Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-06-11

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swer he got accompanied by a look Of pro-
found amazement.
40, George" he said with a gasp, "did
you not telegraph to me, this evening, that
my father had had another tit?'
"Most certainly did not"
80, my wife, my wife T. said the clergy
man; and then he staggered up TO heap OF
luggage and sat down and bid his face in
his hands. His brother saw that the mat
ter was serious so he let his own train
pass on without resumng his journey, and
was soon in possession Of all the explana-
ton John Ferguson could give.
"Porter," he asked, "what time does the
night-mall go through to Wheclborough?" ?"
"1.25, sir" answered the man; "reach
marlborough 2.15."
The distance was Eve-and twenty miles I;
the present time a quarter, or, by the time
the explanation was ended, halfpast eiev-
en-.
"No help for it, John, we must wait for
the down-train; we couldn't pick up a
horse, nor yet pair, that would be ready
10 start this time of night and get us 10
marlborough before a quarter past two.
Come, old fellow, cheer up; it's no use tax
ing for granted everything you dread!"
But George FERGUSON thought in his
own mind that matters looked black enough
10 justify any amount of fears, and had
hard work to find hopeful talk for the next
two hours. He tried family matters-any-
thing to pass away the time-in vain his
brolhers mind was filled with erwhelm-
ing anxiety, his eyes peering up the line to
catch the first glimpse of the approaching
train.
At last the shrill whistle, the glaring
lights, creeping nearer and nearer, the min
ute's stoppage, and then off again home
ards-homewards land be began to
dread the moment he longed for.
At marlborough the two brothers struck
out at once from the station on their five
mile walk; and as they left the further out
skirts of the town, the church clock chimed
half-past two o'clock.
George Ferguson could barely keep up
with his brothers rapid stride, and thought
him half crazy with excitement, when he
saw him lightly leap a ditch, and start run
ming across 4 broken piece of earth.
GEORGE cried the re ctor, pointing To
his own houso, not stones throw distant,
'look at that light!' and through the long
narrow windows Of the oratory a light
shone plainly.
"Good God, if we are too late r.
The brothers scarcely knew how they
covered the short remaining distance. \
blow at the hall window, and their united
force at the shutters within, and they made
good their entrance to see-Kate Ferguson
lying senseless on the floor; 10 hear the
wailing and crying of children overhead !;
and a strange sound of low voices whisper
ing and hands cutting away at woodwork.
Late indeed they were, but not too late,
An outdoor bell, set Changing, soon called
ready help from the village, while Jane, al
ready reused by the sounds, but too fright
ened to venture from her room alone,
busted herself over her unconscious mis-
tress.
The capiiyes in the oratory fought like
cats, and one of them gave George Fergus
son bite in the arm, the mark of which
he will carry as long as he lives--lhat was
Rough Dick" "Gentleman jim turned
sullen, and submitted to the force of num-
bers at the last with better grace.
When on their trial two months later,
Gentleman Jim" paid Mrs. Ferguson
several compliments, and politely assured
the udge Lefore whom they were tried,
that he esteemed it no disgrace to have been
trapped by such a brick of a womanr'
The gang TO which the two thieves be-
loDge d had received all their information
fro m Sarah's brother, who was a sort of
hanger on 10 their brotherhood, and 10
whom had been intrusted the sending of
the lying telegram which had so comforta-
bly, disposed OF the master.
|. "Alls well,' they say that ends well;"
and our tale is no exception 10 the proverb.
II was rather long getting we'll, though,
in the case of Mrs. Ferguson; still she
was her own brave-hearted self again by
Christmas time; and-take note OF this, all
wives-never did she show her husband
the letter she had found never did she
tell him, or any one else, that his one bit of
carelessness had supplied the "ccrrect
time" 10 the intruders.
And, for piece of happiness to end with,
though Mr.. Ferguson the elder did not
have tit and die, he did have fit of an-
other kind-of repentance for his prejudice
against his daughter-in-law; SO he made
reparation by very handsome increase to
their income. And as for the rector, after
the wild joy at having his wife safe again,
he declares his ''courting days have all
returned.