Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-04

ha Mh sg u he did something that made lne
NJ and blink in the luhhlest Vi
ways. l.. .bo he'd and got his
LONG no. white night-gown' ana IN a nIOtSes
Minute had squirmed into tnatL .ah "aro
boots and all. Then he laid match i caioI
S STT,' nv the candle-hc meant mlsC sU.
iu i,S hat candle-threw himself comfort,
WIZ into Hn n chair by the low window anu
awaited developments. D.4 .. 1,st
lie mick ear caught up the sound OF lar-
away, muhled steps crossing 'no ,u OrITsi
az" "C1oming-was sure they woul would 10
how was ever let sleep Fourth morning III
~ town-but I'm ready-iull dress reGep'
,; H,n and Gwn smoothed his whiVe
rohe and laughed under breath.
i0V End then time went on again.
Hush now! Yes, the crack OF a fence
rail- The boys, somewhere IN the uarN-
ness e are evidently climbing over INTO the
fields. The grass is less leIl''"ie o''n 'D''''
the sandy road. dor, md
large with peering into the night becomes
conscious of dark shadows slowly stealing
toward the house. .,., n;.tol
d;scbaTre! And the quick echoes dance
trinninsly off over the valley tree-topS'
Tbe Shadows stop, motionless, waver
r,on,ont then sink aud fade down in the
deep grasses. -, .,..oo :, rttor
Waiting for you to fall asleep again
t,win-aren't they old fellow" muttered
tho wbite.robed boy to himself, between
haIesmothered outbursts of mirth. 1t Is
so deliciously jolly to lounge there IN an
easy-chair. and picture those tired shad-
ows prone among the grasses, trembling
lest the slumber of their victim has oeen
dis urbed.
After a while he fancies the low ghost OF
whispers that pass from one to another
along the line. Ard at length he is sure
they are slowly, silently, steadily lessenlng
the distance between.
Gwin can see like an owl now, and all
ut once, close at hand, he traces the out
lines of a boy-yes another, and another
take form out of the gloom and gllde be-
hind the shubbery. There must be
dozen of them.
He thrills ut the near crisis.
Bnt the nlotters are cautious. No sound
Of their unseen preparations steal through
the dense LEAKAGE.
Once only does Gwin note the FREELY
fash Of lucifer.
Lighting their slow matches! Well,
I'm ready for runw he saws to himself,
and aIides to the table for Ills candle.
Sl6w tick tho moments bv. Little ex-
ouisite tingles fly ouick.quivering along
every nerve.
Rnt see-the shadows!
Swift noiseless as mist creeping up the
valley thew come-nearer-nearer- close
under the window!
Gwif il conscious of an instant pause
a white sional.Autter-and then, flash
banoI crash AsH.CRASH! The win
dows rattle the tense air, Jared, vibrates
with temnest echoes. sweiIIed bv dozen
wells and pierced through bv the comet
Shrek of the horn.
silence
The bows wait-vait in a hush of ex-
pectancy.
A moment later they catch the rleam of
LIGHT within. and presently nipht-powned
Gwin hair TANGLED. and the face drowsy
as with late slnmber. appears at the win
dow. candle in hand.
"A-ab-what-'s mp" he drawls
sleenilv rnhhinc his owes
The bovs take this ne assurance of their
trinmnh
+" You arc, Won't Cwin, Cvin Hal
steadr
And again and again the din of wells
and lauoRter and cheers climaxpd hy the
five-pounder and the wild reyeille of
drums mohs his oars
Bnt a smile twinkles across Gwin,s face
In the mid.uproar he carelessIv let's fail
his candle from the window
That falling candle|a liGbt pnff down
~ tbo r,rndn 49, 10, ;suO P Pm uo"n
sinuous cleans Of lioht rnn alone tbo
ground TO the house the fence the g5rnb
Derives like sernents ont botween Tho
verv feet of tbe aetonisbed hn,,s 10 u h
clumps of bushes hevond '"N
Instantly edoes of tho outor o,oop, oro
tinped with stranoe LIGHTS Crimson and
white and azure Glow intense around tho tho
line Dense clouds Of sn,ol 90 0 ,nn;. 'To
tinted, billow starward and dome over tbee
scene shutting ont the nigbt sbnttinr ' in
the bows and the dazzling brilliannT9 Of If
great iridescpnt lichts VI INFANCY Vi
The wouId he walkers JSe, are tbo wo,onoa
Startled at the marvellous mystery ' the fire.
enchantment thew stand slant n 'r ,vid Ia0
pved dun,h 10y ,muy ''"A" S'ieu'' Ill "iue'
Not one Of them has snokor whor srd.
den to left to rigbt mn from t T,o" Gr Sou
ness, with mabtv p storm ou, swish wis ' .In
rockets soar their BRIGHT sernontin H tr rH1
into the upper hlackness '''''D0 '"'''
The house-side is a maelstrom Of swirl,
ing, fiery spray The fenco moI pn S" nra
Roman c.n 9PL"y' 0xn nne renee pekets are
ing m in the eNp p%bt tH btll'an'' Shoot,
globes. Wv s"' ''''" '''''oioFe'
a ~ Ia 81