Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-23

| grew hbiltNhdJ IthtIllul anu obstinate IN
thinking about this injury that had not
been done him. Then sudden idea struck
him. He clambered over the fence and
carefully surveyed the carriage, particular
ly its wide back seat. A little farther up
the road on the opposite side, were pair
of eyes as earnestly surveying him. Het-
ty Nixon had ensconced herself in fence
corner, and was busily weaving some Of
the long grasses plucked from the meadow
behind her
Launce waited impatiently until she had
exhausted her supply and turned to gather
more then he hastily sprang into the car
riage, and raising the curtain crawled un-
der the seat and curled himself up there
He had only been there a minute or two,
not long enough TO decide where he wanted
TO go or whether he really wanted to 70
anywhere, when he heard the doctor re-
turning. and discovered that Miss Barbara
was with him
"Oh, dear ~ he commented as she was
assisted to the back seat. "Now it's like as
anyway she'll have some basket or bundle,
or something that she'll try to stuff under
here, and then
But Miss Barbara put whatever posses
sions she had quietly down beside her, and
then the doctor drove off. "What an easy
carriage this is ~ Miss Barbara settled
| htIStll COlllOEldDlS back TO enjoy Lne rlOe.
1T quite surprises me-
" 'Tain't so dreadful easy either, " thought
the concealed passenger He began to be
afraid that some sudden jolt might roll him
out of his hiding place, and surprise her
still more, so he twisted about little very
carefully, and found place by which to
hold on and keep himself in position, busy
ing his brain, meanwhile, in trying to dis
cover how he came to be riding there, and
where he was going. Presently a frag-
ment of conversation enlightened him
The doctor had called for her to stay a day
or two with one of his patients, who was
sadly in need of good nursing, and Miss
Barbara was usually ready for any such err
rands Of mercy, as the doctor gratefully ac-
! knowledged
1T did seem too bad to spoil your visit at
Mrs. Rodney's, though" he said ~
shouldn't have blamed you much if you had
| run away when you saw me coming
'No danger of my doing that answered
! Miss Barbara, with her low. quiet laugh.
81 never heard of anybody, from Jonah
down, that ever gained anything by trying
to run away from duty"
"Humph:' muttered Launce discomfort
edly.
what :" said Miss Barbara, little
startled
did you speak - asked the doctor, turn
ing around.
Each attributed Launce's exclamation to
the other, and he resolved to be on his guard.
1t was not altogether easy to keep silent
while the two above him chatted away so
costly, sometimes upon matters that inter
ested him not the least sometimes upon
subjects where he felt wonderfully anxious
to insert remark or ask a question His |
position was terribly cramped and uncom-
Portable, but he scarcely dared to move,
and indeed he would not better it much in |
such narrow quarters He could catch no |
glimpse of where they were going and the |
occasional admiration he heard bestowed |
upon the scenery seemed only aggravating |
"What a delightful breeze :" exclaimed |
Miss Barbara.
But no breath of it reached Launce, shut |
in by cushions and curtains, and with the |
perspiration streaming over his face he |
wished the doctor would hurry up his horse |
a little faster,
The doctor, however, was in no haste. |
His companion was a sensible little woman, |
pleasant to talk to- and, moreover, as she |
was about to be immured in a sick room for |
two or three days, he good -naturedly thought |
fine airing would be beneficial So he |
drove along very leisurely, enjoying the |
round about course that to the young pris-
oner, who could only groan inwardly, while |
every bone in his body grew more and more |
tired and aching, appeared interminable
What had possessed him to get under there,
he wondered. 1t seemed to him that he
might have walked to town half dozen
times while they had been dragging along
so slowly. He proved in part, too, the truth
of the old adage that Listeners hear no
good of themselves, ~ when the doctor, hap
pening to mention his name, carelessly add
ed that the only particular talent he had
was for having his own way, regardless of
other people. Gentle Miss Barbara inter
posed that she thought there was good in
the boy after all, if but the rough outside
was worn off
"Worn off ~ Guess it'll be smashed off
| if l have to stay iammed up here much
longer" muttered the object of criticism
rather GROSSLY to himself.
He didn't care what they said-of course
he ddn't-but he couldn't help thinking
about it, and his mind grew as uncomfort
able and ill at ease as his body.
Must be takin' Miss Barbara to sit up at
John OGroat's house, an be goin' to travel
on to the North Pole himself ~ he decided
in desperation
What would they say if he should crawl
out But no he wouldn't do that what
ever came of it, he fercely resolved, and
tried to fortify himself with his mothers
remark of the morning-''It's a long lane
that has no turning"
A turn in the lesurely driving came then
very unexpectedly. An unsteady scare
crow in a neighboring field yielded suddenly
to the light breeze, and fell over the fence
into the road, and in an instant the doctors
usually staid nag was bounding away with
fright Launce could not discern the cause
of the trouble he only felt the swift mo-
ton, heard Miss Barbara's half smothered
exclamation, and knew that the doctors
efforts to check the terrified animal were
| unavailing.
"Shall l jump ?" asked the bewldered
Miss Barbara.
"Not till l tell you, but be ready" was
the short, decided answer, and neither
spoke again.
For poor Launce there was no jumping,
no chance for him, he thought, aud he
pressed his lips together and clung tightly
to the back of the carriage. Jolted and
tumbled about he was, unable to see any.
thing, but feeling in his cramped, darkened
corner the fearful speed at which they were
going, and MON, utarily expecting that
terrible crash would end the mad race and
his existence together, Some strange fan
cies forced their way through his brain
just then, not of gold and gems, but odds
and ends from out the old despised work
common, neglected things, that it seemed TO
him would have been worth counting after
all, if they had been but well and truly
done
"Now !" said the doctor, suddenly ex-
erting all his strength upon the reins. And
Miss Barbara, ready at the word of COM
mand, sprang from her seat and landed by
the roadside in safety The horse dashed
forward and in an instant the carriage
struck sharply against the corner of an old
building Launce felt the shock, the sud
den stopping, and then a fitting 10 one side
Of the vehicle that made it very difficult
for him TO retain his position. He strove
hard to do it, however for voices assured
him that two or three men had gathered
about. He heard them discussing the acci-
dent-what a narrow escape it had been
for the two occupants and wondering that
the carriage had sustained no greater in
jury than a damaged shaft and one wheel
knocked off Then he overheard Miss Bar
baras voice, still little tremuous from
excitement, say
ooh don't be troubled about that 1t is
such a little way now, | can walk very
well. pll do what | can for her and af
ter all, l don't know but it's about as much
the way we do, as what we do, that tells.
Then the carriage was drawn off TO a
shop not far distant, aud the dizzy, excited,
half smothered boy grew nearly wild at
hearing the doctor coolly remark that he