The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-24
advance of stamp for this all-impor-

advance of stamp for this all-impor-
tant letter.
Meditatively he looked at the envel-
ope, with the address scrawled in so
tremulous and Impractical hand that
he doubted much whether it would ever
reach its destination, and the words of
Jessie returned to his mind" She said
If you would read it you would know it
must go in haste"
1t seemed sufficient permission to
the kind thought in his heart, and, open
ing the awkardly sealed covering, Mr.
Higgins made out with difficulty the
words written, evidently, by hand
tremulous with emotion:
" l have just heard you were seen in
Rockport yesterday, looking for Jess
and me; it seems too good and wonder
full to be true, but / write at once to
say that we are here, and God grant
my letter may reach you in time. /
will write in haste , on it, and l will
pray day and night that God will make
it go quickly, for Jess and | are in such
need that unless you come to us soon
do not know what will become of u.s.
We have mourned for you so long as
dead that | can scarcely write now for
the beating of my heart at the thought
Of seeing you again.
Though Mr.. Higgins was often called
rough, cold man, yet there was GER
tainly strange moisture in his eyes as
he closed the letter. In a moment he
had taken in the whole situation
Jessie's father, then, was not dead, as
he had supposed, but had been sep
arated from his wife and child on that
terrible night, and had lost sight of
them. The sorrowing woman had lust
heard that he had been seeking those
who mourned him; but it was evident
that he was not long to remain at Rock
port What if this chance of reunion
should be lost? These words, " | will
pray night and day that God will make
my letter 90 quickly" and the wan,
anxious face of little Jess, rose together
before Mr.. lIuggins' mind, and with a
sudden movement he rose abruptly
saying, half aloud: "And my name is
not Higgins if it don't go quick, quicker
even than she thought"
Striding from the store, and locking
the door behind him, Mr.. IIuggins was
seen little later riding rapidly to the
nearest railroad station.
" want this telegram sent at once"
he said handing Slip of paper to the
clerk, on which was written:
"To John Carson Boat,nan's Tarern. Rock
port jess and ! are here: come at once,
and inquire at the Elkton store for the
house. MARY CARSON"
Rockport was only hundred miles
away, and Mr.. EIuggins cast many an
eXpectant glance next day along the
road leading from the station. And
sure enough, about half an hour after
the three O'Clock train had whistled, a
sun-burnt stranger. with eager, anxious
face, came down that road and hur-
riedly entered the store.
g Can any one tell me where Mary
Carson lives?' he asked nervously of
Mr. Higgins.
" Yes, my friend, and l will lead you
part of the way myself" answered the
proprietor, promptly, and without los
ing moment the two were soon in
sight of the little log cabin.
"That's the house," said Mr.. Hug
gins; you can easily find the rest of
the way alone" and with these words
he turned back, leaving the stranger to
hasten onward.
He heard the little dog give its quick,
yelping bark, and backward glance
showed him Jessie at the gate and the
mother standing with casped hands
motionless in the doorway; but this was
all, and you and Mr.. Higgins both will
have to imagine the rest of the story
SpIpcfpd