Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-27

10 WIN peuulers cart, with which john
kept pace unsolicited, till IL stopped before a
cottage at the entrance Of a little village.
We had dim consciousness Of seeing a
stylish buggy in front Of this same cottage,
but, engrossed in speeding John past the
cart, did not associate Il with our new 40.
quaiutance, till at the next watering. place
that gentleman again overlook us. IL was a
most secluded nook, where we certainly had |
no thought Of being seen Of mem aud Cid, |
after running out over the thill to drop Johns
oheck.rein, bad perohed herself upon his |
back TO wait for him to drink, and as the |
buggy drove up was trickling the harness |
with leaves, meantime mimicking high key
a scolding squirrel on a branch above. Sud- |
denly cognizant Of the strangers proximity,
her voice died into gasp, and she straight
eued herself with despairiug struggle for
propriety, while he, evidently embarrassed
for her sake, made, in alghting, some urbane
remark about the pleasure Of meeting us
second time.
you must think me tho evil spirit of
these wilds, Sir, bent on terrifying unwary
Travellers" said She confusedly, snatching at
the check. rein, as John ducked his head pre-.
cipitately.
"Oh, no a merry sprite, rather. Pray
let me make amends for interrupting your
solo by being Of service; !" aud he quietly
replaced the rein just in time 10 save his
horse from vicious bite on the nose.
Cid, relieved from duty, ran back over
the thill to me, and after few more friendly
words the gentleman passed on. He, too
was to dine at Dixmont, he had said, and
| At ha hnlal
we desired, and thus secure US an early din.
ner.
At North Chester we left the river No
more dallying for us iu the lap of the valley,
We must scale the rugged shoulders Of the
t hills. CID read aloud the Adventures Of
Pbaton," while John crept drOwsiiy up the
heights, but at the dizzy descents she always
closed the book. Though he had never
stumbled, his very caution made Us fear he
might, suggesting perils otherwise unthought
of. With his feet drawn together like the
spokes of a wheel, back arched, and head
penduous as fuchsia blossom, he described a
segment of a circle and what If his curved
r surface should not always stay uppermost
Agonizing moments there were at the steep
. est slopes, when he seemed on the point OF
sitting upon the dasher of the rockaway, and
turning backward somersault into our
d shrinking arms. But these moments passed.
A great many moments passed, indeed,
If among those frightiuI ups and downs, and
dinner horns had sounded far and near ere
we arrived at the hotel at Dixmont.
Our friendly acquaintance sat opposite US
at the dining table, and conversed agreeably
about the country through which we were
J., passing He had traversed it several times
a of late, he said, in going to Sanford. All
that was our destination also and were
= we not acquainted with the new aud more
! direct route from Dixmont thither Then
might he map it down for US upon his card
He should be obliged TO take the old circuit
Gus way himself, in order to call on an In
:, valid friend, but might meet US at the ferry
4 where the two roads conceded.
= After dinner our bird.faced lsndlady
swoped down Cid and me in the parlor with
huge leather-covered book. Would we be
n good enough to write our names in it! II
n was 4 sort of "albium," she said, that she
Z kept to show to folks. Cid pointed to the
. single entry that day with 4 significant
4 smlIe-"Lemuel Harmon, Boston Massachu
SETS" 1t was a satisfaction, she whispered
q. to know how our cavalier was called among
\. men. And when, little later, detected
!. said cavalier porting over the "albium" il
the bar.room, mistrusted that he felt lik,
~ satisfaction in discovering how we wer
- called.
h. At our departure he handed Cid tho prom
+ Used card OF instruction, expressing the cor
dial hope Of more formal introduction t
ne US at Sanford. She studied it as We pro
rs ceeded and idly turned it over, engrave,
r. surface upward. Laura Elizabeth Curtis
I'd will you hear this? Professor Lemue! Har
I'd mon, prophetic, test aud business cairvoyaut
d, emblematc, pathetic; 81 Beach street, BOs
ur ton" Why, Laura. the mans fortune-tel
Ter If he had been convict, she couldn
,h have shown a greater horror. "And
a, think Of his passing himself as gentleman
v, Laura. 'Emblematic, pathetic indeed
Who knows but he has beguiled us into
or false route !"
en- She would not 60 a step farther till, b
ng inquiry, she had assured herself We we're
Of the right way.
60 Minute by minute the heat grew NOR
'et intense Before we had passedOver half {
ht the fifteen miles yet remaining, the sky b
distance. On black cloud opposite, awit
TO- to Cid as was to Beshazzsr the fiery writ
H. ing 10 the wall, flashed at frequent iuterva
he the hierogyphics of the lightning. But "
ne, had entered upon n new strip Of land wit
at no buildings, and must press on to the ferr
bit ere we could gain shelter. Cid wrung be
hands in anguish.
his al shall die il the storm strikes US Lool
ay Laura, Laura there comes a man. As
ly. him how far 1t is to the next house"
he 1t was Mr.. Harmon, the "emblemati
IN, pathetic" returning from the ferry at hesC
Go long speed.
ne, "Thc rope is broken, aud We cannot cro'
'hc in the boat" he cried. We must 60 roun
to- by the bridge"
ian In the time it takes me to tell it he ha
For wheeled John about, pulled up the boot, Al
60 pulled down the curtains. Oh that was
fearful drive through the very battlefield
run the elements Our companions hor
out snorted wildly at each succeeding bolt. Jol
md alone was unmoved, sliding down the loI
ust hills with maddeniug delberatiOn, and pau
ard ing in the blaze of the lightning TO nibb
at the waysde heritage. We found shelter
lall last beneath the old shed Of an out-hous
and here fash of lightning, more viz
on- than any before, seemed to completely envC
"a op US. Cid flung herself shrinking into m
ght arms and l held her close while tumu
ragged on. There came hush at last III
a shower was going round, Mr.. Harmon S.
ein to Cid. He was thankful for her sake. Il
zen, had the warmest sympathy for those VI
pom suffered from dread Of thunder-storms.
was a constitutional timidity, he thougl
I'm impossible to control.
our Yes, she believed, it was, Cid answere