Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-24


nahby gulraw, and after all the others round
about had finished their cachnnatory tribute
it wound up with what was between II roar
and the lazy dronc of h bagpipc.
1t now rewarded Nels IIathaway's irony,
and the rest of the loungers joined in. En-
couragcd, NoS continued, as its last echoes
died away:
Eyes, he's just as spry and peart as any
body He seems to have recovered entirely
from all his wounds none of EN- have dis
fingered him any, and his nerves have got
over their terrible strain
Tim ran promptly through al the notes in
his diapaSon, and the rest joined in on the
middle register
aid give six bits Hathaway said, ''to
know how the meeting between him and
Rachel Bond passes Off. He's gone up to the
house The boys seen him, all dressed up in
his best But his Gncry and his rcrfumcd
handkerchief won't count anything with her,
| can tell YOU. She comes Of ,htinG stock,
if ever woman did. This Bonds and iIar-
ringtons-hcr mothers pcop"-ar" game
breeds. both OF 'enI, and stand right ON their
record every time. She'll have precious lit
tie traffic with "A white fcathercd fellow. |
think She, been preparing for him the coolest
shoulder any young feiler in Sardis has got
for many IA long day
There was nothing very funny in this
speech but "a good dead of risible matter had
accumulated in Tins diaphragm during its
delivery which he had to get rid of, and he
did.
Harry had heard enough. while Tins
laugh yet resoundcd he walked away I'M
notice 4, and taking n roundabout course
gained his room. There he remained week,
hardly coming down to his meals 1t was
terrible week to him, for every waking hour
of it he walked through the valley of humi-
iaton, and drank the bitter waters of shame.
The joints of his hitherto impenetrahle
anuor of scli-couccit had been so pierced by
the fine rupicr thrusts of Rachels ,corn that
it fell from linn under the coarse pounding Of
The village loungcrs and left him naked and
dcfer~,leNs to their blows. Every nerve and
sens, uchcd with acute pain. He now felt all
OF his fathers humiliation, all his mothers
qucrulous sorrow, all his betrotheds an
gui,h and ahaSement
Thoughts of suicide, and of flying to some
part of the country where he was entirely
unknown, crowded upon him necessarily.
But with that pervcrsitv that nature seem
ingly delights in, there had arisen in hi, heart
since he had lost her such love for Rachel
Bond as made life without her, or without
her esteem even, seem Valucless To 20 into
a strange part of the country and begin life
anew would bc to give her up forever, and
this he could not DO. 1t would be much pref
cradle to die demonstrating that he was i'll
some degree worthy of her. And n latent
manly pride awakened and came to hi, assist
ancc. He could not be the son Of his proud
iron-willrd father without some transmission
of that sire : courageous qualities. lie formed
his resolutions: He would stay in Sardis and
recover his honor where he had lost it,
At the end of the week he heard the drums
beat, the cannon fire and the people cheer
The company had come home, and was
marching proudly down the street to a well
| come as enthusiastic as if its members were
bron2cd veterans returning VIGOROUSLY from
a campaign that had lasted for years.
His mother told him the next day that the
company had decided to rc-culi,t for three
| years or during the war. and that n meeting
would be held that evening to carry the in
tention into execution. When the evening
came Harry walked into tine town hall,
dressed as carefully as he had prepared him
self for hi, visit to Rachel He found the
whole company assembled there, the mem
hers smoking, chatting with their friends and
rccountiug to almring hearers the wonder
'"l cNl''l ii'' Hl'N H''i G"He UH'H-H' Inc
enlistment papers were being prepared and
som" OF Tn boys VINO mad not been examined
during the day were undergoing the surgeon 5
Inspection IN an adjoining ROOM
Harry was coldly received by everybody
and WINGED little under this contrast with
the attentions that all the others were given.
AT last n. the papers and rolls seemed to
be signed and there was "A lUll in the pro-
'ecdIhgS. Harry rose from ms seat, AS if to
address the meeting. Instantly all was silence
and attention.
"Comfades, he said, i'll firm, even voice,
81 have come to say to You that feel that |
made mistake during our term OF service
and want to apologize to You for my con
duct then. More than this, | want to redeem
myself. want TO 20 with you again and
have another chance To-
He was Interrupted by an enthusiastic
shout from them all
"IIurrah Bully for Lieut.. Glen. OF
course we'll give you another show Come