The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-17
Selected Storp.
A Bad Samaritan.

and for some time had been Valnly
living to get back into sight of the
er. But the country through which
vas passing was wooded and lone
ne, and no one appeared to give me
b desired information. Added to
is, night was approaching, and my
rse had begun to show signs of lame
SIS. My physician-he was also one
nv parishioners-had been RESPONSE
for this Ito me) novel method of taxi
summer vacation. Nothing
tier for you minister's" he had
unseled, ethan to trust yourselves
impulse occasionally and cultivate
ontaneity OF course l shouldn't OBJ
ct to your mapping out a course be-
rehand, if you like, but by all means
y no attention to it after you have
ce begun your journey. Go where
er necessity or fancy takes you"
| was dwelling on his well-remem-
red words and my unintended fulfill
ent of this advice when suddenly
reaks of light broke through the trees
front, and Jeff, quickening his pace,
on brought me to the brow of steep
ovation overlooking a beautiful Yer
ont valley. A well-shaded village
bstled in its midst, and just as the
n was going down we entered its
oad main street, and l accosted the
st man we met with inquiries relative
a hotel.
None here" was the rather ungra-
GUS reply. elf that is what you
ant you'll have to 90 farther"
f" But can't" fastened to say" and
rely there must be some one here who
willing to give me shelter for the
ight."
There's plenty that ought to-mainly
hem that shut up the hotel. There
the widow woman, her name is Mar
liant, whose house you see down the
bad piece; she ought to put you up
br one night" AS / thanked him
nd turned to drive away, / could not
clip remarking the mans seedy and
lmost desperate appearance. An inn
Mise of gratitude and sympathy
rompted me to throw him coin, which
e did not Immediately pick up, but
TODD an instant leering at it, till sud
enly, in what seemed to be a spasm of
he cramp, he fell against the fence.
he sight of his features, contorted with
lain, caused me to leap to the ground
Ind produce the flask of brandy which
ny good doctor had forced upon me for
asses of sudden sickness. Taking the
bottle, the man Strengthened up with an
Expression of relief, and, somewhat to
by surprise, coolly put it into his pocket,
laying that it would keep him from
having another attack, and assuring me
hat Jock Bent never went back on the
nan who once did him good turn.
But / soon forgot my doubts as to
he wisdom of my philanthropy at the
bight of the house to which l had been
directed. 1t was altogether too COM
Portable, not to say luxurious, to sug-
pest the favor which l was about to ask
bf its unsuspecting inhabitants. But
here was no help for it. The lady
bf the house sat on the piazza and,
Bummoning all my courage, with the
modest and deferential air of a man
who knows that he is out of place, l APP
preached and propounded my query.
The lady's scrutiny had not been very
reassuring, and l felt that l was being
looked at as an unwarranted intruder.
But told my story, and stood up as
best / could under the counter-question
which she uttered, with a startling frank
ness /" Are you honest?" The doubt
which it suggested was not familiar
one and was conscious of embarrass
ment in answering it. you look as Il
YOU might be-" she deliberated, though
not without an element of lingering dis
trust; g but the times are so unsettled.
Ny thanks indicated the genuine
feeling of relief which her words gave
me, which feeling was still further aug
mented by her confessing that perhaps
she ought to take me in, under the cir
cumstances. If you could only tel
me who and what you were now" bu
she hesitated to say any more, while
at once took up the point:
OF what use would it be? If
wanted to deceive you l could claim t.
be anything l liked, even a minister o
the gospel. Indeed, that is the yer,
course an imposter would take.'
ooh dear,'' she sighed, " that wa
what half hoped you rould say. !
would have so simplifed matters. But
am going to trust you, any way, and yo
can drive your horse round for Robert t
take care Of"
Ichoked down little guilty feeling
and reasoned that had right to carr
out my original intention and see tn
country on my own merits as man
Why should be obliged to obtrude M
profession and appeal to the ''cloth' an
more than any other man in a simila
situation? After supper my hostess too
me out upon the piazza again to NEE
the other members of the family. The
consisted of her daughter, Amy, gi
of sixteen, and her niece, Miss Pres
colt, a visitor from New York. M
name having been given and acknow
edged, Mrs. Marchant asked, "Wh;
does Robert say about the lamenes
Mr.. Cadwallader ~
"He thinks Jeff has been overdrive
of late, and the extent of the troub
will show itself in the morning."
"That reminds me-" remarked Mr.
Marchant, "you haven't told me WI
sent you to my house"
A very questionable character, wi
said, somewhat as you did yourself, tn
as you had caused the shutting up
the hotel you ought to be hospitable
The impudent fellow ! Who cou
it have been ?"
"The name escapes me, although
spoke it, but | shall never forget b
expression when l handed him t
brandy"
"You can't mean Jock Bent, G.
Won ?n cried Miss Prescott, half risil