St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-03-04
Job Aliens Mistake, and What Came
of It.
BY MARY r. d. DINGwALL.


''If am not at home by nine o'clock
leave the lantern out and go to bed"
said Fred Landon, as he drew ON his
gloves and took down his whip.
Surely you will be at home before
dark 1t is earlier than you usually
Don't forget the parsons errands, nor
Widow wilkins tea"
Il am coming home by job Aliens.
The mountain road is rough, and it is
two miles farther"
80, Fred, remember the Golden
Rule"
"'Let every man look out for his
own becon,' is my Golden Rule" And
lie stepped briskly toward the door,
not appearing to notice the white hand
that had caressingly touched his coat
sleeve for an instant.
"But they are so very, very poor,
Fred" said the tender, pleading voice.
"And always will be at that rate. 1t
wasn't my fault that pork was only four
cents when he offered me eight. He
must look out for Number one-I have
to-"
Before he finished speaking, Black
Jim was cantering along the road, too
far away for Annie TO say another word
except good-by, which sounded cheeri-
ly enough. But Fred did not even look
back. His wite's words in regard to the
Job Allen affair seemed too much like
his own conscience speaking to him,
and for once he was glad to be beyond
the sound of them.
Before he was out of the settlement
he began to wonder if he hadn't forgot
ten something. His money was in his
pocket; so was his memorandum. He
looked over the list of purchases lie was
to make fol- himself and neighbors. 1t
was all right
"Well, what if l didn't kiss Annie
'good-by'? We have been married more
than a year
What an excuse! And LandOn, as
though ashamed of it, went on telling
himself that she was the dearest little
woman i'll the world, and had come
more than Il thousand miles alone, to be
the light and JOY of his western home.
But there certainly is too much BIZ
ble about her to suit my style"
Thy STYLE" called Echo Rock, as he
turned a corner in the road.
"My STYLE" Fred repeated, for Echo
Rock always agreed with every one,
invariably repeating the last words of
everything said within hearing of it ;
but it denied unhappy Fred the comfort
of its approval, and said again, "Thy
style"
"Well, have your own way" And
Fred gave Black Jim a sharp cut with
the whip, while the echo called after
him, "Your own way"
The horse shared the restless spirit
of his rider, and they reached the ''city"
before noon. But things went wrong,
as things often will when the man him
self is wrong. 1t was after sunset when
he reached Job Aliens clearing.
81 was coming to see yOu," Allen
said ''for | cannot pay you as soon as
| expected. We have been sick, and it
is pretty hard getting living off the
Rocky Mountains with family of six
to feed. Am to pay you sixteen dol
lars for that pork p
"Certainly; it was your own offer"
"Pork was only four cents the pound
then, and hasn't been above five and a
halt since then at the city. | had but
Just arrived, and made n mistake il
offering you fair Eastern price for the
meat. Nevertheless | can afford it il
you can. :" and he unrolled the heart
case that served as a wallet and count
ed out twelve dollars, saying he would
try to pay the rest in January.
"You are not man who would
avenge your own fault on another, anC
| want to know what you mean by If
can afford it p"
2 Il was thinking of the hereafter. No
; of the life that now is, but of that whiel
is to come. Besides, | shall sleep bet
ter tonight than you will. By the way
won't You stop with us tonight? ? 1t I
going to be very dark, and you ar
: heartily welcome to our best if yo
0 will"
= Landon looked at the barefoOted
4, half-clad children, drew his coat close
about him, and said MIS-. Landon woul'
expect him.
(; AS he left the clearing his horse start
e ed at every old stump or stone by th
. roadside. As the twilight deepened h
became aware that some animal wa
Il following him. Was it panther, bea
e or wild boar Neither would be
:. pleasant travelling companion and dc
= spite the rough road, Black Jim wa
!, given a looser rein. The unknown pul
u" suer was not to be out-distanced, (,
e, whenever the horse slackened his paC
d, for few rods rustling of leaves mao