Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-12-20
NO. 81.

throw to Hal, but the thin ice snared and
bent. It would never hold them both
Throw me a line from the sleigh !" Trem-
bling hands obeyed. Tying one end TO what
he held he flung back the other toward thick
er ice
Catch it, some of you !" and then he
threw jacket sleeve to Hal. He grasped
stily at il could he hold il Yes and with
one desperate struggle for life, he gained the
ice. 1t bent and snapped, but they were
dragging at the other end-drpgging bravely
now. He was safe-but another cry rose up!
The thin shelf of ice that broke as Hal climb
ed up was all that had held Gallowses from
the hungry rushing stream, and Miss Judy's
boy was out of sight
"Why what upon airth 2" said deacon Bay
berry, peeping through the mill window, as
the cry rose, Ohio Mischief, and the
squire after 'em :" and the deacon laughed
softly to himself, set up another psalm tune,
and then peeped through the window again.
Whatw that yellow, cleaning thing, just TAX
ing the smooth leap downward over the dam
Miss Pophurst had thought about short hair,
of late, and Gaowses's hat had been fitting
tight over crispy, golden curls?
Ginger" exclaimed the deacon, and in
one instant he was in the water, ready to meet
what he had seen shining, as it came.
When Squire Phillips saw it, few minutes
ltNtI, lying DClOTG DthCOu DhgDtITy llllt
"settin' room fire, his start would have cleo
trifed the deacon, if thoughts, hands, and hot
blankets had not been busy with Gallowses.
II seemed the very same delicate, clear-cut
face, the same golden headhe used to stand wor-
shipfully over when he came home from sea,
twenty years ago 'Who is the child p he
asked, almost fercey.
'Galowses," answered Bob Aylmer
"You-!" began the squire, but the dea-
...Az Il tl.,A
off it hendsrs," and the squire drew blue
ribbon from Gallowsess neck. What was that
bright thing hanging from it? A locket Had
not the squire seen that locket before? He
had it open at last fair young face looked
yearningly forth, and the squire gave a great
cry, that made the deacon drop everything
this time. Nelly my own lost Nelly
knew had lost her, but have 1 killed her
too!" The deacon turned to the bed again.
The Lord was working the squire Hallelu-
jah but his business was Gallowses and
in another hour the brown eyes were peace
fully following him as he went in and out,
finishing the psalm tune begun in the mill.
Suddenly the deacon shot look into them
again
did you think that there corn-husk thick
ness of ice WAS going to hold you and Hal Mt
the same mortal minute of time p he asked.
4 faint smile passed over Gallowses face.
That was nothing ana was 10 DE good
and brave for her sake !'
''For whose sake? Whose child are you
What's your name 7" broke in the squire
For her'S! And my name is Phil; that
was for my grandfather Philip Phillips was
his name, but he was lost long ago"
you" began the squire again, and then
snatching the little figure out of the deacons
blankets aud shawls, he held it III his strong
arms sohbing like baby, with his face held
softly against Gallowses' curls.
Miss Pophursts door was locked that after
noon, for She had gone three miles away but
when she returned, with little dive into her
pocket fer the key, there stood the squire,
pacing the doorstep with his quarterback
tread. Miss Pophurst l must have that
boy of yours He's mine :" But Miss Judth's
eyes flashed lightning.
Never! When the Lord said that, gave
him Tom; but do you think yOu-"
NO" said the squire, in a voice that made
Miss Pophurst start it so strangely gen.
tie and low, and yet she felt it ruling her like
a rod of iron. Come up to my house and
live, if you will it needs you but there the
boy must be !"-IsdJell1 T. Hopkins, in Sun
day afternoon.