The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-04-21


Judith unbut,oued the boot and chafed
the slender ankle in her own warm hands.
Its better though. declared Kitty. after
while It's decidedly better, aud eau
walk. tlink. il you n BET ne hold yoor
arm
But ,he frst step brought renewed pale
ness and a groan.
( What shall We dof said the troubled
Judith.
4 Ny dear goosey don't look so terrified.
It's simple enough business. shall SIT
here quistly--the ankle does well enough
while keep still--ana you will please 80
down to the Barrett farm and get Mrs
Barrett 10 send little Seth to Mr.. Barrett,
wherever he happens 10 be, and ask him
To tackle up" the carry all and fetch me.
That's all that's necessary, dear, so don
be worried. Only you had better start at
once, for the afternoon is getting on. Stay
though Before you go, couldn't you
help me to a less conspicuous place than
thisg Somehow don't fancy the idea of
sitting here alone TO he stared at by the
people in the Mountain House stage as
they 90 by oh, | know There's the
old Pound; I'll go there.
The old Pound?
Didn't you know that that thing over
there was the Pound? Dear mel have
known about it ever since that first after
noon. Ben, told me, think, 1t always
seemed rather interesting, but never took
the trouble - go inside before. They
haven't used it for years, believe, but it
will make a very good retreat till you
come back, just as good as if / was COW.
And laughing gaily, though with brow
twisted by pain, Kitty hopped across the
road, and into the small walled enclosure
opposite. Therel that is beautiful, she de.
clared, dropping into corner This wall
makes q good back for me to lean against,
and no one but you will suspect that am
here. Don't run aud don't heat yourself,
Ditha. or you'll have headache to'mor-
row. I'm doing very we'll, and don't mind
waiting bit. Take your time.
With this injunction, Judith departed.
For few moments her footsteps were au
dibIe or the stony road; then they died
away, aud perfect quiet took possession OF
the hill top and the old Pound, broken
only by the drowsy chirp of grass.hop.
pers in the soft, yellow,grass. SO silent
was it that when flying bird skinned
across the wall with Il sharp call to his
mate, Kitty quite started in her corner.
About ner stretched carpet of aromatic
erowths -tanzy and sweet-fern and white
blossomed immortelles, with here and
there tall spike Of golden rod Haunting
its golden flag. The sun was nearing the
| horizon now. Crimson tints flushed the
soft valley distance, and little fleets OF rose
and purple cloudlets began to fieck the
purple sky overhead. After while Kitty
heard the rattle of the stage wheels and
the snap of the drivers whip AS il crunch
ed by on the steep road. Then came 81
l.nce again. broken a little later by til,
sound of distant voices, which she gnesses
TO be those Of people ON the lower cross
roads; but they did not come near her re
treat; nor was she startled when soft thuo
of hoofs drew near till a loud "HawP
close to her ear made her jump. and at thu
same moment big red COW vaulted int
the Pound with bounce and a clatter
There was a rattle OF boyish boot on thu
road, and before Kitty could realize thu
situation and scream it was too late. Th,
,oots we're far down the hill, and there
ras she, Kitty Roach, shut-yes, actually
q nut into the old Teyerton Pound with 9
re d Ayershire-she, whose horror from
ch udhood had been COW, to whom thu
fear of lion was as nothing in compare
son! 1t was too terrible.
Fright, Il less than her disabled ankle
kept her perfectly motionless. Even hao
she been able stir, nothing would have
induced her to educe tho distance by al
inch which lay stween her and the ter
rife creature which was now cropping th'
immortelles in the Immediate ncighbor
hood Of the gateway. Frozen by fear, sh'
sat, her one hope being that Juditl
might return soon, VIII al suddenly TIL
sound of manly footsteps on the road re
stored her faculties Of sTe, 'ch, or ratle
of screech, and with wild and desperate
energy she screamed, "Oh, please CONF
here, whoever you are!'
Come where? asked voice; and abov'
the wall, close, very close, to hitty's cor
ner. appeared a head-a well'kn own' de
termined, handsome head, with thick
wayy auburn hair and beard, whose end
melted into warmer color still-the head
in short, Of Ben Hazard, the very l'enla
min from whom Kitty was proposin 9 Y
run away the next day save one. Foo
Kitty running was the last thing possil 'l'
now.
Why, Whatever does this mean? lie de-
manded, while Kitty flushed and half cry
ing, between pain, vexation and alarm,
faltered forth a lame explanation.
SO Judith went TO get Mr. Barrett and
the carry all, she concluded. And ! came
in here to he out OF the way, and then
some one turned that dreadful COW in, and
oh, please won't you drive her out? i am
80 afraid of cowsl and expecting every min
ute she will discover / am here and turn
upon mel
Had Ben Hazard had the good fortune
10 be born q decade or so earlier in the
century, he would probably have made q