Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-25

out of the door.
Cit back Phil said the old woman
sharply: II kin tell yer all der is to tell
Deys stoppin' now at u house on Promenade
street. Dey's drawin' water at de well 10y de
wood-pile, an II little gal is talkin' to dem
"She gave me some buttcrmilk this morn
in she saw the way l come I'm lost man. "
NO, You amt. You jis' git right in de
chimley, an I'll deal wild EN- if day come r'ar-
in roun' dis house
by the time he was well in the hiding place
the men had turned toward the nego-quartcr
Aunt Nelly sat down and went TO work quiet
ly on a patchwork quilt, ready to receive them
with proper surprise and dignity. But when
they came the work fell from her hands, her
skin turned ashen-gray, she shook in every
limb, for Tom Jack was the first man 10 burst
into the room-Tom Jack, strong in virile
life, augry-eyed. II long knife stuck in his belt
Aunt Nelly was n shrewd old soul she re-
covered herself quickly and said nothing
Phil sartinly shot somebody" she thought,
IAN I'll jes' hor my tongue till l see how
things is gWiue to turn out
"Whers Phil Yickers: = said Tom in a
voice husky with passion.
Phil Nickers? Why, l amt seed the boy
sencc | went over to his house bout week
back to git a settin of eggs Miss Bctty'd been
savin' up for me-"
Now come, Aunt Mely." said one of the
party guod-huHoredly. you needn't lie Lit
tie Sally Polk saw him come right in yer do
We left a p'liccman huntin' him in the city
an was on our way back to Hopefeld when
the child told us whar he were"
80 my soul, what's poor Phil done dat
you're all a-huutn' him like pack o houn's!"
"phil's had little shootin' affair, " said the
good -natured man.
"MlO'd he shoot -
who'd he shoot = cried Tom Jack The
sweetest, brightest creetur' the Lord ever
made my sister, Nancy Jack"
In the dreadful silence that followed con-
vulsive, gasping sound was heard The next
moment Phil Vickers sprang out, his hair and
clothes covered with mould like a spectre
from the grave. is this true boys? Did 1
kill Nancy jack he said in harsh. hollow
voice.
Jack sprang at him, his knife flashing in
the air. Bat he was caught and held back by
one of the men with him: Softly, Tom.
softly Let Phil have fair play"
Fair play for a man who shot down my
sister in cold blood!"
As God sees me, Tom, l thought it was
you kissn' little Betty"
That's an argument, Tom" said the third
man, who had a long, sad face. and who lin
gered over his words as if he were pattng
them that's an argument as Il 90 down
with the jury. 1t was night you an Nancy
are alike in the face you've got no whiskelS.
you know, Tom. How was Phil to know that
it was Nancy a-showin herself of to Little
Betty, dressed mp in your clo'ea for a Moody
Gras frolic:'
As he heard a curious change came over
Phil His knees began to shake pitiably his
body to collapse. He held out his hand as if
to steady himself and, grasping only air, he
fell slowly to the floor saying in stihed
voice, Let Tom kill me l aint fit to live"
The hangman will DO it for me-" said
Tom with a snsrl
is de po gal dead = said Aunt Nelly.
NO She amt dead-she amt dead yit." re-
joined the sad-faced man. we couldn't git
doctor Yesterday, de town was in such n
swiyet Bat DR. Taylor, he come over las
night, an is thar now. He amt fouu' de
bullet He says Nancy's in a cosmotose
state"
Now. while this talk was going on some
one else was crossing the river from Hopefield
"a sturdy little woman with black hair and
eyes. She was seated in the exact centre of
knife-bottomed boat that cut through the
water fast rs bird flies. With her single oar
flashing into the water on either side she
made quick time across the Mississippi: and
now she came flying into Aunt Mely's cabin
little vehement whrlwind of a creature with
voice as high aud sweet AS a bird-note.
"Oh! thank Goodness your are all here ~
she cried brokenly. Then she caught Tom
Jacks hand "Oh. Tom, she is saved The
doctor has found the bullet He rays she is
all right now-will need nothing but good
nursing; an that, you know, she'll have |
won't leave her night nor day till she's on her
feet and Little Betty burst into tears, in
which perlaps all wanted ia ipip
How'd you come here. chile = said Aunt
Nelly.
Il was so anxious about Nancy that
couldn't think Of anything else till the doctor
had spoken. Then my mind nistrusted me
about Tom. l asked where he was, an they
told me he had taken his boWie-kuife an gone
over to the city. was afeared he had got on
Phil track. / jumped in the canoe and rushed
over just blindy. But the first man met on
the Flat said he'd seen some Hopefcld men
go into Aunt Mely's cabin. So / came right
here. Thank God for it thank God for it ="
ITS good thing for Phil that Nancy Il
git well, remarked the sad man. slowly tear
ing off a strip of tobacco from n ragged roll !;
the law can't do nothin TO him now, thouten
1t shets him up while for 'sault an battery"
His account with Inc amt settled yet, ;"
said Tom Jack ominously. Look to your
self, Phil Vickers! Bloods got to pay for
blood"
"Oh, Tom! Tom :" cried Little Betty, the
tears streaming down her face, forgive us.
We didn't mean to do you any harm. Phil
would ha' died thousand deaths befo' he'd
ha' harmed hair of Nancy's head. Tom, no
wife nor child nor sister will ever pray for
you an bless you as | will if you'll Just shake
hands friendly and say. Phil, pardon you.
Nancy would do it l know she would. Oh,
what can say to you? I'll go on my knees
to you, Tom"
She fell on her knees and lifted her warm.
wet, beautiful eyes to Toms face.
Get up, child" he said hoarsely. IN
let him 60 an when Nancy on her legs ag'in
I'll shake hands"
He turned abruptly and left the house.
Pills head fell on his breast You'd bet
ter have let him kill me, Little Betty. / amt
fit to be the husband of such as YOU"
But Little Betty drew the tired head to her
tender heart and looked defantly round upon
the others, as if throwing all the splendor of
her faithful love between Phil and any look of
contempt or blame. -SherrOod BOaner IN
Ft5radIY Lippjacotts