Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-10-13

ope they inclosed was torn eagerly
open. Clara looked over his shoul-
der and read, too, and then with one
glance at the renewed light and vigor
in his worn, anxious face, she relin-
quished her role of bravery, and
cried out the months of misery in his
arms. Robbie walked and BERTHE
crawled to the scene of action, and
seeing their mother in tears lent
shrill aid to the chorus. Upon which
they were kissed, blessed and cried
over till they thought the world (rep-
resented to them by their father and
mother) had gone mad. When par
tial calmness had returned, Tom
spoke joyously:
"Now wife, sell something of your
small store and send telegram from
me to the dear old girl -
ssTom i'' cried Clara, laughing
through her tears, chow disrespect-
fulp'
But the telegram was sent and
brought in solemn wonderment to
Miss Greybrook before 10 o'clock by
the postmaster himself. When once
she had the opened paper in front of
her eyes, and devoured the informa-
ton that her godson was in London,
and desirous of seeing her immedi-
ately, she gave orders for fly to be
in readiness to catch the next up
train, and that her fur travelling cloak
and boots should be put on the fire
Immediately. In the anxiety that all
the domestics felt to take share in
the general excitement, Miss Grey
brooks cloak threatened to be torn
in pieces, and when wanted, one fur
boot was found warming in front of
the kitchen fire, the other reposing
on the sheep skin rug beside the
drawing room steel fender. How
ever, vouchsafing never word of
explanation, but, happily for the
sanity of those she left behind, drop
ping the telegram in the hall as she
walked out to the fly, Miss Grey
brook started alone on her travels.
The dull foggy shades of Lon
don winter evening had gathered,
and two big and two little faces were
pressed tight against the grimy top
window of a house in Westminster
street, as cab drove up.
$50 and bring her up stairs, Cla-
ra,' said Tom. II can't go in my
slippers
"Yes-but I'm so afraid of her?'
All fears were obliged to disap-
pear, however, for the object of them
had not waited to be brought up.
She had intimidated the landlady by
the commanding voice in which she
had desired to be shown the apart
ments of Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas
Greybrook Craven; and that fat and
lazy person had preceded the strange
lady rapidly up so many flights that
on reaching the top landing Miss
Greybrook stood silent and stately,
for she could not speak. She waved
the landlady down again, just as the
latter wanted TO look in and see what
would happen next.
Then Tom advanced and his god
mother kissed him first, then his wife.
Then, observing Robbie and BERTHE,
she grimly smiled and remarked
aloud, but to herself, evidently:
"Children, of course being as
poor as church MICE
Looking round the wretched room
and shaking the three chairs, she
chose the least rickety and sat down.
"Pack up-haven't got much to
pack that can see. You must all
come back with me tonight
Tom Craven and his wife exchang-
ed glances, and at last Tom defer
entially ventured to speak:
"You see, dear godmother, we
we need a few things to make us
presentable at your house"
/ ''Eh what? My house is my own.
Come as you are"
"The worst must be said, then
But-please excuse such state of
matters, but-I've got no boots J"
Miss Greybrook gasped and stared
from one to the other.
''Boots! my godson without boots !!
Here, Clara-that's your name, | be-
lieve-run out, child, and buy all you
need for everybody, and let us get
out OF this place, for can't breathe. :"
Away ran poor Clara, holding the
fat purse Miss Greybrook pushed
into her hand, and all unconscious
what she carried in it. 1t felt so
full, however, that she took a cab
and drove first to boot shop, where
| she purchased for her husband, her
children and herself.
Then came a big overcoat for Tom,
and wraps for the little ones-and
she told the cabman to drive home
fast. She had paid for her purchase
with gold, and bank notes cracked
as she closed the purse.
Miss Greybrook carried out her in
tention and hustled them all off to
the station. The children slept all
the way in the first class carriage.
1t was IL O'Clock when they drove up
to the door of the old lady's house,
and she grimly counted five heads in
night caps thrust out into the night
air from her neighbors' windows
/ among them the rector's with fan