St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-08-17

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brella.
My aunt was so sorry that DR.. Wilder
had taken it by mistake, and left that
morning with Rose for Brentford-
leave was more than up. The Bur-
banks of Brentford were very particu-
lar people, and her position-my aunt
had had so much trouble to get it for
her, she was so young and so pretty j
as governess there, allowed no trifling.
"GOverness Why, l thought
eyes, l suppose so'n said nv aunt.
enigmatically. 81 told Rose she must
let you know she had no fortune.n
"TOld herr'
"You have been apart from us so
much, Allan, and your side of the house
has always married for love and grown
poorer, and ours-well, ours is like the
old farmer, it goes where money is"
''Well, then, why has Rose no for
tune ?n
"Oh, Roses father" said the good wo-
man, ''ran through with everything,
like winnowing machine; and when
he died, she had nothing but her wits
and, some of her mothers old finery.
Why, my dear, Marcia had to send her
her dress and veil for the wedding. It's
great shame, so pretty and sweet as
she is. He was a graceless scamp. 1
told him just how it would be-" said my
aunt, leaning back among her cushions
and folding her jeweled hand.
''Why don't you take her to live with
you, aunt, in Marcia's place ?'' 1 said,
boldly.
In Marcia's place! AS if anybody
could take my daughters place! And
when | have been looking forward to
being alone ever since Marcia had a
lover, now that the thing is done, go
and undo it, My child !"
That proposition cost me a legacy.
But little l thought of legacies then.
My one idea was that now l could go
to Brentford, and call-fOr my umbreI-
la. How differently people are made !
Here was my aunt-in-law longing to be
alone, and here was 1
Certainly, the officer told me at the
station, the accommodation train had 10
minutes start, but the limited express
Overhauled it at the Junction. The
tickets were half dollar more by the
express-the express was just leaving.
When it left, it took me with it; and it
did overhaul the accommodation, but
in very sudden way. To be concise,
just rounding bad curve, the express
engine and the rear accommodation car
telescoped. One moments too long de-
lay, OccaSiOned by some woman's stop
ping to kiss all her relations, and Il
couple of miles farther it was all over.
Fortunately the rear car was empty,
and an old one, going to pieces easily,
and, beyond a few bruises and the shock
nobody was hurt; but the trains were
off the track, the cars off the trucks,
and there were general wreck and ruin,
splinters and smoke and steam and
snow. l pulled myself together and
FASTENED forward, to see Rose before
me leaning on my umbrella. The quick,
eager way in which she held out her
arms to me to be lifted down from the
place where the conclusion had thrown
her made my heart bound. "Oh, am
so glad to see you! Where did you
come from ? l have been so afraid the
wreck would take fire !" she cried. Her
tone seemed to say, "But now there is
no danger" Perhaps, as | lifted her
down, / held her the fraction of an in
stant too long. Then she was only like
piece of sugared ice.
''Well," l said looking at her and
lduS lclG 81 llSHt-utdTleu anu
happy ali at once-''what are you going
to do now ?"
"Give you your umbrella" she said,
"and find DR.. Wilder"
''And how about Brentford ?" And
at that came gust of tears. clears ?"
said I-"when we are safe and whole ?"
at has been so dreadful ~ she eX-
claimed, lifting her streaming face like
flower in the rain. eve ought to be
so thankful. Oh, indeed, we mustn't
stay talking; we must see if anybody
is hurt and needs help"
''But you can't walk, with your an
kle."
IL will wait here"
IdispOsed some scattered wraps about
her, found that nobody was injured,
and came back and told her so. "And
now, how about Brentford ?" | asked.
"They can't expect me back if the
trains don't rum" she said, with a wor-
ried face. ''But it's great misfortune
they are so particular"
"There is DR.. Wilder,r said l. 'EStay
here, and / will see that it is all right
| stopped to speak with the doctor, and
half an hour afterward / had returned
with sleigh full of robes and hot soap
stones. "There is to be no demurring
this time" said /. "Your cousin Mar
cia's cousin Ferguson can take all prop
er care of yOu in one sleigh, and DR..
Wilder and this young gentleman from
Brentford-"
"Oh yes, Mr.. Tiffany. Isn't this
dreadful, Mr.. Tiffany ?"
"-In another. The sleighing is very
passable; we shall reach Brentford by
twilight. And you will keep your stu
alton, Or-or get another" She hung
back moment. l hesitated no more,
but took her by her two little shoulders
and deposited her among the furs, and
tucked them all in about her; and as
by that time coaches and sledges and
all sorts of conveyances were on the
ground for the others, | touched whip
to the horse, and we were off, the other
sleigh behind us.
ado you know the way ?" she asked,
timidly.
81 can inquire" answered.
"Straight ahead" was the instruction
given at every farmhouse gate; and
straight ahead we went, gay and laugh
ing now, and full of enjoyment of the
pleasant bracing air, the bells, the
swiftness. At length we reached some
cross roads, where the wind had over
turned the sign post. Which one of
the roads was the right one? We took
the most travelled way, at venture. 1t
was the wrong one. 1t led us on and
on, aided by pumpkin who grinned
and said, GAY, ay," as we asked if we
were right for Brentford. The sky was
already clouding over, and it was late
in the afternoon when we reached a