The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-06
[Cancluded from First Pace. ]

look into the barns and among the horses
and cattle, he was perplexed and dssp-
pointed by the doctors silence and bis read
mess to depart. Even his barns looked
gloomy, and his pride in his animals was
turned into shame and distress, as he stood
there alone in an atmosphere chilled by the
frlgid civility and avoidance of an old
friend. He even thought the doctor had
paid the bill with unusual promptness as
reproach to him.
In the grocery he did not even meet with
even silent courtesy, He had never been
in the habit of spending an evening hour In
this village Change but now he felt an ir-
Iresistible desire to mingle with his neigh
pectation of friendly word, partly to re-
lieve his mind with idle and familiar talk,
and partly in hopes that his presence might
lead his accusers away from their object.
But he got small comfort here. The
conversation did not flow with its usual
ease and rapidity ; and when it did go on,
IT was far from agreeable or satisfactory to
him.
damn ring, anyhow" said Peter
llsey, as they closed discussion Of Biddle
and his Bank.
81 see no occasion for swearing about 1t,
Peter" said John, putting in word to
place himself right on the moral side OF the
question, and to rebuke Ilsley for his rude
ness.
"Well, l do" said Peter. Common
words don't begin in time like this"
81 don't believe three scamps ever got to-
gether, that one of 'em didn't let out on the
others, said the ex-representative, looking
at Peter, and remembering that he was
selectman turning states evidence.
Peter squlrmed, and said nothing John
laughed with hoarse spasm, and departed.
lie had begun to realize the trouble which
surrounded him and he had begun, also,
to feel the Importance of a bold, and manly
and candid declaration in an hour like this.
And more than all, he felt how through in
experience he lacked the wisdom and cour-
age to meet this crisis as it should be met.
lie was silent sufferer, because he had
never learned how to take or give advice;
had never dealt in expressions of sympa-
thy had never been taught that there are
times when defiant self-assertion is neces-
sary as an act of justice to ourselves and
our friends.
1t was in the midst of this unhappiness,
suspicion and il-feeling, that the time ar
rived for holding the annual election OF
town officers in lothian. The March meet
ing, rs it was called, had come. The usual
warrant had been nailed up in the church
entry the number of days required by law,
and the inhabitants had rsad and pondered
upon the various articles, both before and
after divine service. Some OF them seemed
to read with unusual care, as if they ex-
pected to find an unwonted article there
perhaps to enquire into the conduct of the
selectmen- but they found nothing and
so they said nothing. And 30. on the first
Monday of March, at o'clock p. M, the
oil hn1t dad tee hal
done for years, and the people assembled
to discharge their duty as citizens of the
town: The meeting was opened with pray
er by Mr.. Howe; the warrant was read by
the town clerk and in accordance with the
first article providing for choice of mod
orator Squire Wright was elected to that
high and imperial officer, which the law
has clothed with such supreme power. The
moderator was stationed on the low plat
form in front of the pulpit, while the vo-
tiers were scattered about in groups, some
gathered near the desk, some .loltering up
and down the broad aisle, some assembled
in the porch. and some OF the old and fee
BILE. sitting quietly in the square, high
backed pews. The choice of town clerk
attracted but little attention, the few votes
which were cast being for Silas Savary,
who was declared 10 be duly elected. The
drliclc pTOViulng LOT Tue CHOICE OIL tnrec &C.
lectmen was read, and the voters present
were called upon to deposit their ballots
for these high officials. At once there was
n stir, and the scattered groups began to
gather about the pulpit, not actively but
with real or assumed reluctance. The bal
lot boz stood open the town clerk was seat
ed behind his check-lst-but no man ad-
vanced to vote. There was evidently an
unusual movement to be made-so unusual
that the mover hesitated, and hardly knew
how or where to begin. AT last Sam Barker
addressed the chair and asked If debate was
in order.
The conclusion of this paper will be CIV
en- in to-morrow's GLOBE. The paper en-
tire will apper in this weeks issue Of THE
WEEKLY GLOBE.