Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-02-21

fence WnhleNer; ana nj the young man
earnest request, caused diligent search to be
made for the missing setter, which, not be
ing found, dead or alive, was conioctured TO
have been carried of by the uncanny tinker.
When Amos, supported by the farmer and
his son, stumbled into the great kitchen
where a bright fire was blazing on the hearth.
cleaning and glimmoring again in polished
oak, glowing in FURNISHED brass aud pewter
and was helped to a cushioned rocking.
chair by the ingle-nook, STOPPING female
figure rose with Il sudden exclamation, 10
make way for them, almost upsctting a large
bowl Of water MS she did so. II was Hope
Wolsingham, whose eyes were red with weep
ing, and whose clothing bore AS many san.
guine stains as that of Amos, who was almost
too blind, dazed, and exhausted to take note
of her or her occupation
A low whine of recognition dogs nose
against the hand which hung liatlcssly down,
aroused him TO the consciousness that Gipsy
was safe, and next, that the young woman
before him had been compnssionately wash
ing the wounds of the poor creature, and
binding them up as carefully as though it had
been human
lie could not see how she had wcpt over
the dog when by some instinct it had or, pit to
her feet at the house.door. or how ptifully
she had brought water for its thirst as well ns
its injuries, or the mental process 10y which
the dog had been associated with It's keeper
But for what he did see his heart thanked her
better than his lips.
Aye. and thanked her more than when in
conjunction with busy Dame Applegarth. her
attention was transferred TO himself aud he
felt the fingers tremble as tln.y bathed his
poor disfgurel face or fed him with healing
possets, or shook up the soft feather pillows
to ease his aching head aud shoulders.
Sir William came to see his gamekecpar
and then my lady, whose curiosity had been
aroused by her husbands praises of the kind
hearted dary-inaid. who had 50 defiy bound
up Gipsys guping side and broken limb. and
was taking as much care of the setter as of
the young man.
Hope curtsied and blushed and rolled her
apron over her hands abstraotedly us her Ia
dyship with condescending aGabilty COM
mended the maids humanity and skill but
she jerkld her hands behind her when the
lady drew long crimson silk purse from her
handsome reticule to proier golden gift,
and rctreated as though the coin were very
witch's lure.
"Hout. NAV Teddy :" she protested. "Aw
cuddnt, aw cuddnt TAX it The puir dumb
doggies welcome twice over. AVID be
brute inyser to TAX pay for tn bit Of tendiu
aw gied either tn puir doggie or tn canny
young chep yander, they brutes nigh clooted
te death ="
The money went back into the purse of the
visitor, who returned to the hall undecided
whether to admire or resent the singular
young woman's refusal of a reward
Amos Hcdlcy knew. though his eyes were
half-shut, and the 'puir doggie" might have
known, he wagged his tail so unhesitatingly
at his approach, or followed her movements
with his bright black eyes, before he began
to limp after her on his three sound legs
She put aside the faint thanks of Amos.
much as she had rejected payment for an act
natural kindness. but she gave the dumb ami
NAL many a caress, which the "canuy young
chep' envied, having no intuitive perception
that the tender. hta arted maiden was caressng
himself by proxy
He had spent "A day in bed. with steaks
from the brown bull upon his disfgured face:
and had quite week in the farmers chair
before the taxed cart was sent for him from
the hall and though tine farmer aud his
dame did their hospitable utmost toward his
comfort and recovery, he was keonly sens-
ble of the difference Of the touch and tone
when their dairymaid applied Il poultice or
administered herbed decoctions prepared
from her grandmothcr's recipes. And though
his eyes were black and swollen, he had yet
sight enough to discern the fair proportions
of Hopes hssom form, The tenderness of her
smiling couutenance. until as the outer
wounds healed, now and inner one opened.
Hope Offered her shoulder for him to lean
on as he walked TO the cart, and be was not
too proud to accept her aid. although he
knew well he could have done without it.
She ran to the barn for straw TO put under
his feet, aud to make bed for Gipsy She
shook hands with Amos heartily bidding
him come and show himself when he WAS
quite well. and to keep ont Of the i'll ll-disposed
tuker's way. And when the cart had driven
oil, and Gilbert Applegarth and his wife had
Gonr back into the house, she still fingered
at ia" gate 10 watch the conveyance as it
turned the corner Of "A moss grown grey rock.
and waved her last goodbye to the young
man who ch,uc.d to look back at that mo-
Incnt.
Barely had Amos Hedley time to discover
that hr wR- IN love with pretty. rosy checked |
Hope Molsinglam, and to torment himself
lest his disfgur Il face should have set her !
against him, or to resolve that he would not
set foot again on Applegarth's floor until his
lip was completely healed, and he could walk |
as erect as of old, self.conscous of strength |
and comeline-s; barely, / say, had he time,
to arrive at this stage of feeling and resolve, !
when news reached the hall that his two |
poaching assalants had escaped
There Lad been iron bars in the windows |
of their prison. and the building was of solid |
stone. but the rogues and vagabonds were
lodged IN one common room, and II had a |
window easily accessible from without.
Two of the three iron stanchons, which |
lmd seen y ars of service, had been filed away, |
evidently by practiced hand The lead |
setting of the diamond panes had been cut |
clean through, and the entire window with |
ont pane broken left outside, along with a |
rope which dangled fIom the remaining bar |
1t was very plain that Nick Faw had come
to the rescue of his comrades, and had salts
fed them that there was honor among thieves
Sir William and his fellow justices were |
naturally inccnsed, threatened the warder |
with dismissal, and had descriptions of Joey |
Dolson and Matthew Laing inserted in the |
but they might have spared |
their pains the men were not forthcoming. |
A prddler brought the news with his pack |
10 the servants hall at Dorwentside, and what |
moro natural than for Amos Hedley to hasten |
with th2 Intelligence to his kind friends at
the fam, forgetful of his scared lips and yet |
pcrceptible limp. Bearing a hare over his
shoulder rs present from Sir William to the |
farm,r, pair of bright shoe-buckles and a
gay cap-ribbon from the peddlers pack for |
the mistr, - and her maid, he crossed the |
park in an unwonted tremor, and had nearly |
stepped upon steel man-trap of his own |
woods.
As he emerged from the shadows of the
trees at the copse- gate he saw that the ped
ller must have loitered 10y the way aud left |
his news behind him, for all down the village |
street knots of women with their bare arms |
crossed, and smutty fellows with their short
pipes between their teeth, were grouped to- |
gether, or dispensing to gossip elsewhere.
The farm gat" stood open; burly Gilbert APP |
plegarth, with both hands thrust into his |
breeches- pocket, leaned against the gate-pust |
to an eager audience that none |
other than Nick Faw the tinker had helped |
the culprits out of Jail. Wasn't he aud them
thick as thieves; And wasn't there token
of his handywork about it?
Appegarths tall son George, with a fail |
over his shoulder, stood close by his fathers |
side, nodding his head in assent, and Amos |
caught glimpse of dark blue printed short
gown, or jacket aud IA smiling face under Il |
white linen cap between the father and son
but as he ueared the group, he saw dark |
pettCoat disappear round the corner of the |