Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-20

own beus NneIes Wllu TWO plnoMs anu tne
quilt drawn over her head. she lay sobbing
bitterly at the thought Of Ralph left behind,
10 be eaten perhaps by the Bogie Poor
little lIexie
Ralph, meanwhile, stood his ground. His
heart beat very fast, but he would not run
away-that was for girls. Itmust be owned,
however, that when n moment later the
sound of mufiled voices became audible
down stairs he trcmhled extremely, and was
guilty Of the unmanlike act Of hiding behind
the curtain. lie was only ten years old
which must plead his excuse with bigger
boys who are confident that they could
never, under any circum stauces, hide them
selves or be afraid.
The voices drew nearer. steps sounded,
and two figures caine ont OF the narrow
doorway. Could there be two Bogies
No wonder they ate so much. But in another
minute all thought Of nogie's vanished from
Ralph's mind, for in one of the figures he
recognized his own sister Winfred.
Her companion was man. There was
something familiar in his form. II moved
forward, and Ralph jumped so that the big
sword ratified again. Bogie number two was
his brother Humphrey mourned as dead
ever since the summer before, when so many
brave gentlemen gave mp their live, for
King Charles at the battle Of Naseby.
"What noise was that 2" whispered Win
fired. fearfully.
"Some sound from below" replied Hum.
phrey, after listening moment f" Must you
70, Winnie -
!" must dear Humphrey I dare not all
sent myself longe- lest be missed aud sus-
pected. Oh, If tomorrow were but over,
and you safe on the French lugger and over
the sea- cannot breathe while this hid
ing aud danger 60 on"
e. suppose ought TO be glad also" said
Humphrey, ruefully but to me that French
lugger means exile aud loneliness and pow
erty, for the rest of my life, perhaps. Bet
ter have laid down my life with the rest at
Nasehy, in striking one last blow for the
king"
"Don't you speak sol" protested Wini-
fred, tearfully. You are alive, thank God (;
and once these wars are over we may reioin
you, and have a happy home somewhere, if
not in the land of our fathers. Now, dear
Humphrey, have you all you need for the
night p
"Christmas cheer, said Humphrey, in a
would-be cheerful voice. Beef and ale
what better fare could be 2 You are gal.
liant provider, my Winnie and there is need,
for since have lain in thlt hole with notll-
ing else to do, my appetite has ragged like a
wolf That Sleeps head was wondrous sa-
worry. | say though, Winnie, what do the
servants think Of the famine | create in the
larder z"
"Oh, the stupid creatures fancy that a
Bogie has taken up his residence here. A
very hungry Bogie, Joyce calls the creature 70
The brother and sister laughed then they
kissed each other.
"Good-night, dearest Wiufred."
Goodnight, brother" and Humphrey
vanished up the stairs. Winifrcd fingered
a moment then, as if remembering some
thing, opened the door again and ran after
him. Ralph marked that she laid her hand
on particular boss in the carved wainscot
and pressed it in hard, whereon the door
sprung open. lie stole out, laid his hand on
the same boss aud felt the spring give way
under his touch Some underlined idea of
stealing in later, to make Humphrey visit,
was in his head but he heard Winifred re-
turning, aud hurried out of the gallery. Put
ting back the sword in its place, he entered
the nursery. No ilexie was visible, but a
sobbing sound drew his attention TO tum.
bled heap on the bed
Is that you, llexia ?" Why, what are
you crying about :" pulling away the pillow
which she held tight.
"Oh, Rafe Then the Bogie didn't eat
you, after ALI" And lIexie buried heI
tear-strained face on his shoulder.
Bogie Nonsense There are no such
things as Bogies %
"What was it, then, that lived up that
dreadful stairs 2"
1" cant tell you, only it was nothing al
all dreadful. And Ilexie, don't say wore
about that door TO any one, will you ? II
might make great trouble if you did"
:" ! did tell Deborah, when she fetched
the candle and asked why cried, that
saw a strange door in the gallery" ialtereC
llexie, truthful, though penitent.
"Ohl liexie, how could youY | dom
like Deborah, and her father is a knave
Humphrey said so one day. How coulC
you talk to her about the door, Ilexie
81 don't know. ! was frightened, and
she asked me- sobbed llexie. "Will it dc
any harm, Rafe z"
at may" said Rafe gloomily. "Bu
don't cry, llexie. You meant no harm, a
all events
"Oh, don't speak so gravely and so lik,
Joyce" said llexie, much troubled. Sh
cried herself to sleep that night Deborah
who undressed her, asked many question
ahont the pollarv aud tho door
q I, ,,'os Sor,, d,rL AMI ne,hons sha mi.
tool tbat Co. ali ITavia conI1 ba n,ie 4
say palrh ,,as d;s,,,rh..1 nj .ol,afnl a,,
sIsnt iater than msuai nevt r,orn;n,, Il,
inmned mn in n hurry and made what hast
he cauId Win drassi9, and hreal,fast bnt
Seemed as thnngb ,heS n,.,'ar toot so mnc
,;,na hatore ond ,il 10 ,,b;la ha ata ha ,ya
consc;ons ~ a .t;r and bustl. in tha hons
a.h;ch axoi,ad bis c,,r;os;,v vow, n,,cl
Knoci,;nrN the sound of fee, somethin
nnmsnai Gas goipg ON
Ie soon as nosslble be sIirred avav fro,
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