Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-06-10


comb up and his mouth a little open,
as il he were only taking in breath for
fresh attack, yet as dead as If he were roast
ed with stufing.
Joe gave us a supper after the fight; then
we dispatched bottle Of port apiece, over
settling our bets then we gave our minds TO
pleasure, and enjoyed a good brew Of Joe's
punch and the squire, though he had been
beaten, was one of the most cheerful of us ALL
As it was Sunday, we determined to sepa-
rate in good time, so when it got towards
eleven we set out, while Joe stood In his
doorway, shouting hearty good nights after
us. l had waited to make an appointment
with him for the next day, that we might
conclude the bargain for the colt, so was a
little behind the others in starting.
Take care of yourself" called Joe ''you
have the most money, and have the farthest
to go. Mind the notes. Five twenties and
have copied the numbers that we may be
safe. Tell the squire SO, if he waylays you
in the dark"
This was Joe's parting joke. and when
answered it 1 gave a kindly touch TO the
pocket book in my breast pocket and the
squire, who heard u.s. called out that he dare
not try it tonight, as there was q moon be-
hind the clouds.
was riding q favorite little mare, who
knew every step of the way between my own
stables and Joe's, so Just rode peaceably on
in the dark, recalling the flavor Of Joe's whis-
ky, and singing over one Of the verses Of q
song the squire had given us
''With Ave pounds your standing wages,
You shall dAintry be feds
Bacon, beans, salt beef, cabb-ages,
Buttermilk, and barley bread.
Suddenly the mare made deliberate stop,
and reused me from my melodious dreami-
ness. Certainly at the end of this lane a gate
ovnauaI he hath hat aha
stood quite well that she had only TO lift and
push this gate, and she had never before
reused me here when Ihad been riding Sleep
lily home from Blagly.
STEADY, my grill Why, what is it 2"
cried l. for she was shying back in the lane
and behaving in every way like lunatic. l
gave her such a cut as she had not felt since
she was broken in and then, without a
word of warning, she reared entirely upright,
took me at disadvantage, and sent me sprawl
ing into the ditch, turning then and gallop-
ing back toward Blagly without me.
1 was none the worse for my fall, only
shaken little and astonished q great deal
SO picked up first myself, and then my hat,
and stumbled on to find the heath gate l
had my hand upon it, when the moon came
sailing along from under q cloud, and the
whole level waste of heath was made visible
in a moment. But the sight of the heath, in
all its barren ugliness, was not what struck
me with such a chill, and made my eyes
prick, and my throat grow apoplectic. 1
never gave second glance in that direction,
for there-close to me, only on the opposite
side of the closed gate-stood my brother
Solomon! could not have mistaken him,
| if there had been only the very faintest flick
| or of light. There he was, in his long coat
and his high hat with his arms folded on the
top bar of the gate, the brown book under
one of them as usual, and his eyes fixed stead
lily on me.
Solomon" said, growing very cold and
uncomfortable under his gaze, it's getting
chilly for you to be out"
He did not answer that. and SO presently l
went cheerfully on.
"Fve been-you remember where / said 1
was going" / stopped again here. l did
not want to confess where had been, if he
did not know and did not want to tell an
| other falsehood if he did know. So put it
to him that way, intending to be guided by
bis answer. 1t was so long in coming that 1
took heart of grace to try another tack.
"Where have you been, Sol p
Another pause, and then he answered, just
in his old, slow way:
"Pve been at home expecting you, Ja-
cob-waiting for you until l could wait no
longer"
81 am sorry for that" said, feeling lit
tie cheerier to hear him speak 81 would
not have been so late, only had to go round
by Blagly on business-I dare say you no.
tice that I'm coming from there now. / on
| ly went on business, Sol"
He made another pause before he answer
ed, and though it was q trick of Solomon's,
and always had been, felt myself growing
uncomfortably cold. Why could he not have
stayed at home as persons should on Sunday
nights? But the icy chill turned all at once
| to clammy heat when Solomon asked me
quietly, and without turning his steady gaze
from my face;
How much of that filthy lucre have you
won, Jacob? ?"
''Wh-whatp" ?" stammered-and then you
might have knocked me down with the very
smallest of the feathers in Joe's winning
bird
"Wh-what, Solomon ?"
He repeated the question slowly and stead
lily, "How much of that filthy lucre have you
won, Jacob p
"You-you have been dreaming, Solo
mon"
thinking his long fingers, which had been
clasped together on the gate, he stretched one
hand toward me.
Give notes." he said, still with the un-
moved gaze. Give worthless ill-won notes. u
/ clasped my breast-pocket anxiously.
''I have a little money here, Sol, +" 1 said, as
airily as 1 could "a few pounds more OF
less, and want TO buy you a new umbrella
yours. is getting shabby. I'll go into town
tomorrow and choose one"
tried to get up little cheerfulness over
it. but Solomon's gaze damped it all out of
me and, beside, he had not taken back his
long, hungry, outstretehed hand.
Five notes" be said again-''fiye worth
less i'll won notes, JacobY
haa he Col - I haOan
trembling like leaf in a storm-''even if
had them-ha, ha what am absurd idea
What should you want with them2 And
and" added, olutching desperately at O
straw of courage, 'what right have you to
them 2"
"There is no right in the question:" said
Solomon, and his face grew longer and long
er. ''It is all wrong"
''You don't often joke, Sol," said pretty
bravely, though / was trembling like
any number of aspens, ''but of course, you
are Joking now, and it's rather late for joke,
isn't II? Come along home with me-"
II am not going your way now, jacob
Give me the notes ?"
And, would you believe 1t? feebly put
out my arm, and laid my precious notes on
his long, open fingers.
''Shall you be home to night ?" l asked try,
ing to finish up the scene in my natural
tones.
''To-night? It is midnight now"
''God bless my soul, is it really 2" ex-
claimed, not so much surprised as ridicu
lously furried and nervous under my broth
er's intent gaze.
Solomon had shivered as those words pass
ed my lips, and for the first time be looked
away.
"Good night" he said, in his slow, absenl
way and then think he added three othel
words, which he often did add to his gooC
byes but he spoke so low scarcely heard