The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-17

criticism, not 10 say 0utsp0ken re-
proach But l fancied there was
touch of pity in Miss Prescott's voice
as she explained that her aunt and
some other good women of the town
had succeeded at last in breaking up
what had come to be little else than
low drinking place; and that set of
men, headed by this same Jock Bent,
had made all sorts of threats of ven
geance, which they were regarded as
capable of carrying out under the intlu-
ence of liquor. had stepped mo-
ment to the other side of the piazza,
and as l came back l heard my hostess
say, D." If l had dreamed he wasn't
temperate man | should never have
thought Of taking him."
The novel situation, together with the
strange sensation it had called up in
my mind, kept me from sleeping for an
hour or two after retiring. First my
honesty, then my patriotism, and finally
my temperance principles, had been
successfully called in question. Through
the low windows of my room, reaching
almost to the floor, could see in the
moonlight the garden and the stables
beyond. 1t would have been but a
SllSlll Jun w lllC SlOuhb, anu L hiu
almost made up my mind to dress and
explore the premises by moonlight
when fell into a heavy sleep. My
next impression was dull sense of
something wrong going on about me,
which at last ended in startled
awakening. Some one was evidently
forcing my window. There was enough
moonlight left to reveal a dark shape
near the floor, which seemed to be NOV
ing into the interior. AS l leaped to
my feet faint scream came from
above, and / was soon in grapple
with the intruder, which tested to the
utmost my college gymnastics and my
naturally robust frame. But at last l
conquered, and after balancing with my
antagonist over the sill for an instant of
doubtful issue, was enabled to eject him
into the garden below.
AS he staggered off, muttering and
cursing to himself, had no question but
that he was the recent object of my mis-
taken philanthropy. But sharp and
growing pain in my ankle diverted my
thoughts for the rest of the night, al
though l said nothing about it to Mrs.
Marchant when, few moments after
the encounter, she knocked at my door.
l answered her that everything was
perfectly safe, and begged her not to
let what had happened any further dis
turb the sleep of the household. Next
morning there were two reports given,
which emphatically put an end to fur
Their travel for week at least. Rob-
ert dropped in to tell me that Jeff's
lameness had become serious, while
! ho 1ootar chnnly bic had
sprain. The foot was to be propped
on pillow and kept there without any
unnecessary motion until further notice
You see how it is" l said to Mrs
Marchant, am your guest, whether
you will or no." But she would not
let me repine, and indeed her manner
and that of all the members of the
family had agreeably changed TOWARD
me over night. "You must not talk
that way" Miss Prescott said, wher
left to take charge of me in her aunt's
absence. /" You know we should al
have been murdered if it hadn't beer
for you"
l could only ask, with professional
impulse, if there was any clergyman il
the place, when Miss Prescott, who
was looking out of the window, eX
claimed, Yes, and there he is now
talking with Aunt Fanny, and l should
not be surprised if she sent him to you
You know she hasn't gotten over you
carrying that brandy around with you
and she is a great believer in minis
ters."
| There was something dreamy ant
! suggestive in her absorbed contempla
ton of the couple at the gate; and thel
she looked up suddenly and demanded
to know what / thought of ministers il
a way that recalled all my earlier scru
pies as to the propriety of concealin
? my identity.
! OF course l could only answer that
supposed all people were pretty muc
T agreed as to the usefulness of clergy
men as class.
T eyes," she persisted, as if their ne
. cessity were doubtful virtue; bu
E do you consider them as rule mani
y men? Do you think their life tends t
make them so? For instance, now,
6 you were woman, can you imagin
= yourself as marrying a Minister"
7 She was gone in an instant, as if III
II willing to trust herself any longer in a
n atmosphere favorable to confidence
She was evidently unwilling to meet th
;. young village clergyman, who was no
y approaching the house. A certain cd
2 fancy that came into my brain made m
!, glad to see and study him when he b,
v come my visitor. There was, howeve
V nothing unmanly in his appearance
r. and after Mr.. Foljambe had sat wit
k me an hour was sufficiently impresse
# with the simple, straightforward GOO
" sense of the man. But l could n,
Fl bring myself to tell him who and VIII
s. / was. Having begun in doubt
" course it seemed easiest to keep on.
l.
at Almost a week had passed, and l w
s, neither wholly free from pain nor alb
to walk without the aid of a crutc
N Mr.. Folambe had called often enoue
lie to establish very friendly relations, b
| had not yet found courage to intr
s. duce any uncertain element into Il
40 very agreeable situation by telling hi
who l was. l flattered myself l W
40 studying the profession from the oil
at side, when l was really only trying
of fathom the fancied understanding /
:" tween himself and Miss Prescott.
Id Jeff and / were finally pronounc
fit to travel, and it only remained
he make full explanation to my XII