The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-10-20


and has tendency to melancholy. So
we save him unnecessary worry. 1t
would only distress him to know about
these things, and would do us no good"
Mr.. Lawrence replied to this in some
proper way and stayed and talked little
more with Mrs. Folger. But he hardly
knew what he was saying, and in a few
minutes he babe them goodnight
The walk had done him good. He
had come to clear understanding of
himself. He loved Molly Folger. He
could not think of anything she could
say which would make him stop loving
her. 1t was fact, which, as he dwelt
on it, swallowed and hid all other facts.
He looked at the stars and felt strong.
Feeling strong, he remembered that it
must be getting very late, and started
to 90 home. He noticed, as he went
through the village, that the lights
were all out, and thought, with little
CONSERVATION, that he should have to
get some of the family up to let him in.
He was just rejecting on this with
that earnestness with which even great
minds can contemplate such a subject,
when he saw smoke and flames burst
ing from the roof of Justin Howe's
barn. AT the same moment, a figure
advanced from behind the great horse
chestnut, stopped, and then crossed to
the other side of the road. 1t was
Philip Crawton.
Instantly young Lawrence was at the
back door, remembering that there was
bolt there he could easily wrench off,
and had aroused the family. Judith
was soon in the two little girls room,
dressed, and with her hair almost as
smooth as ever. The children, awak-
ened so suddenly to all this terror and
hurry, could not keep their teeth from
chattering, or stop crying. But Judith,
though pale, was quick and quiet, and
had them dressed, even to their over
shoes-for the nights in Enderly were
damp-before they knew it. "And now
I'll take you to the Folgers'."
BY this time the great church bell
had begun to ring, and as they went out
they found many persons already col
lected in the yard, with pals and lad
ders. Enderly East village had no fire
company, but it was full of friends,
who knew the Howes as well as they
knew their own children, who had had
many a good time in that barn, who had
often gathered round the old fireplace
in Justn's fathers time, and who were
not going to let the old house burn if
they could help it. The children, as
soon as they saw the flames, began TO
cry again. But when they were told
that the animals had been let out, and
Judith had repeated that the dear little
bossy was all safe, and had also eX-
pressed her belief that if their house
was burned they would have some
where else to live, they became more
cheerful, and by the time they had
reached Mrs. Folger's they considered
the whole affair great fun.
AT the Howes' the battle is going on
even more fiercely. Every minute the
flames mount higher and crackle more
loudly. Every minute more men and
women come. Nearly everybody who
can walk, and is not obliged to stay al
home with the babies or those who are
i'll, is there. The women are beginning
to carry from the house the lighter fur
niture, and to pack the smaller articles
in such ways as they can. Some of the
men are throwing water, with little
seeming effect, on the burning barn,
But others have determined to spend
all their strength on the house. II
they can only save that! But the sparks
are beginning to fly in all directions.
Royal Lawrence knows where there
are some old carpets in the attic-hC
heard Mrs. Howe speaking of them thu
other day. He has them, and climbs
from the attic to the roof, while below
they are discussing the best method o
protecting the house. The carpets arr
hung on the side nearest the barn ant
,, kept wet. Ladders are put up. Lon!
lines of men and boys hand water from
the nearest cisterns and wells. On tn,
roof it is growing hotter and hotter
, There are others there now beside Roy
al Lawrence, but he is nearest the fire
!, The sparks drop at his feet He dashe
water down and they go out in smoke
They are beginning to throw water OF
the roofs of the houses on each side, :
to say to each other, "It is well Their
is no wind; but if it would only rain!
, AS Lawrence stopped for pail h
had just seen Molly Folger cross tn
= brilliantly-lighted yard. Nobody SHOULD
{ ever know whom he had seen com
e from behind the trees. Nobody shoul
5 have chance to think what had com
to him before he had had time to re
I fuse it admittance. And more, the fir
f must be stopped. He shut his teet
o together, and was more like steel an
India rubber than ever. He though
+ of everything. He directed everybody
Four times the roof caught fire and fou
Y times he put it out. Meantime, the
e had been busy getting the furniture ou
: Mrs. Howe had secured the children
d baby hair and pictures. The boys ha
n saved their collections of birds egg
= Judith could think of nothing but he
books.
= Now the fire began to abate, and b,
n fore long it was evident that the hous
C was saved. BY this time everybod
:, who was not needed was glad to Q
e home.
II Miss Molly Folger was sitting on
n pile of dsmembered bedsieads in on
1t corner of the yard, when she saw Roy;
IS Lawrence coming toward her, putin
: on his coat as he came. He said, seen
e ing to know without looking CLOSELY
who it was: "My dear-Miss Molly,
- is very wrong for you to sit here in tn
n dampness with only that thin shawl"
ID The limp figure on the headboard vi
ID ibly stiffened and majestically ros
at But she was sitting perched on top
r, the pile, and, when she stepped forwal
la TO haY nnn,Yht anl cl