Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-04-16
THE TURN OF AN ACCIDENT.

Tt was six o'clock of crisp October
ing from his sound nights sleep. sprang
out of bed with the alert readiness of a
man who knows the value of the first
hours of the day. 1t was tavern bed
from which he jumped; home and its
cares were many miles away; buta long
ride lay before him, and he washed and
dressed briskly, as one in haste, hum
ming a cheerful air meanwhile, as be-
came man who felt himself in good
spirit1, and had ample reason for doing
so. For, be it known, this year had
proved the best for farmers since John
had been his own master. Harvests
had been large, prices high, and John,
on bis way back from the annual mar
ket, carried n sense of freedom and lib
GRAFTON at his heart from the final ex-
tinguishment of mortgage on his farm
- q mortgage which had pressed as
heavily on his conscience as did the
burden of Christian on his shoulders.
The burden was lifted now; and, fur
ther than th,.t, John carried in his fat
red wallet two hundred dollars. over
and above, toward the expenses of the
next year. He had never been so fore
handed before, and the sensation was
a joyful one. MY neck is out of the
collar now he muttered to himself as
he brushed his thick brown hair. : l
should be tool indeed if l put it in
again. No more mortgages for mel!
Then, his toilet completed, he ran
downstairs, two steps at a time.
armer-like, his first visit was to his
horses. They were munching their
corn satisfactorily; and after look or
two, and pat, John returned to the
inn, where jangling bell announced
breakfast. Itwas smoking on the table
a substantial meal of the kind univer-
sal in taverns thirty years ago; and
John Boyd, whose appetite was of the
kind proverbially said to accompany a
good conscience, was doing it ample
justice, when sudden instinct led hin
to thrust his hand into the inner pocket
which held the two hundred dollars
The wallet was gone!
In the suddenness of the shock, John
felt himself pale, and then husn pain.
fully, as he confusedly tried to remem
ber If he had taken out the wallet, an6
when. Under his pillow-that was it
he recollected distinctly, or so itseemed
putting it there, for security's sake
when he went to bed the night before
With muttered excuse, he left thu
table and hurried upstairs. The dool
of his room stood open, and a maid
servant was putting fresh sheets on tn,
bed, the soiled linen lying in heap or
the floor.
Toward this heap John hurried ant
began turning it over.
Have you lost something, STRIP asket
the maid.
John Strengthened himself up to an
swer. He had not noticed the maid be
fore, though she had waited upon table
at supper. Now he observed that sh
was young and rather pretty-fair, will
a trim, slender figure, beautiful gloss,
hair, neatly dressed and braided, and
pair of sweet, apprehensive blue eyes
He,' voice was soft, too; and she had
shy, modest manner which suggested
an idea of refinement. All these fact
Farmer Boyd absorbed in flash, an,
instinctively noting, weighing, estimat
ing, by that wonderfully rapid proces
of which the human mind is capable
while yet his thoughts were full Of hi
money and his loss.
Yes. / am looking for my wallet
which I left under my pillow. Did yo1
find itp'
The girls face blanched 10 deadl
whiteness, and her eyes dilated as witt
sudden terror.
No, SIR she said her voice trem
bling and sinking away as she spoke
didn't see any wallet
John looked at her distrustfully; bu
there was something in the pale fac
which disarmed suspicion.
I'D like to search the bed,' he wen
on. 1t may have slipped under tn
Mattress
| Together they turned the mattress
but no wallet was visible.
That off horse of yourn has got hi
shoe loose somehow announced MI
Nash, the landlord, at the door.
thought I'd better tell you, SOS yo
could stop to the blacksmith's as yo
pass, and get him to put in a couple {
nails. Why, what's the matterp'
John explained.
The landlord looked very grave. Fl
whistled softly to himself for minute
with his eyes fixed on the tumbled bee
di1 G; then he went to the stair hea
and called his wife. Presently the
came in together, the landlady's fac
very red ard troubled.
Such thing never happened in m
house hefore,' she protested. BI
J there's only one person been in yor
! room since you came besides yoursel
and she's the person you must recko
with pointing to the maid, who, wit
white cheeks and downcast eyes, leane
against the wall as if awaiting SCI
tence.
WOh. indeed. indeed I di6n,t taxa [