The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-11-04

again."
ais he very bad ?" eaid John, who
knew his neighbor of old.
Yes. Oh, John, he has given her Il
terrible black eJel She and the chill
dren Just fed for their lives, and they're
crying and wailing SO that l could
hardly get their story out of them"
We'll, what can We do2
"Why, somebody has got to go down,
you know, John. He was as wild as a
mad man They left him crashing the
dishes upon tho floor and putting the
bed clothes and furniture into the fire.
Maggie is afraid he'll set the house
afire, and he is in fair way to do it,
you know, and burn himself up in it."
The best thing he could do" NUT
tered John.
You mustn't say so, you know, dear.
/ hate to have you to 20 down there,
but it's dreadful to think Of the poor,
-aving creature just left to himself"
Where are the others ~ said John.
"Why, Bess and Mark have gone to
the fair in Barton. There's only Buell.
at home, and he's hardly old enough to
go down there alone"
"No," said John, throwing off his
coat. "I suppose I've got to go with
him. Tell him to get q rope. Well
have to tie the wretch, and then send
for the sheriff."
CTS dreadful You should have to 60,
dear" said his mother, pityingly, "and
just when we were all ready for meet
ing. The girls will be waiting for you,
too. But you'll feel sorry enough for
Maggie, poor thing, when you see her,
And there's no time to be lost. You
can hear Peter cursing and throwing
things clear up to our kitchen door"
As John and Buell. we're ready to start,
Maggie said : "Shure, sur, if ye see
me COW in the road, wud ye phase drive
her back forninst yeP Peter left the
gate open when he come in, and l was
chat distracted didn't see the crnytul
till she was gone. The byes will be
haTin' her in the pound in a gify, and
sorTa cint is Peter after LAWN me to
get her out GgainW
John did not see the COW. She was
like the rest of the McCreery's, unex.
pected in her movements. But Jennie
and saw her, grazing along the road
side, with her head turned the Other
way from home. I had a presentiment
of mischief the moment L caught sight
of her. I half stopped, saying: "There''
Peter McCreery's cowl How could
they lot her get out? Now, if the boy'
put her in the pound they never car
raise fifty cents to get her ont. I've {
great mind to drive her back q littlt
ways, Jennie, Just to get her headed to
ward home"
But Jennie was too impatient. "Pleast
don't stop, Phmbe," she ssid. "IPi
not your place to do it, and we're so latC
already"
It was SO late that all the pew
on the girls side of The choir-gallery
were filed, except the two farthes
back. By going to the head Of on'
Os tbses ocnld bo among the altos
and Jennie, by going to the head of thu
other, could be among the sopranos
whilo at tho same time We could sit to
gether. l was glad to be near her tha
night, and knew she was glad to have
me, she was SO nervous. ] hoped tht
singing would quiet her, and so it die
for o little while, but she could not ge
quite ont Of her futter. Proud as sht
was, she could not help casting glance
now and then, toward tho door, anC
occasionally she would give little sigh
She was uneasy every minute till h'
came.
and oh, dear she was u good dea
more uneasy afterward. For-will vol
believe it?-who should walk in tina
door beside John but Jessie Sears
She did look pretty that night
There was no denying her good look
even when you'd lost every bit Of fNitl
in her. Tonight she wore new pinl
muslin dress; thin, feecy white shaw
was round her shoulders, and one poin
Of it was laid over the brown puts OF
her head, but not far enough to hidi
the pretty pink rose she had stuck be
| tween them. She was all smiles ani
brightness. We usually sat near tn,
front, but Jessie spied where we wer,
| tonight the moment she came in
John, however, did not see US. III
pushed toward tie front row, and JESSIE
Of course followed him. She did no
mind il that every eye was upon her
She was as composed and complacen
as possible.
Somebody moved up TO make room
for her and John found place acros:
the aisle. Before she was fairly seated
she had contriyod to drop her hand
kerchief, and John was obliged to stool
and pick it up for her. / saw his fac
then. 1t was not gay and smiling lik
Jessie's, but he looked pale and tired
1t somehow sot me considering. Whel
I had first seen him coming in witt
Jessie my heart had stood still, and thei
/ was so angry could have shaken m,
fist at him. But now began t
be confused in my thoughts abou
him. There he sat, the same old John
and / couldn't believe he was traitor
Yet, what had brought him here i
Jessie's company The more coslo'
down, however, the more sure wa
it would be explained in some way.
But Of course my feelings couldn'
help Jennie at ell just nov. kne'
she had jumped to her own con
clusions. How she straightened up
There were no sighs and no more turn
ings OF her head. The color was fixeC
in two bright spots upon her cheeks
She looked right at her book and be
gan to sing so clear aud strong that
was startled, and was afraid everybod
wouIu nouIce Une cnange. john kne'
we'll enough where she was by thi
timo. He gave one half glance rount
that was all. Poor innocent John II
told Us all about it aiterward. Wei
as was saying, Jennie sang firmly +,
, verse or two, then she sudden
ceased.
"What is the matterY j whispeie
!. for 1 was frightened about her.
"I'm too wicked to sing words III
u these" she said.
5 She did not sing another note tn
? night, but when the meeting was abo'
J to close. she whispered to me: "No