Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-10-09
VT, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1885.

ful curl, although he looked otherwise broken
In spirit He was thinking Of long line Of
ancestors, some Of whom had distinguished
themselves most Of them had been sturdy
farmers, now and then perhaps q carpenter
ora blacksmith, but never q play-aotor or .
minstrel till now.
Mrs. Kittredge got down painfully from the
high stool-a little withered old lady, but
with hair that was still haxen and childish
blue eyes. "Oh, Nehemiah, our Saul !" she
said with gasp, stretching her trembling lit
tie hands out toward him. but maybe II
amt 80 bad. Don't look 80, Nehemiah. You
don't spose he'd pretend he was a negro and
play on bones, or wear women's clothes, like
those d1Jul cFeturs that came herei
don't believe Saul would do that, and IL It's
only singin', he always had a beautiful voice"
pleased look stole over the withered little
face. Before he was four years old he could
catch the tune Of Antioch and he would
have sung II beautifully, only those children
down on the Flats learnt him 10 sing Moth
er Goose verse TO it-'There was q man In
our town'-and you couldn't break him of
singin' II that way, even in Sunday school"
Deacon Kittredge groaned. "I don't see
Why we should have had such q son, Laviny,"
he said, shaking his gray head heavily. but
therel It's the Lords judgment on us, and
we must bear it,"
And the deacon went to his closet, and on
his rigid old knees sought 10 discover the
meaning Of the Lords judgment. After sup
per he wended his way 10 the weekly prayer
meeting. HuldRh, the "help," went too, and
Mrs. Kittredge was left alone
AS soon as both we're gone, and the doors
fastened behind them, she went into the post
othoe, and took the letter addressed 10 Tidy
SlocoTab again from Its pigeon -hole-Tildy
Slocomb, who had come Of ''shiftless" stock,
who wore pink bonnets, and went TO dances,
and firted with the stage-driver.
IF 1t amt from Saul, want 10 know Il I;
and II 1t is, seems as II l ought to know H.
And never saw postmark that oouldn't
make out before. II there was any postal
cards to put my mind on, maybe could stop
thinkln' about ii 4; or II knew Just how Il
was about Arvilly Wrights beau jiltin' her
but can't be took up with that book Miss
skinner brought me, feel so wicked readin'
1t and i don't pay, for there amt word of
truth in II. should like TO know who has
written to Tidy Slocomb."
She held the letter up between her eyes
and the lamp that stood in . bracket on the
wall.
II don't see why Nehemiah was bent on
havin everything so high up here--letter-
boxes and stools and lamps and all. I'll take
the letter out into the sittin' room. But come
to think Of 1t, should feel kind of awkward
hidin' 1t away, IL anybody should happen 10
come In, and it's warmer and not so lonesome
In the kitchen"
30 into the kitchen Mrs. KittredRe went.
with the precious letter hidden under her lit
tie worsted cape, although there was nobody
to see but Saul's old gray cat, lineal descend
ant OF the one that had brought up her famI-
ly In old Mr.. Holls's coffin.
The deacon's 30 strict lately that he don't
NHnWa - NaNn -
but goodness knows 1 only want 10 make out |
that postmark."
The kitchen was q large room with win |
dows on two sides. Mrs. Kittredge carefully |
pulled down the curtains Of the two windows |
whose outside blinds were not closed they |
we're not used 10 coming down, and made |
very hard work Of It, which seemed 10 give |
her guilty feeling.
TITS no harm to try TO make out Q post
mark, and everybody inst like Huldy 70 /
want all creation starin' at 'em," she said |
aloud. She sat down by the table, turned |
up the Kerosene lamp, adjusted her speota-
cles, and gave herself up TO the study OF the
outside Of Tidy Slooomb's letter.
The postmark was 30 blurred that scarcely
letter was distinguishable. She held the
letter mp before the lamp. Her conscience
gave twinges, but one could never discover
any secrets In that way-only q stray word |
here and there. One could not discover any
thing, alas in this letter. the envelope was
too thick, or the outside Of the paper was not
written upon.
Was IL Sauls writing2 The capital letters
did not look like his. II she could see only
one word Of the inside She turned the let
ter over. The envelope had not stuck to-
gether all the way across she slid her finger
In not to open it-only enough to see, per-
chance, q word.
The paper tore-there was rent an inch
long
She uttered an exclamation OF dismay, and
looked around her as II there we're somebody
to see. There tods; the blind had been open
ed, and pressed against the pane was o face.
With cry Of terror she sprang 10 her feet,
dropping the letter on the floor. At the same
instant there came loud knock at the back
door, on the other side 1t was the deaoon's
double knock and with q feeling of relief
Mrs. Kittredge hurried, as fast as her tremb-
ling limbs would carry her, into the little
back entry.
She called feebly, and the deacon's voice
answered, but still she had 10 lean against
the wall for g moment before she could find
strength to unbolt the door, the face was 30
startling, and 1t was so terrible to think that
somebody had seen her tampering with the
letter!
Her fingers trembled so that the bolt re-
sisted her efforts
Good land Laviny, what is the matter 2"
her husband called impAtiently.
When at length the door was opened she
fell into his arms, gasping, "0h, Nehemiah,
there's man looking in at the window It
was Providence that sent you home"
Deacon Stebbins was there to lead, and
heard something that wanted so much to
tell you that l couldn't stay. Never mind
about the man-let him look" The deacon
was in astonishingly good spirits. 'At that
window, was itp Why, the blinds are shut.
You've been dreaming, LAviny."
'rhe blind ioGs open, and there was a mans
face pressed against the window-and oh,
Nehemiah, Tie letter is gone p
"What letter ?"
II brought Tidy Slocombs letter out here,
just to see II could make out where II came
from, and tore it q little mite, and he saw
me, and he's been in and carried II on No,
haven't put 1t in my pocket, nor mislaid 1t
anywhere its gone !"
The deacon hastened 10 the wood-shsd
door 1t was open.
'And turned that button the very first
thing after Huldy went out How could he
have got in 2" said Mrs. Kittredge.
The deacon bowed his head upon his hands
and grosned.
ut couldn't be Of any great consequence,
Nehemiah, letter of Tidy Slooombs," fall
tered his wife. 'You don't think It's goln'
10 make great trouble r
The letter was in our keeping; We must
account for it, II nothing was ever said about
II, It would be our duty to tell just how II
was lost, +" said the deacon.
81 s'pose you're right" said his wife (as
she had said thousand times since their
wedding day.; "but it's hard II will look so
much as il meant TO open I'll Nehemiah,
you don't suppose they'll turn us out2"
The deacon walked the floor with great
strides.
1--WE shall have lost peoples trust; II 1 am
not turned out, / shall give up the office"
he kept back the reproaohes that rose to his
lips, but he walked into the sitting room and
closed the door behind him. He opened It
soon, however, and said in q gentler tone,
''LAviny, was going to tell you something
that heard about Saul"
The little woman hurried to him, her anx-
ious blue eyes overhowing at the mention Of
her sons name.
''The minister says this musical company
that Saul belongs TO is nothing like minstrel
troupe; he says it's respectable. He seemed