Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-02-28

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vealod his whereabouts.
There was the CLEAN of n knife, the flash
of pistol and Sir William was down with
ruflianly hand on his throat. Already he felt
the sharp prick OF IL blade, when the mans
| arm WIS clutched from behind, there was q
! grip Of powerful hand on his collar, he was
dragged to his feet, and hurled across the
| kitchen, where he struck against and over
! turned IA chair in falling lie rose and again
rushed forward, but his knife was gone, and
when he closed with Amos, the two grappled
! together, with only their natural weapons,
and on equal TERMS barring the fatigue Of the
! latter.
In the general scufIle their individual con-
! hict was unobserved 1t was not until the
other burglars had succumbod to stout cudg-
| els in stout hands, in spite Of their lethal
weapons, and the Grape was torn from the
| faces Of Mat Laing and Joey Dobson, that
their captors had breathing-tme TO note the
desperate struggle on the hearth But by
that time it was nearly over, Amos had sue
ceeded in bringing his antagonist TO the
! ground, his head had struck the fender in
falling his hat had fallen oil, and Nick Faw
! lay there stunned.
He was not killed, however, and had Jared
| little worse than Amos, who had got an ugly
scratch with the knife in Wrestling it from
! him.
he DulltT, 100 uuu pItllN uCuIly got ulb
| quietus, or thought he had, but it was from
| the chance hit Of a friendly cudgol, and the
| knives had not otherwise done much damage
Those were hanging days. When the
three ruflans were hauled oil to the county
| Jail the next morning under a strong escort
! they knew they were journeying to the gal
| lows, and that they would be too heavily
ironed to escape this time.
Penitont enough were the two poachors
who had been led into the more daring at
tempt by the prospect of pluuder and re-
venge under the inspiration of Nick Faw;
| but the hardened tinker, scowling and sullen,
only opened his mouth in blasphemy.
Amos, whose hand smarted under bandages
| could not resist the temptation TO tell the
man how their plot had been overheard, and
| how the lass who heard would have been lost
but for the poor dog they had thrown so wan
tonly at the baited bull. Aye, and nayhap
| if the doggie had never wanted nursing, it
would have known nothing Of Hope or her
kindness. Nick Faw had certainly twinod q
! rope for his own neck when he threw the dog
to be gored.
The man glared at the speaker, and bit at
him like savage and Gipsy having forced
his way among the crowd at the back of the
| hall. as he and his companions were led away
in custody, he put out his foot and dealt the
animal a brutal kick. He had again rcckoned
without his host. Gypsy darted after him.
and made him feel that wooden stockings were
bad armor against canine fangs
Sir Williams wound was scarcely more Sc
we're than that of his gamekeeper, though but
for the latter's prompttude it might have
been fatal. The Baronet's gratitude and that
| of Lady Derwent could not be expended in
words. He dealt immediate rewards to the
other domestics who had taken Part in the
capture of the burglars and the defense of
his properly, but he told Amos he should
| have to think how best to serve him and his
sweetheart-as he persisted in calling Hope
| Wolsingham.
In the first place he left him at liberty, un-
! til his hand was healed, to go where he would
and quickly as feet could span the distance
Amos was at Applegarth's farm.
| An hour later Sir William and Lady Der
went met linn at the farmers gate as he was
rushing in state of distraction TO find old
/ Betty Wolsingham. She was wanted to try
her skill on her own grandchild, whose fever
/ had not abated.
| Dame Appl, garth Landed the wondrous
coudesconsion of the lady in mounting the
dark stairs TO Hopes small chamber in the
roof. and laying vine cloths on the maids
/ forehead with her 'awn hly-white hands,
but the lady felt as if the girl was suffering
for her, and as if she owed her husbands life
Geordie, who had not ceased to deplore his
inactivity in the first instance, was ready
enough 10 fling his long legs over a bare
backed horse, and ride off for Sir Williams
! doctor; and by the time DR. Blackett's three
corner,d hat and gold-headed cane reached
the farm, old Betty was there TO act as nurse
under his instructions though she felt strong
! ly tempted TO trust to her own remedies and
| ignore him altogether.
Fever and delirium ran high over and
over again the girl went through her fright
full experience on fell and in pit but in all
such genuine anxiety for the people at the
hall was apparent, so much affection for
Amos Hedlry, which he was ''sure nivvor to
| ken" that the sternest heart would have melt
ed with pity, and Amos, kneelng by her bed
side, sobbod again.
For long while her life tr6mbled in the
balance, but what the skill of the time and
| loving hands could do was done for her she
was young, had strong constitution the
crisis passed, and left her TO regain strength,
and to discover that she had a lover by her
side who poured out his heart as if lie knew
the depth of hers.
She was not voted well enough to enter the
witness box at the winter jail-delivery. The
men had gone armed to Derwentside, had
broken in, had picked a lock, fought and
wounded the inmates of the hall, and their
sentence came from under the Judges black
| cap. Her evidence was not needed.
At the beginning of the year Sir William
| announced to Amos that lie had II farm on
his hands for which he wanted tenant; it
was well-stocked, and might be had on long
lease for small rental; and he thought
Amos might venture on with Hope as his
helpmate.
And so it came about, Hope wore at her
wedding the ribbons Amos had from the ped
dler; and Gypsy was handed over to them
along with the lease of the farm, to be petted
and spoiled by the master and mistress-and
by the children, too, when they came.
Al tie Year Round