Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-12-19
One Stormy Night.
\ stormy night, indeed,

sky were great sieve, and not a ray Of
light found its way through the black
clouds. The giant fir trees bent and
swayed in the fierce wind. and sent their
wild, wailing voices down through gulch
and canyon to mingle with the roar of
creek and cataract, or fell before the
rocks that crashed down the mountain
sides. The terrified cattle lowed and
cried in their corrals. budding together
for warmth and sympathy. indoors,
people drew near together, crowding
around the hearth-6res that blazed In a
ftful, almost uncanny way.
In wayside inn on. the mountain
road little company sat thus gathered
about an immense fireplace that glowed
and famed like bonfire, and, not con-
tent with cheering the great rooom, sent
its beacon light out at the windows to
defy the night and the storm. :
There was Mike Malone, the landlord,
and Kitty, bis fat, funny wife; little
Martha, the Spanish girl whom Mike
and Kittie had 'rared;' Jake, the sta
BILE man, and last, because most impor-
tant, Bat, the .French-Canadian wood
cutter. There was nothing in the young
fellows appearance to suggest the wing
ed horror whose name he bore. 1t was
merely a sobriquet for Baptiste. Jake
seldom availed himself of the abbrevia-
tion, but slowly and emphatically styled
him .'Canuck," usually pre6xing a de-
scriptive that had more force than ele-
gance. &
1t was ill-natured, to say the least,
for Bat was one of the kindest fellows
in the world. ''and the ways of him." as
Kitty said, ..was one sthrame O. sun
shine; but sure.' she added, "Jake is
that jealous that he can't trate him da-
cent, though I'd sooner see Maree quiet
in her grave nor married to the likes av
him. Av she's in love wild the French
man? There, ye have me now. She's
that quare and shy, Maree is, that ye
niver can tell her mind till she PLACES
to let ye know and on this subject she
hasn't PLACED yiit y -
| -.
And that was quite true, for when
Bats blue eyes. sparkling with fun and
deep with the light of love, beamed up
on the little dark-eyed beauty, her long
lashes swept her cheeks; sometimes not
until the quick eyes of Jake had seen
the outspringing of an answering love,
though not all Bats gallant wooing
could bring word Of it to her lips-sl-
lent, cautious little Maria, who doubted
the manners of this rollicking knight of
the axe. @a.s,
''Did ever yees listen to the loikes O.
that ?" exclaimed Mike, at a sudden
crashing sound sn.
Kitty and Bat crossed themselves fer
vently, but Jake, with unmoved, sudden
face, sat and glowed at the fire. Sud-
denly Maria sprang up excitedly. ''lt
is a voice Y she cried. d rFIff9fl
''Indade. thin. it's the voice of many
wathers, laughed Kitty, though rather
neryously.D + s8U Af}
"It is human voice; it is calling for
help" asT3 ~
"By golly, it's de debble den," said
Bat "Dat's nobody helse'll be on de
road such night like dat. III bet he's
call for Jake" he added roguishly.
A deeper glover was Jake's only re-
ply, but soon, lifting his head, he said
,"she's right, Maree is; ther is some
one callin'.'
"Out wild yees, men, till the riscue l'
cried Kitty, seizing Mikes hat and coat
and thrusting them upon him.
Sure yere spakin'." said Mike, rue
fully preparing to leave the CHEEKY
hearth.
Bat, aroused by the light in Maria's
flashing eyes, sprang up with enthusi-
asm, for, low be it spoken, his was not
a grand, heroic soul. His brave deeds
were mostly born of impulse and nour-
ished by the appreciation of others.
q Jake sullenly joined them, but before
they reached the door it opened, and
full in the freight appeared tall form
and handsome, yellow bearded face-a
striking picture, with the dark night for
background. 81 tSE REF EeIkA
"By me sowl it's the Docther. In
the name O the ovid divil, who brings
ye7 out in the loike O this %
II don't go abroad in the devils
name. Nike laughed the Doctor. max
ing his way to the fire and taking the
chair that Kitty had fastened to place
for him.
''No more ye don't, Docther; it's
Hiven's own sarvent ye are," she said
earnestly. "Bestir yersilf, Mike. and
bring him something hot to drink. for
indade, Docther, ye're the color O. a
ghost"
"I've had pretty tough time to get
here, and few moments ago was
more likely to arrive at the bottom of
the gulch, where my poor horse is now" :"
The Doctors voice trembled. and his