Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-09-08

49, - NtOAi1i III udll liA
We are going away to spend the
Fourth, Warner and I, and the Prov
idence train goes in 20 minutes. Now
Warner has sent for some of his
things, and you just come up and
put them in his vallse, while scratch
together some things for myself.
Hurry, now, there isn't moment to
lose" !" And he ran upstairs and the
servant after him, leaving the poor
woman stunned at the defeat of her
hope. Suddenly she bethought her.
self of the Providence train to New
York. Fred might be at the station
now. waiting for his friend. Forty
minutes wonld take her there, and
she could persuade him not to go.
Acting on the impulse she slipped
quietly out of the front door. The
light of the street light fell upon a
cab, where driver was doing with
his head upon his breast. Within
also, sat a man, his head bowed on
his bosom, but in the stupid sleep of
intoxication, instead of the slumber
of fatigue. One glance sufficed for
the woman. 1t was Fred; Fred was
about to be dragged away to the
train, to sleep away the effects of the
drink in the cars, and find himself in
the morning embarked on a three
days spree in New York.
Erred, Fred Warner!" she said to
him softly, reaching into the carriage
and shaking him by the arm.
"All right, Tom, drive on" said
the poor fellow, "let's go home"
Quick as thought she sprang into
the cab, aroused the driver by Wig
orous poke of her umbrella, and or
dered him to drive to the Fitchburg
depot as fast as he could. A yawn.
crack of the whip, and in two min
utes they were so far away that even
the sound of the wheels was not
heard by the servant, who descend
ing first, stood waiting for his dollar
with Warmers valise in his hand.
Five minutes later, Tom came down
to find cab and victim gone. There
was but one solution, Fred must have
reused up and orderd himself taken
to the New York station, forgetting
IN his drunken foolishness that he
was to wait for Tom. There was
still time if he lost not a moment.
SO he rushed off, not waiting to hear
the servants EXPLANATIONS, when he
found that the woman also was gone.
And away the fugitlves went to
the depot while Tom was cursing his
luck. Samantha never minded her
parcels. She could send the M by ex-
press. She never minded double
faie for the hackman, or any fatigue
for herself. She had saved the Wild
ow Warmers boy. Poor fellow he
must have had many drinks, and vile
ones, too, to be SO helplessly stupid
as he seemed. He slept all the way
to Fitchburg. and fell asleep in the
depot before she could send to the |
livery stable for team. There was
a daily coach to Hllltown, but it did
not start till midday, and she could |
run no risk of Fred's being recogniz-
ed in his present state. So she ordered
a stable boy to be sent on horseback
to take the carriage back, and drove
the team herself all through the
dreary darkness before the dawn, up
the long rocky hills. When daylight
broke, the young man, now fast COM
ing to himself, was lying on the sofa
n the parlor behind Samantha shop.
The aroma of strong coffee stole IN
% him from her little kitchen beyond.
She gave him the coffee and every-
hing in the way of loving care. but
'he did not let him off without such a
sermon as he never dreamed could
ssue from such puckered button
lole of mouth as hers. About the
lime that the coach connected with
he Sunday train arrived, Fred walk
ID leisurely up the road to his moth
RS home, and had to accept with Sc
ret shame great deal of extra pet
ing because he looked SO pale and
eemed so Overworked. On Sunday
light he went to church, and after
he service he greeted many old
riends: but he left them all, and
Talked home with the milliner, Sa-
1antha, and in her parlor she put on
er nearby spectacles to see his
lgnature upon little temperance
ledge that she had prepared for him.
was his declaration of independ-
nce' against the slavery and chains
nat threatened to drag his own
nd his mothers hopes in the dust.
lie was not to tell his mother of his
eakness till he had kept his pledge
year, ''for why,' said Samantha,
should she be troubled, as she must
be, if she knew the dam
er you was in!" But he told Tom,
no grew SO anxious as to his where
bouts that he took an early train to
illtown. They made him welcome
the home, and he shared the even
g among Fred's friends at the par
: and Tuesday evening, after the
ourth, on their way to the coach, 7
opped with Fred minute, and
oked at the ribbons and flowers in u
e window of Samantha Marbles '
lop. Il
"Tell you what, Fred, that must V