Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-02-16

1tY There must be unrkneSS III nlB mluu
as well as in the atmosphere that he does
not readily do what he has SO often done
before. All, he is inside now and his I'M |
steady feet take a step or two along the |
rough floor "Huldy!" he calls "1nl--
dy! hut Hubby has not always answered
when she could and though he does not
know she is tonguc-tied now he does not
pause to speculate on her silence. few
more steps then shuttle and heavy fall.
He has stumbled over her poor body,
and after a storm of oaths and few NUT
terings, he lies by her side dead drunk.
The bottle fell from his pocket and its
contents are oozing slowly out, satura-
ting his own and IIuldy's garments.
His foot i'll his fall broke Huldy's pipe
and there was n spark i'll the bowl, which
if he were conscious he would see had
bounded directly onto the papers, and the
fresh air from the door he left open keeps
it bright. Do Huldys open eyes see 1t
Her staring eyes might see it and that 1t
grows brighter and brighter Now it
has burst into tiny flame. The flame
grows larger and larger so that it lights
up the whole kitchen. 1t is not dark now
Huldy, but are You not afraid of the
light? See. it crawls nearer and nearer,
other moment the whole saturated massis
lost to view in the white flames. It is
light enough row inside and out. The
fire darts red and yellow tongues through
the doors and windows, the wild flames
leap skyward, the timbcIs sway and fall
crashing into the midst of the burning
mass. The vornin human and iuhuman
is greedilv licked up, and so the carnival
goes on.
7 The morning dawns-thc sun rises and
shines on IL heap of smoking ashes.
| Part II.
Miss Persis Wentworth sat alone in
her wide cool kitchen. busily engaged in
picking over bluebcrries. Through the
open door, the fresh morning air came,
swectlv without, the dew gemmed the
green meadows and the gray road that
wound back mile or more to the village,
touched with richer color the Princes
feather, nasturtiums and cardinal flowers
which ilourished i'll the door yard, and
hung in bright beads from the heavy
trumpet houcysucklc that climbed and
blossomcd above the porch door. Miss
Persis' kitchen was an inviting place
with its clean painted floor, its polished
stove with punches of herbs hung be-
hind it, the long mantle freighted with
bright kitchen ware and the venerable
clock crowned with asparagus and south
ernwood.
Miss Persis herself sat on n high stool,
a huge apron of brown holland spread
over her lap to protect her fresh print
from burberry stains and her every
thought apparently given TO the task be-
fore her. She was long past her youth
as the silver streaked hair and furrowed
brow attested, but the eyes were still
bright and the form active. Her little
fingers tossed the fruit over rapidly the
milk would soon be i'll and breakfast was
already under way and must be ready in
time and Miss Pcrsis scorned help. She
liked company, but help Tor what she had
to do-Nonsense and 80 except for the
gray cat that purred on the settle OF the
clock that licked i'll the corner she passed
her time alone Not all her time, how
ever, for thrice day the farm hands gath
cred around the Widespread table Then
once year, during the long days Miss
Persis 'made quilting" when all the
neighbors would gather in. 1T is n
good way, said the spinster, ''to get ac-
quainted with the young folks, and to
visit with the old ones.
For ten years or since the death of her
father Miss Persis had EARNED it, the
fine old homestead with its broad acres
having descended to her. Miss Persis
enjoyed responsibility which came with
out her seeking and the "help" declared
they had never known more efficient
master.
As she was husily tossing over the
fruit huge loose j"intcd fellow entered
the kitchen. He was clad in blue demins
overalls and frock Of the same material.
At the button under his chin was fastcn-
ed one corner of n huge striped cotton
handkerchief whick hung down III front
after the manner Of child's bib. \
straw lat chung to the back Of his head,
its wide brim lying on his shoulders be-
hind, and rising high up i'll front bur
lesque on poke bonnets.
"What Benajah back SO soon, said
Miss Persis, ''can you get Rodden to help
to-day?"
eyes nam" and after little awkward
hesitation he added "There's II mighty
purity little gall lying fast asleep out
under the big maple and hooks as il she'd
been there all night.
''Mcrcy on us Benaidh =
Eyes marin an I'm gummed il | know
| Will 10 90 Will ntI.
"Some poor child from the village amt
she?"
"Shc don't look like any on EN- I've
ever scen."
"Well you'd better bring her in and
we'll give her some breakfast and see
who she is.
Miss Persis added, ~ most know it's
that jenkins girls child left there pur-
AL. lp,,t 1
There's the poor house for all such and
it's better home than they deserve.
Such shiftless lazy creatures. Wouldn't
have one of them around, not if | was
paid to. Mercy Benaiah" said she as that
yeoman appeared with his charge. ''what
n dirty little creature I'm sure its tha.
jenkins child"
"Guess not man, I've seen that are one,
ana this is different built"
What's your name q said the spin
ster.
Nan, Said the child.
''Nan what %
"Only Nan, that's all"
well where are You going to 2"
"Im going to the 'Sylum where there
live there always"
"The asylum? Well, how do you hap
pen here? Where did you come from
Where are your father and mother ?"
"In heaven but their bodies are buried
in the ground" answered Nan with u
quivering lip.
The spinster arose and putting some
fruit into saucer handed it with glass
, Of milk to the child. She took it eagerly
, but after tasting it set it down she was
too ill to eat. Her pallor alarmed Miss
Persis who took her tenderly in her arms
and laid her on the settle
, $50 they call you Nan? Who calls
: you SO ?"