
north end of his house.
"What time does the way train come
by?"
"At nine O'clock"
"Do you suppose / could go to Mellen-
vile and see the lumber dealers there, and
get back to the station again by that timer"
Israel looked rehectively at the other
shore of the river.
"Well, you might," said he; "but it
would be n pretty tight squeeze"
"I am good walker" said the stranger
and as he spoke he drew fiat pocket flask
from his pocket, uncorked il with his
teeth, and drank copous draught. Is
rael Esmayne watched him with eager,
| glittering eyes, like those of some famished
wild animal that scents blood.
"Have drink, friend ?" said the stran-
ger, proiiering the flask. Israel Esmayne
shook his head, with SET teeth and lividly
pale cheek.
81 never drink" said be;hoarsely.
"You would, guess, If you could gel
such stuff MS this" said the man ''soft as
oil and strong as fire. My father imported
it. There's not much like II in the country
Taste, If you don't believe mev'
Israel stood for moment, hesitating
Then he cast an eager glance to the right
and to the left, as If half fearful lest some
one should see him, and grasping at the
bottle-drank
The fevered blood mounted to his cheek
a strange sparkle came into his eyes.
"Have you got more like that ?" he
whispered, hoarsely, approaching his burn.
ing lips so closely to the mans ear that he
involuntarlly started. "More.'
"pve got another flask, but"
"Will you leave 1t behinds I will pay
| Won n pood nrica for n