Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-04-11


been suffered to consume without inter
ruption, nay, had 1t not been Tor the gar
LIANT assistance of her old crony, Peter de
Groodt. the worthy dame and her cat
might have shared the fate of their habi-
tation.
AS it was she had been overcome with
fright and affection, and lay i'll in body
and sick ct heart The public, however,
had showed her its wonted kindness.
The furniture Of her rich neighbors being,
as far as possible. rescued from the
flames. themselves duly and ceremoni-
ously visited and condoled with on the
injury of their property. and their ladies'
commiseratcd on the agitation OF their
nerves; the public, at length, began to
rccollect something about poor Dame
! Heyliger. She forthwith became again
q subject of universal sympathy: every
| body pitied more than ever, and II pity
could but have been coined into cash
good Lord! how rich she would have beenl
1t was now determined, in good earn
est, that something ought TO lie done for
her without delay. The dominic. there
fore, put up prayers for her on Sunday,
in which all the congregation joined
most heartily. Even Cotu3 Groesbcck,
the alderman, and Mynhecr Millodcllar,
/ The great Dutch merchant. stood up in
their pews. and did not spare their voices
on the occasion; and it was thought tho
| prayers of such great men could not but
| have their due weight. DR.. Knipper-
heusen, too. visited her professionally,
and gave her abundance Of cdvico
gratis, and was universally lauded for
his charity As TO her old friend. Peter
de Groodt, lie was poor man, whose
pity and prayers and cdvicc could be Of
but little avail. 80 he gave her all that
was in his powcr-he gave her shelter.
To the humble dwelling of Peter dc
Groodt. then. did Dolph turn his stepo.
On his way tliithor, he recalled ell The
tenderness and kindness Of his cimple
hearted parent. her indulgence Of his err
ror8. her blindness to his faults; and then
he bethought himself of his own idle,
harum-ecaium life. i've been o cad
scapcgrace." said Dolph. shaking his
head Gorrowfully. I've Eeen u complete
einli pocket, that's the truth Of itl-But,
added he triskly. and clasping his hands,
''only 1T her livc-only let her live-and
I'll show myself Indeed q sonr'
AS Dolph approached the house, he
met Peter dc Groodt coming out of it.
The old man started back aghcst. doubt
ing whether it was not ghost that stood
before him. 1t being bright daylight,
however, Peter soon rlucked up heart.
satisfied that 10 ghost dare show his face
in ouch clear sunshine. Dolph now
learned fe)m the worthy sexton the con-
sternation and rurlor TO which his mys-
FERROUS disappearance had given rise. 1t
had been universally believed that he
had been spirited away by those hobgob-
lin gentry that infested the haunted
house: and old Abraham Vandozer, who
lived by the great buttonwood trees, at
the three mile stone, affirmed, that he
had heard terrible noise in the air. a9
he was going home late ct night, which
seemed Just as if flight Of wild geese
were overhead. passing off towards tho
northward The haunted house was, in
consequence. looked upon with ten times
more awe than ever; nobody would ven
ture TO pass a night in it for the world,
and even the doctor had ceased TO mako |
his expeditions 10 it in the daytime.
1t required some preparation before |
Dolph'B return could be made known TO |
his mother, the poor eoul having be- |
walled him as lost and her spirits hav-
ing been sorely broken down by u num- |
Der of comforteTs, who daily chcercd her |
W III EAoliNt VI i.tlNNl1s anu vi ittOltlf
ried away bv the devil He found her |
confined to her bed. with the other men,
Der of the Heyligcr family, the good |
dame's cat, purring beside her, but sadly |
singed, and utterly despoiled of those |
which were the glory of her
The poor woman threw
her arms about Dolph's neck. my boyl /
my boylar thou still alivcy" For q time
she seemed TO have forgotten all her
losses and troubles. in her joy ct his re-
turn. Even the sage grimalkin showed
eigns Of joy OF the return of
the youngster. She saw, perhaps. that
they we're a forlorn and undone family.
and felt touch Of that kindliness which
fellow sufferers only know. But. in
truth. cats are q slandcrcd people; they
have more affection in them than the
world commonly gives them credit for.
The good danes eyes glistened cs she
saw one being. at least. beside herself,
re- oiced ct her con's return. lib knows
.hee! poor dumb least" said she. smooth-
ing doxn the notified coat Of her favor
tic; then rccollccting herself. with a
shake Of the head "Ah. my
poor Dolph!" exclaimed she. thy mother
an help thee no longcrl She can no
onger help herself! What viii become
Of thee, my poor boyy
Mother, said Dolph. don't talk in
hat strain; I've been too long a charge
upon you; it's now my part to take care
IF you in your old days. Come! bc Of
good heart! you, and /, and lib, will all
zee better days. I'm here. you see.
Young, and sound. and hearty; then
lon't let US despair. | dare cay things
will all. somehow. turn cut for the lest"
While this scene WIS going on with
he Heyliger family. the news was car
led to DR.. knipperhauson of the safe
.eturn of his disciple. The little doctor
scarcely knew whether to rejoice or be
iorry ct the tidings He was happy ct
having the foul reports which had pre-
rallied concerning his country mansion
hus disproved, but he grievcd at having
lis disciple, of whom he had supposed
himself fairly discncumbercd. thus
drifting back. heavy charge upon his
lands. While he was balancing between [
hese two feelings, he was determined I
~ the counsels of Frau ilsy. who i'd |