Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-07-15

~~~-~-->~ 1870
The little town was busy with the
sheep market, and he reused up through |
out the day. He was always nimble at |
his work, soon took in what was to be
done, and was quite comfortable until |
we set out homewards. Then the dreamy
fit seemed to come on again. 1t was
past five o'clock, and getting dark, when
we stopped at Dene's Gate turnpike to
light our lamps. Soon after this, we
began to ascend the hill, near the top
of which is the chalk-cutting and the
Whiteways. [ was on the lookout for
what he would do here, expecting some
oddity, for he was always odd; but he
remained silent, and beyond fdgeting
in his seat. and looking from side to side
Of the road, and up at the steep cliff of
chalk as far as the twilight and glitter
of our lamps would show it him, he did
nothing; and when we got back to Char
rendon, said swell, there's not much
to be afraid of in that days work, is
there? And now that you have seen
the reality, perhaps you'll leave off
dreaming about the Whiteways" He
merely smiled and said "Oh, no, of
course not; it's only a stupid fancy 1
had. There's no difficulty about the
journey; l shall do it all right" Yet
thought he forced himself to say this,
and didn't mean it.
Well, nothing particular happened
during the next week, only I noticed
that young Chase was little more
dreamy and odd than usual. l said to
him on the Tuesday Gas he was to go on
the Wednesday,: "You don't really
mind this job, do you? or would you
like to have some one with you? We
might send the ostler lad, 1 think"
Whereupon he said. very hurriedly and
anxiously, thought: 'Oh dear, no;
no, certainly not; on no account % and
l answered "Well, / think you are
right; it would look rather silly; you
might get laughed at !" Though l am
bound to say of late years, since the
railways have brought London so much
closer to us, people have more than once
said that they thought it rather fool
hardy of me to come back at night alone
in the winter, seeing there was always
a good sum of money in the driving
seat the farmers payings-in, and the
like, during the day, you understand.
But, blo0s your heart, | never had any
rear, and could nut unav,seuuu wny
anybody else should so l was quite re-
lieved when young Chase plucked up
and would not hear of having anybody
with him.
Well, off he went. We were very
busy all day, and l thought no more
about him. My time home from Meres-
dene had usually been little before
seven, according to the roads and the
weather. l live over the Office, you un-
derstand, and have done so ever since
was made chief clerk. l looked at my
watch after had had my tea, and was
astonished to see it was half-past seven.
| was astonished, that is, because young
Chase was not back ; and | confess l be-
gan to get little fdgety, when another
half-hour passed, and still he had not
returned. [ looked out of the window
and saw there was thick fog-so thick,
l could not see the lamps on the other
side of the market-place. This account
ed for his delay in my mind the thing
had happened to me; but the roads are
SO white, and Jenny, the old mare, knew
them so we'll, that beyond going slowly
there was no difficulty {; but still, when
ten, half-past, and eleven came, and nr
sign of young Chase-well, 1 didn't like
it. and I was going to send over to the
!, chief of the police, when the horse and
gig came trotting up to the door.
l looked out. The fog was all gone
and it was bright starlight night; bu
: you may judge my state of mind when
: going down, who should be at the dool
| but Joe Muzzle, the turnpike-man from
| Dene's Gate, and another.
Says he, very excited and hurryins
r over his words: "Your young man, sir
; found for dead just below the White
ways. We can't tell northin' at al
, about it. My missus and l was jus
e going to turn in, when we heerd some
, thin clanking agin the gate like; goe
t out, and there bees horse and gig an,
e ne'er a driver, and on examination
e find it bees your gig. reins cut or brok
t and draggin' on the road; there bees
: bit of fog about, and I sings out, bu
!; no one answers. SO routs my youngste
f out O. bed, and sends him off to GRAY
n Farm, the nearest house, for help, for
t know'd there must ha' been an accident
y for l let the young gentleman throug
i, the gate at the reg'lar time, soon afte
t five this afternoon, on his way home
S and he gives me sort of sleepy no
it like, without speaking; and Now wher
y bees un 2 says to my missus, for
;, was just nine then, and chaise and
y ought to have been at Clarendon Ion