Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-09


if you have lately heard from Mr.. Elsey ?"
"No, Sir; have not" was the prompt
response, on which Dempton fixed upon
the speaker a somew hat surprised look.
The pause that followed indicated tue
common feeling that some good reason
must be forthcoming for asking this ques-
ton at this time. Yet ordinarily IL might
have passed for mere expression of friend
ly interest.
"Well, Squire" said Atkins, the man
who had spoken, 1--WE all heard that Mr..
Elsey was coming back and 1t has been
talked round good deal that he was going
TO settle among us, and 1t seems natural TO
show an interest in it,"
"D;d you make his acquaintance, Sir,
vhen he was here e. asked Dempton.
"Not exactly, Squire; | only spoke to
him once, and was rather taken by his
pleasant voice aud looks, and should be
glad to learn when he is coming back"
"Thal is to say, Mr.. Atkins, you knew
him just as much as you know me. be-
lieve we have been named once to each
other"
Tnis brought Atkins to his feet with a
sNhoV VI bNihS Ndlith hpOh " SupN MS
ideas of proprely and self-rsspect.
Every true, Mr.. Dempton, and think
once was enough 10 make my question a
proper one. l hope you won't dispute il,
SlrH
81 have no wish to dispute with you or
any one" said Dempton, "but l have a
right TO my way, which is to come and go,
asking and being asked no questions. It's
not your question, M. Atkins, but your
asking it, that surprises me and between
neighbors who want TO live quietly the
! quicker such thing is understood the bet
| ter"
In saying this Dempton's manner was so
| quietly resoluto as to produce the effect
which he intended of making every one
feel that he took the position of one who
bad been interfered with. The more trivial
the interference, the stronger such posi-
ton. Only weighty reason can justify
interference at all, especially in tho eyes Of
people jealous as they were of personal
rights. Atkins felt this instantly, and had
S ense enough TO treat il in the only manly
way.
Dropping his tone OF self-as seriion, he
said; 81 ask your pardon, Squire, for SEEM
ing meddlesome, which l didn't mean to
be. If gentleman speaks civily when
he meets a neighbor, and don't choose to
do more, it's nobody's business but his
own. But must say, Squire, for myself
and the rest Of us here, that all we know of
Mr.. Elsey was what you told us yourself,
and that's the reason, perhaps, why 1 was
reader to ask about him."
De empton saw that Atkins had drawn
back, and was too shrewd not to concede
something himself Neither party could
have had more than general notion what
| was in the mind Of the other. Each was
| int eusoly conscious of his own motive that
gave importance 10 an Incident in itself ut
terly trivial.
"That is true, Mr.. Atkins" Dempton re-
piled had 1 thought of it, your stopping
me on my way out might not have struck
me as it did. l don't like to be stopped
and to show you that 1 minded that more
than your question, I'll give you an an
swer 10 it when l have read this letter,
which, think, has something TO do with
| it,"
So saying he walked out to where his
horse and wagon stood, while the party in
doors awaited his return in silence. The
contrast between what appeared upon the
surface and what was under meath imposed
restraint upon thom all. Dempton present.
ly returned, and holding the open letter in
his hand he said, with perfect naturalness
of manner
"Gentlemen, this is very grave business
indeed, and, as it turns out, am not sorry
for what has passed between US this morn
ing. This letter informs me that Mr.. e.
sey has never reached his former home,
and that no communication has been re-
ceived fram him. 1 have been anxious
about him for sometime. When he left, it
was understood between US that If he were
detained by the way he would write, but
Otherwise should not hear from him un-
til he completed his journey. Not hearing,
l thought little of it at first, supposing that
when the letter came it would explain the
delay. But, growing uneasy, ailer while
l wrote 10 the person with whom he left
what business he had, and this is my an
swer. They are as much in the dark as
am and must admit that am seriously
troubled"
As he ceased speaking Dempton glanced
round, as expecting the remarks that would
naturally follow. Looks were exchanged,
but no words. The utter silence and grave
faces ofthe group were marked. Dempton's
compressed lip and darkening countenance
showed how he felt it. He half turned
toward the door, when Atkins interrupted
him with, at looks very bad, indeed"
Deliberately folding up the letter, and keep
| ing his eyes fixed upon it, Dempton re-
piled:
"It looks very serious, Mr.. Atkins, and
1 should expect my neighbors to show
so me interest in it. My friend may have
fallen i'll on his journey; he may even
have died suddenly. But-"-and as he
said this, he looked full at Atkins-"I was
not prepared for your feeling it so much"
Here again what he said was so reasona-
BILE, his manner so in keeping with his rec
ogn lied character, as TO render 1t difficult
even 10 hint at the suspicious that were en-
tertained by every one present. Atkins
again showed himself the readiest man
among them.
at seems 10 me, Squire, that if Mr.. Ell
sey had been taken sick among Christian
pc ople, or died in a Christian way word
have been sent to you, or to his other
friends. 1 suppose he had something
about him to show who he was5"
''Thars plain enough TO be thought Of"
replied Dempton, "And makes it more of "a
trouble 10 me. 1t is possible that Elsey
has come to a bad end-if that's what you
meant. But think you meant more and
the rule 1 have gone by all my life is TO
hold my tongue altogether or to speak out
all my mind. am no fool, sir, not to un-
derstand when thing like this happens,