St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-10

fifteen or twenty miles away. and as il
WAS November, and the davs were shor1
they would not return until Monday
night
Some time after they set ont. thcr,
came an Imperative message to til,
Judge from his onl Y sister, saying tlia
she was very i'll, and desiring to see
him without delay. Her home was il
Shelby, eight or ten miles off. and %
course the Judge lost no time in obey
ing the summons. He took his wifi,
with him leaving Margaret alone in tn,
house.
After they were seated in the carriage
the Judge stopped to say:
Ill is barely possible. Margaret. that
we may remain all night. 1t looks vclN
much like il storm, and in that case ",
shall certainly stay. And if So. Won
had better get Sallie Turner to come
over and stay with you for company"
But though Margaret would have
liked Sallie's company very much. she
at once decided not to ask for il. for il
she did so. she was sure that Sallie'>
brother would come along, and the les,
she SAW of Willie Turner, the better
she was pleased. He was an honest
industrious sort of fellow. and he wa.
her most devoted admirer, but. will
the usual Inconsistency of her sex Sh,
utterly refused to see what was best toi
her.
The long afternoon wore slowly away
Margaret read Il little, and drummcd Il
few tunes listlessly on the ld-taShiomcd
piano, played with the black and " htr
kittcn. and held the old eat curled up
i'll her lap like Il sleepy caterpillar. and
at last ii was sunset.
Ii WAS evident enough that there WAS
going to be storm, for the north and
west was dark and gloomy with ON
inous black clouds, and the west wind
sighed drearily through the pine woods
back of the house. And indeed. be-
foIe Margaret had done up the jobs ut
the barn, the first great drops of frozen
rain began to fall. and 10y the time sh,
had eaten her supper and strained the
milk. the storm had set in in earnest.
She closed and barred the door-th,
window was already fastened drew the
shutters, and piled the kitchen tireplac,
full of dry hickory.
The kitten had gone to sleep in Il
cushioned chair in the corner. and tn,
old black cat sat on the hearth blinking
her eyes at the cheerful blazr.
Margaret read Il little and dreamed 4
great deal. as girls of her age are apt
to do when left To themselves. Sh,
made very pretty picture. if only
| there had been some one to see her.
Her soft brown hair WAS unbound
and fell ripping to her waist hcI f,ii
found face WAS tinted rs dclicatclN pink
H. the inside of a sea-shcll: her brow
eyes were dreamy and full of languor
and her red lips Were sweet and woman
| lN enough for any true lover to find lii
riIcst happiness i'll kissing.
Slowly. at length. the old coffin
shaped clock in the corner struck ten
Margaret STATED up; she had no
thought it :" late. The evening ha,
gone off much quicker than >h,
had expected it would. 1t was not :,
dreadful to stay alone. after all. she sli,
to herself.
She opened Il shutter. and pccrcd on
/ into the night. 1t was dark as Erehu>
! and the wiud and rain beat against tn
| pane III perfect torrent. The judy
would not think of returning on such
night.
"Wcll. Tommv." she said to the eat
Il guess You and and kitty will 90 t,
bed. We must bc up hetimcS in TIA
morning. You know. since thcre'll II
none but us To do the chores.
A> she spoke. Margaret stopped T.
stroke old Tommy. but. to her imtimit
surprise. she SIw that the animals tai
was erect. his eyes had changed to
glossy green of rage aud terror. an,
with slow. pauthcr-likr tread. he wa
making his way toward the dnorWa,
And while she gazcd. Margaret >a,
with terror that the latch WIS SInwI.
lifting, and the next moment the do"
swung open with an "minou> crcak
and Il man stepped into the room II
was il short thick set fellow. with sand
hair and vhiSkcrs. and :, pale. trrn
cioms looking blue eve. set far back il
his head
$50. no. my dear" he said. you al
sole proprietor. it appcaIS."
For an instant Margarct'> heart >too,
still hut she was naturally brave. AN,
she WAS proud as we'll. and would no
allow the man to see that she feaIc,
him.
II have that homer" she said. c.oll\
"Who are Won, and what do lo
want ,"
IL trust YOU will excuse. me if | ne"
Icct to introduce myself" said the man
with mock courtesy aS for my husi
ness. am quite happy to inform vo
about that. want the eight thorS;m
dollars that the Judge brought froI
RidreIy bank last night. and / dcpcn
on \uu to point il out to me"
The indignant blood rushed int
Man garcts face. and she answerc