Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-11-22

knock him down. Then she wondered
where Jane was She left her in the
little dining parlor, going to take her
tea and then wash up the things. All
was silence below Perhaps Jane was
lying stunned in the kitchen-perhaps
she had fed to raise the alarm. They |
had no neighbor within quarter of a
mile from the house, and it would take |
little time for help to come. She
opened her window to listen. No sound
of footsteps or voices, or sounds even OF
distant wheels. Nothing but the ramp
aging of this awful wretch occasionally
flying at her door with blow and impre-
cations.
What should she do? What could
she do?
The night was dark and cloudy,
neither moon nor stars to cheer her ter
rifed soul with thoughts of lofty spheres
and of Him who governs their motions,
yet condescends to care for the meanest
things. Mean to US, their fellow crea-
lures, not mean to Him who created
them and pronounced then all alike
Good"
AS Hester stood trembling at her
open window there was nothing for her
to see but lights IN distant windows
twinkling cheerfully. Tantalizing
twinkling for they who were using
those lights could not understand any
signal she could make with her soli-
tary lamp. At first the thought arose
in her mind. "If can see those gleam-
ing lights people can see mine," and
she tried passing her light to and fro,
standing herself between the light and
the window, but naturally her arm grew
weary, and as she feared some gust of
the light wind might extinguish it al
together, she sat down despairingly.
Her respondent eyes rested on little
shelf in recess, on which lay file of
illustrated papers of the year then draw
ing to close. An inspiration siezed
her; in an instant all her energy re-
turned. She sprang for chair, she
tore down her window curtian, she en-
veloped herself in her waterproof cloak.
buttoned it down the front, drawing the
hood over her hair, and putting one
hand only through an armhole. Pre-
pairing for all emergencies, she sat be-
side her on the floor the ever of water,
and the basin in which she had wash
ed her hands. Then closing the win
dow, she rashly took up the first of the
papers, lighted it, and held it close to
the window panes, till the fame neared
her hand. Then she dropped it in the
basin and lighted another. The blaze
fared up, and over the window frame,
almost scorching it, and for the mo-
, ment of its life and even by her agitated
breathing drawn in angry licks towards
herself. But impotant of harm, the
blackened fragments hissed in the basin
, till paper after paper having blazed
r away, the ever had to give of its pc.
! cioqs drops, to quench the heap below
her knee. Imagine the strained nerves
e of the girl, terrified by the voice of the
o rufian at her door listening for hel
r fathers returning footsteps, or the
e sound of wheels if he had found con
r veyance, wondering if the alienation Of
S blaze and darkness, would fail to catcl
y an eye. Nothing that she wanted coule
o be heard, no wheels, no voices, no hur
:, rying footsteps, only the wretch goint
r up and down stairs, as if he had mad
y all ready to 60, but wanted first to mur
a der her or her father. She made sur
s he had murdered Jane, or help woult
: have reached her ere this. And nov
- her pile of paper was nearly exhausted
J. she was getting exhausted too u; sh
e must open her window or faint iron
y heat or fatigue. She paused to do so
t, and out on the still night air, cam
clear and strong the clang, clang, CLAM
lr the bell of the old meeting house. Tn
y fire bell-of all sounds in the world t
have evoked. A mortal terror seize
her of what would be done to her for
" false alarm. She had never though
or about her bright window creating th
~ alarm of fire. But fast and furiou
IN rang the bell in the old fashioned way
lie never stopping to count its strokes, bu
:: telling on steadily for half an hour a
or ter all the help that could be sent ha
er gone to seek the disaster. AS she lear
ed out of the window, she could no
a hear sounds enough. Tearing along th
ne main road came the country fire brig
a ade, the men drawing their engine, ii
I'D lads shouting and cheering, and all tt
ep dogs far and near Ginning in the CHI
er rus. She heard them halt at their vel
er lane. She could hear the leader sa,
"a "Hereabouts seemed the burning hous
wv but where is it now? 2" Hester's hig
ed courage returned, twisting another p
or per little to give it weight to fall
'ce the yard, she lighted it and sent it O.
ID into the darkness, another, and anothe
at at the greatest risk to herself for Il
yle night air blew the fame back over h