Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-03-12

Ruth was thinking, however, as she sat
in her window that night, looking down
the sleeping rca1 and listening to the
chirp of be!ated cricket.
She had heard a slight jarring sound
from the next room-her hosts; and heI
thoughts had flown Immediately to the
loose board and Mr.. Briscomb's inheri-
tance.
She sat motionless, with startled face
listening intently.
A soft step crept down the stairs
she heard it plainly; and the front door
opened with creak.
Ruth felt her heart beating fast and
her hands trembling; but she arose to her
feet and leaned far out of the window,
straining her eyes,
A tall form stepped softly to the
ground and made its way through the
yard with careful stealthy movement.
But at sight of it, Ruth gave al sigh of
relief and laughed softly to hersef.
She stood watching the proceedings of
the ghostly figure until it turned and
came toward the house-until the front
door closed softly, and the stairs creaked
under an ascending tread.
Curiosity, perplexity and amazement
had filled her face in turn, to be followed
by regretful pity.
''Poor man." she said to herself COM
passionately. 'It will worry him into
his grave, at this rate"
School closed, a week or 50 later, for
one of those untimcly vacations which
| district school committees are fond of
decrecing; and the surveyor drove Ruth
to the station-she was to go home for
the holidays.
These two had come to an understand
ing. Ruth wore a ring ON the proper
finger, and all their conversation of late
had been upon one subiect-which was,
upon how little young couple of ex-
tremely modest wants could safely start
out together.
They had not yet succeeded in bring
ing the probable amount within the mar
row limits of Horace's salary, although
their feats in this direction had been mar.
velous; but they had not dreamed of
losing courage.
81 shall begin cutting rags for carpets
as soon as I get home, said Ruth, cheer
fully, as the train came rumbling in
"Dear me! what will mother say?"
She shook her handkerchief from the
window as the train moved off, and
leaned forward to catch Horace's parting
words:
"l'll be here to meet you, of course"
With fhnf cf,n -, hnr
it was no wonder that, when she stepped
off the train, two weeks later, and looked
arou nd with an eager smile, the sight of
the de serted little station should have
filled her with something like dread.
Nobody was in sight except the station
master, and he was tipped back in chair
against the baggage-room door, half
asleep
Ruth walked to the edge of the plat
form, and looked anxiously up and down
the road. There was a cloud of dust in
the distance, and she watched it with a
lightened heart.
But the wagon which numbered up
slowly and stopped before her was not
Mr.. Briscomb's nor was the tall young
countryman who stepped out awkwardly,
the person she had hoped to see. She
recognized him as neighbor of Mr..
Briscomb, and her fears returned.
Going down to Briscomb's, amt
yOul' said the young man, hesitatingly.
"Want to ride4 can take you down as
well as not"
Ruth climbed into the wagon silently.
Why had Horace not Gomez Something
must be wrong.
''Heard about that surveyor fellow?"
her companion observed, as they drove
away, and he looked at her sympathetci-
cally.
"About what" said Ruth, clutching
tho edge of her high seat, tremblingly.
''lt was the day after school let out, -"
said the young man, obviously divided
between pity for her distress and his en-
joyment of telling startling story.
'Briscomb went to mill that day, and
the surveyor (BennetD he went out to
Crawford; he said he wanted to telegraph
to the railroad company about something
or other. Well, when Briscomb got back
you know he had lot of money willed
to him lately?-well, he got to thinking
about that money, and he went to see if
it was all right. He kept it up in his
room, under the floor, with trunk over
it. Well, the money was gone? The
trunk was just as he'd left it, but the
money wasn't there"
He paused to note the effect of this an
nouncement, and stared at his compan-
ion in astonishment.
For there was something like amuse-
ment in her face.
"Well," she said, calmly, "rWhat did
he do2"
Gle told the neighbors about it. If
you'll believe it, he hadn't thought of
suspecting anybody of taking it; he al
ways was good-natured. He thought it
must have been rats that carried it off.
But we thought right away of that
surveyor, and when we found out
that Briscomb had been simple
enough to tell him where he
kept it, we was pretty sure it was him
that took it. So we went out to Craw-
ford--two or three of us--and got out a
warrant and arrested him. We didn't
expect to find the money on him, of
course; and it wasn't. But there amt a
doubt but what he's got it somewhere.
Anyhow, he's having his trial now, out
to Crawford, and the chances are all
against him. We do things up quick
out this way" he concluded, with an air
of satisfaction
Truly, this little school teacher was a
strange person. The amusement had
died out of her face, and profound in
dignation had filled it.
She grasped his arm eagerly.
''He did not take it," she said, scorn-
fully. II know where it is this minute.
You must drive me out to Crawford i'm