Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-10-29

shh'phIhs wv p"Pi wv "''SN ""P''S
through the shop into the street, with
out deiguing another look at Tom
Bartlett, who had skunk baak Into q
corner, and was once more taking
mental notes Of everything that no
saw and heard.
To tho surprise of the neIghborS
David Birch had not taken down his
shutters, though It was nearly eleven
o'clock such neglect Of business had
never occurred before within their
remembrance, Blu! greater marvel
still was the circumstance OF tho old
man himself being dressed in his best
black suit, which he only wore on i'm
portant occasions. 1t was clear that
he was going to keep holiday that
day, and that something unusual had
happened. They would have been
convinced Of this if they had pcnetrat'
ed to the little back parior and heard
tho old man talking in his unwonted
flow ofsprits,
Put on thy best gown, Polly. and
wear it in honor ofthe good fortune
that is coming to us thou shalt be
dressed in silk my bonny one."
81 would rather you gave some ol
the money to poor Nellie Birch grand
father
A shade crossed his face. ayes,
give 1t to her to support her idle
brothe-not shilling! 1t is enough
that the will gives it to him after my
death more the pity; ifI could keep
it from him would"
"Ob, grandfather"
~ tell thee would; but don't talk
about him, child. I don't want to be
angry just when l am going to carry my
GOOD news to old Jacob Moss"
cam I to open the shop grand
father 2"
"Do just as suits yourself, child, we
shall be rich enough not to care about
the shop"
While talking he consulted his
large silver watch, which, for antlqul
ty and size, might have been the pat
riarch of the entire race of watches.
81 shall be back before nine, Polly,
and perhaps Tom Bartlett may drop
in and spend an hour with YOU
Il hope not for l don't want to see
him.
"Ab, that's the perverse way OF girls
But never mind, l dare say thou wilt
look much higher than Tom now"
and he chuckled as he kissed her
round, dimpled cheek, and leaving her
to take care of the feathered songsters
and herself, the brightest thing that
the place could show.
"Missing, since the 23d. inst, an
Old Man, named Birch, dressed IN
black height, about five feet three
inches, gray hair, thin. He lett home
with the intention of visiting friend
at Fulham. and has not since been
heard of. A reward OF Twenty five
pounds will be paid to any one giving
information that may lead 10 his uis-
covery.
So ran the advertisement which was
going the rounds of the leading papers
and being repeated in large printed
placards on the walls of the police
stations. In the immediate neigh Dor.
hood of the bird shop there was much
excitement and CONSERVATION at the
old mans mysterious disappearance
mingled with lively sympathy for the
distress of his granddaughter whose
pale face and swollen eyelids told how
she had watched and wept. None
were more demonstrative than Ton
Bartlett, who kept lowering about
her in spite of her visible shrinking
from him persistently pressing his ser
vices as though he alone had the right
to act for her. Meantime, tie day
appointed by the lawyers tor entering
into arrangements with their client re
specting the fortune which he had
unexpectedly come into possession by
the death of a brother abroad, hat
come aud gone. The perplexed lega
firm, acting in the interest OF thel'
client. instituted a rigorous search
but without success. The lrient
Jacob Moss, q feeble old man had beeI
duly communicated with and keenl.
cross examined. David Birch ha(
paid his visit on the day named, ar
riving, as far as the old man could
reccolect, about half.past two. anC
starting on hs returning Journe!
| Iort Hall, Horn tho clpw was lost