Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-04-02

surprise and pity. II see," he said.
81 understand it all. I will keep
the package and investigate the
case. have met your husband. He
is one of the kind of men who give
character and strength to republic,
bone and sinew, heart and mind all
true. I will try and send you word.
Good evening" And, before she
had chance to thank him, he had
left her. She thought she had time
to take the train for Scarsboro'. She
would not mind walking on the track
from there to Rocton, even if it were
dark. She must get home. Pelatiah
would be worrying abont her. Not
only worrying Patience; but
searching the country far and wide,
thinking his wife is insane, and al
most crazy himself with the thought.
In her loop-hole of retreat Mrs.
Brewster heard the news. s'In my
opinion, that crazy Northworth wo-
man ought to be shut up" she said.
Why, she might do no end of
O. HARM"
''sWhy, ma, I guess she's perfectly
harmless. Haint she?' said her IN
valid spouse.
s'I tell ye, Shadrach, there's never
no KNOWN, never
Patience Northworth is walking on
the track toward Rocton. The stars
are shining, and her heart is so hope
full and glad that the heavens seem
to be full of music, as if it were the
first Christmas night. While cross
ing the track, where a switch leads
down beside the main track, her foot
catches in frog. She cannot draw
it out. She wrenches and twists and
tugs; bnt her foot is held as if in a
wise. She calls; but there is no one
near. Then it flashes upon her that
she may be run over. She imagines
she hears whistle in the distance,
and is paralized.
Far and near, uphill and down
stream. men were searching for her.
Almost wild with excitement, Pela-
tiah Northworth drew in his horse to
take breath a moment where lone
ly wood-path crossed the railroad
track. What was that dark object
there? 1t was she! She was going
to commit suicide He would prevent
it. He heard distant whistle. He
left his horse and rushed to her, and
found how she was held. He had
but moment to think. He fastened
some papers on his horse-whip and
took out his matches. The headlight
of the engine appeared round the
curve. He lighted his papers and
waved them. A puff of wind blew
out the light. He heard the thunder
of the wheels coming nearer. Death
seemed sure. He tried another match
and waved the signal again. The
train came glaring, laundering on.
AS it was almost upon them it stop
ped. The engineer got off the freight
train, pried up the rail, and rescued
the poor, unconscious woman. The
danger was over, the rail put back,
and the train went on; but the poor
husband, pale and trembling, knelt
by her side a moment and thanked
God for the escape. The first words
she said were, as they were bending
over her bedside, at home: ''He j:
all right. have seen the governor
And shortly after told the whole sto
ry, explaining all her conduct.
Pelatiah and Patience Northwortl
were sitting by the fire in the twi
| light. The lonely Christmas dinne
was over. The freight shone upol
Patience's white hair and cap, ant
the tall shadows danced upon tn
parlor wall. Only one was missins
to complete the old group of three
Nothing had been heard from th
governor since Patience had seel
him.
"Mother - The door opened
ssJoshua p ssFather !" The youn
, man knelt at his mothers feet. Rove
came bounding. in, barking and jump
ing, rough and joyous. The littl
picture clock on the wall struck fiv
, silvery notes, a pine-knot fell int
the Goals, and the whole room wa
2 suddenly illumined. All the sa
past was forgotten. There was
} present and a future! Their SO
< was nearer to them in his humiliatio
than he had ever been in his falls
d pride.
: 1t was in the early morning, in tt
0 following Spring. Joshua, with b
e dog, stood by the bars, looking ov
the field of young grass.
1t As the young man looked out upt
/ the scene, he thought; "The riv
y is out of prison. The earth, too,
t. released from Winters iron fetteI
g God has made me free. Mother n
er ture smiles upon me when all else
if dark. My hands, by my father
is care and training, were made to
ID Dor. A New England farm BILE
at God for the heritage. / have SHINE
IN God is merciful. He is with me
1T paradise here and there is a bett
K paradise hereafter" And a lit
u, bird flew out from the hedge near b
ut and, perching on bough over
K. head, sang, sang as if all his lit
ld heart would pour itself out in gla