The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-04-15
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began 90 grow dim. The doctor pushed
back ths great book before him on the
table and looked oyst Is ag the open CRATE
beyond. who're The dra had died down lg
a mass Of duIi-rcd Goals, aud au unslght'
ly quantity Of ashes was distributed over
lLe hearth. The cfIiee chairs, except The
two or three Ia constant use, were unde'
ulabiy dusty and tEe carpet, despite tag
awkward but vigorous e0orts at sweep
ing that bad been expended upon il, was
neither bright nor tidy, The doctor.
thoughtful eyes scarcely took iu these
details; hs mednalious were Of some.
thing else; bat IL occurred to him vague
ly, that lhe place wore a dreary, unhome'
like air.
tie was thinking Of a pair Of brown
ewes aud a grave sweet face. Such Wis
ion might have mado the old room seem
bright, but that she eyes had Of late
grown 80 shy Of meeting his, aud lhe
face so calm aud cold when Il ehanced to
encounter him. lie did not wonder 81
il particularly. Th.rty.fiye years old,
aud grown dull and plodding from a life
Of early care aud hardships. What should
draw her to you, Maxwell Casey? be
questioned, a faint smile a, his own folly
fitting oyer his lips for an instant and
losing itself under The heavy moustache
suddenly rapid, noisy step sounded
upon the stairs, and a fresh, young
voice called out bree zi,y Hello Uncle
Max!
Wen, Joet responded the doctor quiet
by, uumoyed by the invasion,
Joe entertained no doubt Of his wei
come lie tossed bis cap, aud few
books bound together with a strap, upon
the table, drew a chair to The hearth, and
elevated pair Of small feet upon the
fender.
Ain't they muddy though. Got EN-
that way runnin' across the street to get
last tag from Tom Snyder. Did it, too
lie couldn't get any from memo, sir
Say, Uncle Max, this is not much Of a
fret
My Office boy don't bali attend to it,
said the doctor, raising bis eyebrows.
llo! laughed Joe, think you ought
to have boy to look after things while
you're studyin' up old bones and all that.
IN come myself one of these days
Wish could do it now; 'twoud be lots
more fun than school is, he added wist-
fully.
The doctor surveyed him from the toes
to his muddy shoes to the top of his cur
ly head great distance laughed
soltiy as he saw the air of conscious
ability TO ill the office, with which he
drew himself up and thrust his hands
into bis pockets.
What's come of my jacket-bnttonsl
asked Joe, iancying that he had read
that question in the glance bent upon
him. Why, some of 'em tore off, that's
all. What does go with 'em, Uncle Max
Cause mas always askin' me and don't
know. Bieye they just tear themselves
of every time Pm havin' fun and amt
watehin't, OH look herel We're goin'
10 have a splendid time some of these
nishts, | tell yen! exclaimed Joe, for
getting bis perplexities in a sudden bliss.
lnl remembrance. There's lot of US fel.
lers-we're a band-and Tom Snyder's
got a ketile-drum, aud Bill's got a--a-
OH trumpet, that's what it Is; and one
of the boys says be can get his fathers
old bass yioL We've got flag, aud
some of the tellers has torches-real
lamps on poles, you know-and some of
emil have lighted eticks. We've had it
round in back.yards ever so long, and
now we're gojn TO march some night aud
have procession, only we haven't any
isamc for us yet. Tom wants il suyder's
Ceealry, ease he's captain, and he al
ways wants everything named for him.
Bat I'd like something about the torches
in -Light.Bearers or Torches or some-
thing.
Touurcs would be q very appropriate
name, commented the doctor, awakening
from his rcyerie in time to hear the last
sentence or two, and rccolIccting the
din thr bad reached bis ears on various
evenings Of rehearsal.
Would itg questioned Joe delightedly.
Bat Uncle Max rempsed into silence and
walked away to The window
4 gray fog was settling down upon the
town, making 1t dark early, aud already
lights were beginning TO shine out from
the shop-windows, here and there, along
the street. Passers-by hastcned their
steps, as IL anxious 10 escape from the
mist depressed atmosphere to the warmth
aud brightness Of home, the doctor fan.
cied a thought OF those waiting homes
made him glance once more abont the
room 10 which be stood. Familiar il
was, surely il ought 20 be homelike,
sipcc il was all the home be bad. His
place Of business during the day; the
lounge In the small back room served for
his bed At night, aud for bis meals there
was the restaurant near By. What more
could busy baehelorphysician ask p
lie went Up to Brother George. occasion.
ally. lie was glad to meet George and
liked 10 see the others well enough. but
they aiways appeared 70 be living in a
hurry aud tie placc, with all It's elegance
never seemed 10 have a cosy, family air,
and 40 hsd little attraction Tor him.
Joe retarued these iufrequenl visits
with compound interest, aud spent a
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