Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-06-22
Missing From Home.

timber-yards on its margin. Here
and there, street or so from the riv-
er, might have been seen stray po-
liceman. Save for his nomadic pres
ence, no human soul was within sight /
OF sound.
Stay Out on the dark dull waters
slight sound, as of oars, began
slowly and gradually to become dis
tinct.
Nearer and nearer, more and more
audible grew the sound, until the long
shadowy form of boat grew into the
gloomy curve of the bank.
Then out from the shelter of a pile
of wood came two figures, bearing in
their arms something muffied, yet
bearing a slight resemblance In shape
to the human form.
This freight was swiftly and silent
ly transferred to the occupant of the
boat, and the two men who had borne
it separated and passed quickly and
furtively through different streets to-
wards the centre of the city.
Away into the gloom of the shad
owy night and the sullen waters shot
the row boat.
For two hours this small craft made
its way up the river, the one oarsman
plying steadily on until he reached a
wooded section of the country, sever
al miles above the city.
In the midst of these woods stood
small hut, sufficiently removed from
the river to be obscured from view
among the sturdy brush, and the nat
ural undulations of the land. Into
this rude dwelling the boatman bore
the muffied burden which had been
left with him.
An odd-looking figure appeared at
the open doorway, and a disagreeable
visage encountered his own-an old
woman's, wizened and greedy-eyed.
"You arc late," she curtly observ-
ed. Il am tired"
"Doubtless so am 1, was the re-
joinder. SIT was long pull.
Before the blazing fire in the rough
fireplace stood a palatable repast.
To this the stranger set himself, and
with healthy appetite, soon demol-
ished the food set before him.
The old hag, seeming to under
stand what was expected of her, be-
gan to remove the wrapping from the
rigid form which he had hastily plac-
ed upon pile of blankets lying in
corner of the howell.
The face thus revealed was that of
young and handsome girl.
The stranger rose from the table
and advanced to the old woman's
side.
'sShe will doubtless come out of
this condition by day-dawn. Mean
time must be off. She cannot es-
cape. Damon will keep guard. In
order to keep the peace, when you
see indications of returning conscious
ness, make her drink this mixture.
It will quiet her again, and save
trouble; you underestimate"
The ugly old hag nodded, as tho
she understood, indeed, and the
young man (for his face and form
were youthful, though hardened ex-
preston had settled upon his counte-
nance) hastily left the miserable
abode, and after furtive glance
around, again entered the boat, and
rewed back to spot in the vicinity
of one of the town ferries, where,
choosing an obscure place, he landed,
and made his way back into the heart
Of the city.
Within a handsome residence in
the metropolis, at the hour when the
mysterious boatman started upon his
night excursion up the river, scene
of great apprehension and excitement
prevailed.
Instead of the atmosphere of repose
which usually pervaded the house
, hold at this hour, the servants were
up and stirring, the rooms were still
alight and the mistress of the house
paced back and forth within her
rooms, listening for the sound of the
, door-bell.
At last it came, and young man
in travelling array sprang up the
} stairs, two at a time, to his mothers s
room.
''Didn't think of your remaining
up for me, mother. 1t is very late. :"
ooh, Percy, | thought you would
never GOMEZ" cried the mother, sink
ing down upon couch near; "some-
E thing terrible has occurred, and l
knew not what to do until could
see you. Venette-you know how
willful she was-has run away, fear
. with young man, who, it seems, has
been surreptitiously meeting her. I
, sent for Estelle. the companion she
has recently associated with at Mad
am Gerard's, and l drew from her the
fact that they were in the habit of
meeting and walking part of the way
home with some young fellows to
whom they never received proper in
PRODUCTION, and | wrenched from Es-
telle the name of the one who has
been devoting himself to Venette.
Percy Holmes had sunk back into
a seat, white with fear at the news
his mother had impaired.
: A year previous to this time he had