The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1880-12-15


favorite orator had thrust his right
hand into his breast as a preparatory
gesture leading to more extended tri-
butte to the sex, Long Tom Rollins
leaned forward and exclaimed:
" See here, old man. How do you
know ell this"
For moment everybody was aghast.
Whether they were astonished at the
suddenness of the interruption, or at the
half savage tone of the speaker, or
whether it occurred to them that the
Judge might possibly have so far over
stepped the bounds OF prudence as to
have attempted pumping the inter-
esting strangas, may never be known
i But ii is certain they were astonished
into silence. Even Judge Gashwilder
was observed to lose his,usual presence
of mind. For an instantfsfs naturally
serene countenance wore an expression
which in another would have been
mistaken for guilt. If the confidence
which the others had always placed in
him was 'tffde shaken at that instant,
it was quickly restored when, after
moments hesitation, the old gentleman
explained his peculiar position
You see, gentlemen" he said, grad
ualy resuming the attitude from which
he had been surprised by. the abrupt
speech above quoted, "I was prowlin'
round her cabin last night, when all of
sudding heered voices inside. The
door was open leetle bit, and by
standin' where was / couldn't miss
syllerbul. l will here explain" he con-
tinued, thrusting his red bandana hand
kerchlef into his breast, as was his won't
when speaking publicly, "that l was
there for the purpose of findin' out, if
possible, whether the gal was in need of
anything that | could help her to-"
(Which accounts" observed by
stander, for that chicken which was
hung up alongside the door when Icame
by this mornin'."
81 heerd her talkin' with the kid"
continued Judge Gushwilder, not notic-
ing the interruption, and couldn't
help lissennen. AS near as l could make
out, the talk was like this:
" When shall we see papaP'
g. Heaven knows, my baby We
have s,ught him long, and when God is
ready He will restore him to u.s.
SIS Is Crismas comm soon. mammal
SIS Yes, baby, darling. But there
won't be no present for my little one
this time. We are away from home,
and poor. But when we find papa we
will go where there are lots of pretty
things, and then baby shall have
| Oh AT v : y
| Here the Judge leaned forward and
whispered in a nervous voice, telling
his companions that he had heard the
mother repeat TO her child the sad story
Of how her father had gone West four
years ago to seek his fortune; how for
two years his letters, containing money
for her support, had come like rays OF
,unshine through the clouds; how they
mad suddenly stopped. and no answers
we're received to her agonized appeals;
how for two more years she had sup
posed him dead; how at last, the post
master in the little village where she
lived had, upon his dying bed, confessed
to having stolen the letters from her
husband, so as to get the money they
contained, and suppressed her missives
to him, for fear of discovery; and how
she had started out with her lit e one
to find the lost husband, who had been
last heard OF in Mud Flat.
All this the judge told to tie few
friends he could trust, Speaking In
whisper, lest the precious secret should
be passed to Others ia the room.
| And now." ne added, resuming his
rhetborical attitude and voice, 81 axes
YOU ag gentlemen and representatives of
Mud Flat chivalry, shall this gal and
her kid, being too poor to have a Christ
mas of their own shall they go with
out it or notP Remember, gentlemant
that kid is the first one as ever came into
this place, and p'raps she's our luck.
LIT us nurtur her, my friends, and le
us show her m other thet we amt SO lost
to virtoo an principle as not to appre-
ciate it when we hev good woman and
an innercent kid among US. Let us give
em Christmas. will now perceed to
head the subscription.
So saying, The gallant old man emptied
the contents of his breeches pocket
upon the table. Others followed suit.
and when the last man had placed his
contribution there, the pile contained a
goodly sum.
"Now, gentlemen, some one of us has
got to take that money, ride to Denver,
and spend it for 'em. Who shallit beP'
LET me be your agent, responded a
deep bass voice.
Turning they saw tall stranger,
standing near by, who had just entered
in time to hear the judges call for con-
tributions. One or two in the room
recognized him as a miner who had
come in from the diggings that after
noon, having found is too cold to work
longer in the mountains.
They were inclined to resent the inter.
ference of an outsider, and probably
, would not have needed his request hat
lie not spoken second time. Drawing
: near the table, he said.
9 Gentlemen, was once married
nan myself. but my wife, God bless her
s is dead. For the love | bear her mem
! ory, fer the affection have toward tn