The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-11-25

learned one day from the talkative clerk
at the store where the Stacy's dealt, and
with il he got some of the family hlsto-
nv. It appeared that Rachel Taylor, the
Younger sister of Mahlon's wife, had
eloped and mBrried with Gordon For
syth, a gay and wealthy young gentle-
man from New York, who had been
"disowned" for marrying "out of meet
ing" but worse followed. Forsyth, who
was on the downward course, soon got
tired of his pretty wife, resumed his dis
sipation, and was drowned while drunk
two wears afterward, leaving his widow
with one-year-old child. Rachel For
syth did not long survive her husband,
who proved to have been at his death
bankrupt. He had managed to get NAH
lon Stacy, who believed in him, to be-
come bonsman in case involving, 1t al
terward turred out, a questionable trans
action. Mahlon paid the judgment, but
was obliged to mortgage the farm. which
had been in the Stacy family for four
generations. He adopted the little Ra-
chel, sent her to the West Town school
to be educated, and bit by bit accumu-
lated money sufficient to discharge the
mortgage. The bank in which he kept
his savings broke, and he not only lost
his store, but was not able 10 meet the
interest for a year. The mortgage was
in other hands-a rich New Yorker held
it-and proceedings to foreclose hau
been begun. If Rachel married Absa-
lom Browning, who was rich himself ana
rich mans son, there would be no dlf
ficulty "They say that Rachel hangs
back" concluded the clerk II rayther
guess she'll give in at last. That's the
way Mahlon III pull through, in my judg-
ment."
John came home after hearing all this,
and found Absalom Browning there.
The Young Quaker was got up quite
smartly-in plain clothes, to be sure, but
his shad-belied coat was of the finest
olive-colored broadcloth, and his broad
brimmed hat of the very best beaver.
He remained to supper, and was treated
with marked consideration by the far
mer and his wife. Rachel seemed to be
little embarrassed. John glanced at
her little curiouslv, but she avoided his
eve. The hired man went out after he
had eaten his supper. attended to the
horses and cattle, and this done, came
into the house. 1t was usual for the fam
supper before retiring to rest. 1t was
their main recreation from daily labor
But the old couple had retired, and John
| retired also, leaving the younger couple
| tooether
| Iohn cot of the window in the dark
,oo,Ii opnm o,,t SO" ~, tho nigbt and thinking
iooh -is I:a.; ~. Ill ~ Absaion, Rrownino left
a LII ~ L'.'.e hoo,d m tba wheaIs of his WAGON
anu nc Har ueart tha ,' fashion of Jebn the SON
oriStn I,;o' Thon III ba hard The l;gbt stem
Vi Tiliisni' NJ .to;rs on bar Wv tp
Vi n'oiie' VII 'Ao
resi-; o,nino Iobr want ont ear
tlie neA' a. .ho ihi hnrsos and cattle when
" ~ S sec W I't - i'J hrealfast he ohserved
ne re!ulhou Gui,Ie os W. a,,rt and monsvlIabic Of
that Mal,1on Mi VIZ" ,,nnnu I u''a and Rorhel dis.
speeci' NaJ fohn ate % bis meal silently and
tIesseu. ttnit tn tha " f;ald With Mahlon Rnt
,hen Meno oJo " 'nn nn nwnrse tn return to the
he soon ma1e an eAoIso % W ttona euan sootod so ,
mouse; haono, r;od mao " y, bor hands and
with her ce puiiIu - e .hs. hnu' sI,o 'lG a; i
30 ip'en. In, Gn no,,a in
not near MN .bo ooi'i1 trnmh,e ,m Rachel qn he
w nav 10 'no ''o''o' ~
asked 1 ,d .ho Hood
me giri s.aevoo f,eo ,, ~ sha ~au nade M re.
rushed 10 her iaoe' pu' 'iio A'"ue NV
ply, ,.;o oy Ia ,t;rrod
as IL 10 oe a o,l meuri"k ,n no Ioi'''' y
Johh Iaul, .iee th,oIo, about
Or olu you eeHi Lt h'on' 81, -
ms business 1. Las' thoo Iobro Uncle
=, ,,;sn'aased with mo and aunt ia sorry
and now thee must-What is it to thee
wh ether 7 have or not ?"
"Rachel" said he. taking her trem
bling hand. and retaining it in spite Of
her effort to withdraw it. at is every
thing to me, for l love you dearly"
The ewes of the girl filled with sud
den lipht "Thee thee love-mes"
John read the answer to his question
before he put it, and drew the sobbine
Rachel to his breast.
How long they stood there neither
could tell, but at the sound of Mahlor
Stacy's heavy step on the veranda, Rachel
made her escape.
"What keeps thee in the house
Jobn?' inquired the farmer, entering
the room. ave have work to get through
with"
81 let that pass for moment, Mr.. Sta
CIV. | have something to say. Who
holds now the mortgage on the farm ?"
"Why does thee ask?"
"From no idle curiosity. What is hi
name. and where does he live"
ellis name is Forbisher, and he lives
in New York. 1t is his lawyer, Wood
ford who has the business in hand"
"Woodford! Not Charles Woodford
So, In that case make yourself perfectly
easv can arrange ali that for YOU"
"Is thee serIous. John Paulo Does the,
think Forbisber would do it for thee ?"
"Wbv notp He never refused me any
) ,b;ng I wanted vet. from the time w
!, went IN the same school,"
mTbee must he ont of thy mind, John
, This Frobisber thew saw. is worth a mil
i;on Of dollars Does thee expect to in
Anence b;np If didn't know tn
hah;ts 7 shonld saw thee'd been drink
, ;nyn
@The man Won sneak of is worth NOR
. than Won saw in estate. but he'll give yo
ali the time Won need. Let me see. ]
( is nearly eight The mail closes at ter
:, 7 have time to write a letter. hitch III
and oct to the most office in good time
You'Il have an answer by tomorrow
n evening" and without further words h
= want ont harnessed the horse, and drov
f to the village. leaving Stacy staring i
. amazement When he came back, tn
. f,rmer was still in the house, with Naom
and Rachel, discussing Johns freak
), nrr;nc that dav and the next mornin
Wabion would GLANCE at John at time
o With an exnression made up of hope
: and suspicion of Johns sanity.
"''a A, nopn naxt day John onietly hitch
+. al m M The tba horse again and without ask
: 81 " aro an dove off with n re-assu,in
= lne ohops ;nnr;r;no LOOKS as n
u su.re nant " Th;s ] was bonrs before the ma
VEN H., 81 Iohn had ON his Sunda
/ Mas oue, 70 anu uo Ala not Get hack mt
: nar',;,,a and then handed letter {
n n gpIu;'' MabInn IN he h presence of the rest.