Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-10
Up the Flue.

Up the Flue.
"You must have some rare exnerience
to tell us Mrs Boswell" said persuasiy
Lieu. Russell, while we waited for tn
mail stage. "You have been at hi
frontier post ever since Capt. Boswell wa
stationed here?"
"Yes, we have been here eight wears.
she replied, with the rare smile that ylori
fed her face, 81 have passed through
many trying ordeals here, but | real,
think that had an adventure in the cas-
before married the captain equal to anv
thing that have experienced"
"Wl;l you relate it, and oblige usP'
urged Russell.
Mrs Boswell" said Dan, the irrepar
able voungsler of our party, "Jim," Jerk
ing his thumb towards the lieutenant. "i
out west here on purpose to spill ink fol
the New York pers. You can become
| u heroine of romance if you will.
"Thank you," said our little hostess
81 don't mind accepting the honor"
Three OF us were sitting in an inner
department of the small frontier hostelry
The bar room was packed with miners
and we had chosen to have our supper
served by ourselves, rs we had appointed
to 90 on to Custer City in company.
Mrs. Boswell was much below the me.
lium size, quick of speech, tight of move.
ment as a bird, and graceful as fawn.
ut was in lS-' she began; Il had
Just made the acquaintance of Capt
Boswell, he having some business matters
| 10 arrange with father, had called al oul
place several times. Finally, there came
rare day in autumn, and he and father
were closeled the greater part of the day,
overhauling papers, memoranda, deeds
and receipts. My father at that time was
doing great deal of business as AN attor
NY
At tea time father said to me: 'Bess
you won't mind an evening alone, so long
as Thomas is about, will youp'
l said no, for although there were many
rohberies beng committed In the neigh
boring cities private families in the sub
urbs felt no fear. Our house was a mile
from the city proper, and half mile from
neighbors either way
we find he continued, that the cap
tain has got to hunt up some more papers
concerning the state before he Can give
Barron satisfactorily title. We shall &c
10 Judge Whlcombs office, and our
search may be so successful that IL
O'Clock will find us home again. Slill we
may be detained longer. Shan't | call
and tell your cousin Milly 10 come down
and spend the night with you?'
'No,-yes, 1 conlradictorily answered.
Do as you please; l am not timid in the
least, with Thomas about.
tRni Canaan Rosuall ia uoipu tn loava
$4,000 here until he returns.'
Does any one know about the moneya'
Only ourselves
Then l am not afraid. Besides. you
are likely 10 be back before graveyards
yawn and thieves do walk abroad
Thomas brought the horse round and
while father spoke to him, | touched the
captains sleeve:
Where is your money left.
In YOUR fathers desk in the library.
Then he looked with tender, inquiring
glance into my face (how the little
woman's face flushed at the memory. J
and said: Little girl, if you are in the
least afraid, we will not 90 to night
although it is absolutely necessary
l told him honestly, that l was not
afraid. l never had that strata of tmidity
in my makeup. peculiar to womankind; /;
and so they rode away.
sang about my work, as put things
in shape around the room, and viewed the
brilliant sunset, without fear or care.
Thomas, our new man-of.all- work, was
very busy putteriDg about the grounds,
tying up grape vines and mulching ever
greens. | knew there was some coarse
aftermath upon the hill, that father was
anxious 10 have put on the strawberry
beds and seeing Thomas 60 up there with
his basket, l tied scarf over my head
took another basket, and went up to help
him.
As passed up the hill. saw man in
the highway speaking to him. l hesita
ted about going on, but the man made
only a moments pause, and then went
down the hill, and was soon concealed by
a turn in the highway.
who was that, Thomasp' l said
oh, miss, it WAS the man from the
mills, saying that my brother has had
bad fall on the dam, and he is believing
for me to come and See him. His leg he
broke entirely
What will you do?'
L lold the man could not go to see
him to. day-but if | vert, miss, would
be sure to be back by eleven of the clock,
if not earlier
You may 20 Thomas, if your brother
is hurt so badly. Papa will not be away
long
But my young lady
Never mind me in such a case as this
always was tender hearted. You may
go. and will run hack to the house,
He talked a few minutes more, was
proiuse in his thanks for my kindness,
and then started out down 10 the city /
look up the two baskets, and went singing
10 he house.
sat an hour by the open window
enjoying intensely this being alone, and
The quiet beauty of the cool, autumn
night
Perhaps you will wonder at this, and
The dimples played around her pretty
mouth, but the little birds were singing
new song in my heart, and the quiet let
me hear the sweet echoes.
But directly chided myself for being
-ather careless, as The road was thorough
'are, and q chance straggler might sur
prise me. arose closed my window, and
)Oel rug eomo sltdnRe, lmp'esSlVe power, |
walked through the hall into the library,
ook my fathers key from its accustomed
place, unlocked the desk, found the pack
age OF $4,000, and placing it in nv bosom,
re-. locked the door and returned to the
sitting room. l did not light lamp;
mad no need OF fire, as that from tho |
kitchen fstove warmed the sitting room
sufficiently in this mild weather.