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

meet ucr' lie hltppcu DhCh, ana lhc hHuucl
smile died out from his face.
She had not seen Gilbert Applegarth aud
Geordc together watching her from the farm
yard or heard, as Amos had the farmers
words to his son as he slapped him on the
back encouragngly with one hand and point
ed at the same time to the figure going toward
the village with the other.
"Theer's n canny lass fur thee, Gwordie
niyyor her marrow in all Durwham."
canny lass, indeed, under the gray dufled
cloak, with the gypsy hat tied down SO close
ly and modestly under her chin, so as to COW
er her cars and shadow her face from either
glarng sun or staring eyes.
There was little sun to stare at her that No
vember afternoon, and the few pitmon she
met, with their picks over their shoulders and
their empty bait pokcs slung behind, merely
said "Gude-den, hinny," and passed on.
Never had the road TO her grandmother's
seemed so long and woarisome. Either she
was really i'll or had been disheartened at the
first start, for before she had gone half the
distance she sat down to rest on n boulder
gray and yellow with hchcn, and put her bas-
ket beside her, glad to be relieved of the
weight
As she sat there pondcrng what Amos He'd
ley really thought about her, and whether it
was true he was courtiug the laundry maid at
the ball, and whether it would be wise to men
tion him at all TO her old grandmother rumi-
mating in dcsultury sort of way, looking alb
senuy before her across the fell the while she
saw figure approaching in the distance, and
suddenly recognized the disreputable tinker.
Nick Faw. She snatched up her basket in the
instant and fastened along, with steps 10
longer retarded by love-dreams. but quicken
ed by apprehension
apparently he was not journcying her way
for on looking back after awhile, distance or
the inequalities of the road hid him from view
Greatly to Hopes disappointment, Betty
Wolsiughan's cottage was closed Its owner
was evidently abroad smoothing some ones
way either into the world or out Of it, for the
door was locked, which was never the case dur
ing temporary absence.
What should she do now; Go back she
must, aud that without delay; hut she was al
ready tired, and had 10 mind to carry heavy
load back with her. There was "a small stone
bench outside the cottngr, and here she sent
ed herself to cOnsder-nOt the expanded pros
pect before her. but her own.
The walk had given her an appetite. Con
graduating herself on the pork pie in her bas-
ket, she broke down its wall of paste without
ceremony and finding a tin dipper at the
back of the cottage, helped dhorselfto draught
of water from the spring.
She then tried both easements, but they had
of emptying her basket on the window seat
within. Her only plan was to leave the
things and message with Bcttys nearest
neighbor-a coller's wife, who lived some
four hundred yards away down the burnside.
This would take her out Of her way, but it
would be better than going back so laden.
So resolving she again lifted her basket,
this time with little sigh Of wehrin, s. but
the afternoon was advancing, and, though she
knew every foot of the road, the knowledge
came with the consciousness that il was safest
trodden before the shadows closed in.
From the collier's wife, she ascertained that
her grandmother had only left home the pre-
yious day, and had fastened up her cottage be-
cause there were some 'uncanny chaps hing
IN nm keepin' aboot'
Hopes heart gave a leap as she thought
Of Nick Faw, and was half inclined TO accept
the womau's hospitable invitation TO remain
there until morning. She had, however, too
clear Il perception of the already overcrowded
state Of the pitman's hut to add to its incon-
yenience Contenting herself with leaving
the comestibles behind for the womaus own
use, reserving only the bacon for her grand
mother, with many profuse apologies for re-
j. citing the hospitality pressed upon her, she
turned her face homeward, not without cal
culating how far she should be able to travel
before darkness came to obscure her path.
A stout heart had Hope. Setting fatigue
aside, she stepped forward rcsolutely, with the
gray hood Of her cloak drawn over her hat,
and the empty basket swinging in her hand to
the motion of her feet. 1t was anything but
straight or a defined path here and there
she followed the downward course of the burn,
once or twice she crossed the running water
with n bound, now she traversed PERCEPTIONS
ledge or rock. anon a cleft in which the day
was quenched, and from which she only
emerged to find the twilight dee peuing, and IA
thick mist blottng the outlines of the land
scape She was glad when she reached the
open moorand, and knew that more than half
the distance was traversed. For the first time
she stopped to rest, leaning against low gray
ridge of stone, while she shook the chatting
sand and pebbles out of her shoes.
As if the very stoppage had conjured up a
"bogle, she heard loud halloo, which was
answer by rough voice, apparently on the
other side of the ridge, and within two yards
OF the spot where she stood.
Neither the call nor the answer were in
choice language; but what made her heart
sink was that the man hailed had answered to
the name of Nick, " and that she could not
pursue her road without being seen as soon
a. she reached the dip of the slaty screen of
stone.
Hopes breath came and went The spot
was lonely. The man had an evil name and
his friends We're tArred with the same brush.
She was equally at loss whether to advance
or retreat, and indeed. was half afraid to stir |
lest the crunch of loose stones beneath her |
tread might tell of her presence
And now she felt that even the gathering |
fog was friend to her she might be able TO |
pass the end of the ridge under its veil. There |
was no danger on the moors she dreaded in |
with those men, of whom she had |
d. 10 sla |
young Amos Hedley so bruised and battered |
by their brutality.
As she paused in fear and uncertainty she |
heard Nick Faw abuse the others for keeping |
him waiting so long in the cold. Then there |
was a gurgling sound as of liquor passing |
from u bottle-neck down some ones throat,
and then-well might she hold her breath and |
listen with mouth agape-all the details were
discussed of well-laid plan to break into
Derwentside Hall on the Monday night, and |
carry of whatever plate and valuables they |
could lay their hands on, any opposition ON
the part Of the inmates to be silenced by the
knife
Hopes ears and nerves were strained to the
utmost her dread of discovery increased by
the weight of the secret now in her keeping
and she longcd to hear the men depart and
leave the path open to her.
Presently there was move Il move that ap-
palled her Nick Faw announced his inten-
ton to return to Black Fell If he did, he
must turn the corner of the ridge, and not
even the fog would hide if he brushed against
her
Resolution came quick as thought. Gath
ering herself together she darted off like an
arrow from the string passed the dip of the
rock unseen, if not unheard, in the fog, and
barely caught the startled "What be yam = or
the jcering reply, "A hare, mon Div ye