Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-12-21


pigs, and chickens dropped the work they
had in hand and waited, breathless II
came up ont nf the great busy world and
swept down into it again--a perpetual mir
acle-eaving them in silence and solitude
Miss Dilly was always at her post by the
window to see il 20 by. The conductor
and engineer had learned 10 watch for the
wondering old baby face and often threw
TO her a little package of candy or a news
paper. Her heart thumped with terror
and delight as the wonderful thing rushed
past her. If she could only ride on the
cars once. only for mile This was the
one secret ambition of her life.
Sometimes, but very rarely, the train
was belated and stopped long enough for
the passengers to take supper. Then ex-
citement rose 10 fever height. Mrs Barr,
the girls, Preston even the colonel, were
busy in the kitchen, cooking and scoding
Sam. Miss Dilly, who could do nothing,
hurried TO the parlor in fresh apron and
handkerchiefs 1t was a stufIy little room
with plated rugs on the floor, chrome of
the death-bed Of Washington on the wall,
and a red hot stove in tho middle. But the
passengers who were waiting for supper,
to Miss Dilly's mind, were all dear good
folk who had come up from the world to
talk TO her awhile. She took the keenest
interest in them all nursed the babies,
pulled out some candy from her pocket for
the children, ran for drink for the tired
dusty women, or sat listening eagerly to
the talk Of the men, now and then asking
a timid question. And you really have
been at New York sab Dear me |
doan know what anybody thet has bin at
New Yohk wants to come to the mount
ings foh. No, | never Travelled. Much,
that is. | was once at Asheville, foh two
days. | reckon New Yohk is differint.
But Asheville is vehy large town, sab
You suhtinly ought to visit it,"
1t was singular to see how they all, wom-
en-, children and men, seemed to under
stand Miss Dlly at once, and treated her
with tender kind of respect. She usual
! ly felt quite intimate with them all before
the evening was over, and when they en-
tered the train and were swept out of sight
would stand looking after them, the tears
in her eyes.
The dear friends hardly come till they
go again, she would say to the girls.
One stormy night in winter the train
was delayed two hours beyond its time. A
child of one of the passengers had been
taken sick near Henry's; the train was
stopped, and a man who was said to have
considerable skill in physic was sent for.
two miles distant. The passengers waited
willingly. They were in no hurry no
| body IN Carolina was ever in a hurry in
those days. Everybody was anxious to
help the baby, and proposed his own favor
ite remedy, brandy being the most popular
There were only two men in the car who
did not join the group about the sick child
They sat side 10y side on back seat one
of them, a swarthy, middle-ag man, with
eyes like those Of a stupid aifectionate dog,
STOPPING forward, listening eagerly to its
moans and the advice Of the crowd
Poor little kid .' he said, earnestly. Il
reckon it's its head as is wrong. had a
boy once. He only lived to he seven. 1t
was the head as allied him The brain. sab.
Enormous Ef that little fellah had lived
he'd have made his mark in the world,
alongside Of Alick Stephens
Died at seven - said his companion
with an inarticulate murmur of sympathy.
well, sab Him thets above, He knows.
It's all foh the best
'Not foh me not foh me ~ with fierce
growl after which he was silent. Present
" he said Captain, | used to quiet my
boy a-strokin' of his temples Ef they'd
try it on the baby"
'Im very sorry, Mr.. Judson," said the
other man, with sudden gravity, tibet
cahnt let you try it yohself. But duty,
sah--"
81 didn't think of doin' it myself - ex-
claimed Judson angrily. "You don't sus-
pect me Of a trick Dye think I'm
sneak =
God forbid No, no, Mr.. Judson. l
know high toned gentleman when see
him. When Sheriff Roylston gave me this
commission he says Treat Mr. Judson as
a high toned gentleman. And as such |
reco'nized you. And as such treated you "
Judson made no answer, He had drop
ped back into his seat and pulled the wide
trimmed hat over his hrows
The child by this time was asleep the
passengers crept softly back to their places,
and the train was again in motion As. an
hour later, it rushed along through the
gathering twilight, Judson glanced out of
the windows from side to side with a terri
fed apprehension on his face
Isn't this the old Sewer plantation y
Yes. Consid'a able altered since the rail
way was laid
After few minutes Judson again broke
the silence. "Thah was house Jest be-
yond the Branch hyah. T used to belong
to family named-Holmes.
Yes Stations nigh thah now. Holmes
houses took as inn. Squire Barr's the pro
pretor, sab '
Any of the Homeses ivin' thah p ask
ed Judson in tone which made Captain
| Foulke turn and look at him curiously.
Miss Dilly. She resides with the Squire
Colonel James Holmes, he's gone out West
thataway. | hear as he's made a fortin
out thah So I've heered. | never knowed
| Colonel James myself | belong down in
the piny woods kentry. I've heered, though,
as he was powerful agreeable gentleman
/ Very free an friendly. The folks hyah-
bouts think heap of the colonel yet,
| though he's bin gone a good many year.
Do they = said Judson, with a queer
intonation.
Friend of yours, may be - asked the
| captain curiousy. Judson's back was
turned toward him he was staring out in
to the darkening fields. He did not answer
/ for a moment.
mo. He was no friend of mine, " he
/ said at last in tone which made Captain
/ Foulke keep silent He was the last man
in the world to annoy or suggest unpleas-
ant subjects to Mr., Judson, or any other
/ gentleman who was in difficulty.
The engine gave a shrek. The conduc-
tor, who had been dozing near the stove,
| got up, yawning.
Sewer Station, gentlemen, he suggested
mildly, Train stops hyah for supper"
The train ran humping along the track
and stopped The passengers rose and
made their way out leisurely. In the noise,
they did not hear an alteration that was
going on at the back of the car. Judson
had stitfened himself back in his seat
MY God | cahn't get out hyah Thah
. than are folks in thet house thet know
me- He painted for breath with sheer ter
a.
and the conductor stood over him anxious
ly, For the first time the conductor saw
that he was handcuffed,
Yes explained FOulke rapidly, in a
whisper, "Bringin him to Raleigh from
Tennessee, ON riquisition from governor to
stand his trial for manslaughter. Mr.. Jud-
son y raising his voice ''let me make you
acquainted with Captain Army Mr.. Jud-
son, he proceeded in hurried, deprecat-
ing tone, has come with me clar from the
Nantahela range, whah l-whah met
him, and has given me no trouble whatso-
ever, He has conducted himself like the
high toned gentleman which Sheriff Royl-
ston-"
II will make no trouble now, >" painted
Judson. "Ouly let me stay in the car.
Fob Gods sake, captain !"
The deputy sheriff and conductor ex
changed perplexed glances.
Come, come, Mr. Judson," said Army,
authortatively, Captain Foulke must have
his supper n somethin' warmin'. So must
you. See hyah now - wrapping the gray
shawl which was common in use among
men at that time about the prisoner so a;
TO conceal his arms, and pulling his hal
well over his brows "Yoh own wife
wouldn't know yoh, sab, Come now, You
can sit in the parlor if yoh doan keer t.
take supper, On yoh parole, sab.
Judson hesitated, looking through tn,
lighted windows of the inn with terrified
yet longing eye. Figures moved dimly
within
'Ill go, he said, starting forward "Il
sit thah. I'll not try to escape, SO help me
God