The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-26

ness and sympathy in his bright eyes
which there was no resisting.
"How much l would like to bring
John dowry-a little one !" she said
softly. "I-I expect to marry him, you
know. And he is only clerk; we shall
need it dreadfully."
The lightning rod man was silent.
I'm afraid have bored you," said
Jenny, compunctiously; land it is quite
absurd to have told you at ALL"
II am glad you have" said Mr.. Dob
bin with kind smile.
but have hindered you," said Jen-
ny, rising hastily. "Of course you want
ed TO be at work."
mot at ALL" Mr.. Dobbin rejoined
"or-that is, think will come to-mor.
row, If 1t will be quite the same"
He picked up his carpet-bag and of
fered cordial hand ,and Jenny watched
him to the gate with smiling eyes. He
really was very nice for lightning rod
man. .r..- ..
Tom was home early that night, and
Jenny met him at the door.
"Mr. Dobbin came, she said brightly
"And shall never believe you again
he isn't such talker at all"
"He isn't?" said Tom amazedly. "He
was asleep, then, or temporarily insane
"Pm afraid, come to think Of it, thai
l didn't give him a chance" said Jenny
"You must have been hard at it u
keep Dobbin quiet |" Tom calculated
"What were you talking about ?"
"Uncle Philo," Jenny replied. 90
don't know how came to; but h'
seemed such a nice little man and &c
sympathetic" -,
Little |" cried Tom. "Dobbin littlel'
"Well, not TALL" Jenny protested
"And then he is older than father. Hi
hair is quite gray, and l didn't mind
"Gray Dobbin's hair !" said Tom.
He looked at his sister in alarm, a.
though he suspected her Of having takeI
leave Of her senses.
There was a sudden knock at the door
and Jenny opened it, A very tall ant
very lanky man, with a shock Of brigh
red hair, looked in affably.
"I'm little late you see" he observed
noddiug to Tom; "but better late thai
never, you'll find in this case. You'll
never regret, sir, having invested in al
, article which no honest citizen, valuinl
his life and the lives of his family, cal
, afford to be without. And for neatness
durability and unfaiing efficacy, thes
rods of mine can't be beaten. Why, sir
only last week, they saved family o
, fourteen from total destruction. Their
isn't particle of doubt but what If m
; rods hadn't been on that house that fam
. iIy would have been"
Z Jenny turned To her brother in be
i. wilderment.
Don't talk, eh p said Tom, is an UT
amused undertone.
: The red-haired man, perceiving tina
Q he was not heard, disappeared, smiling
4 ly, around the corner OF the house, cor
8 tinuing the account Of the rescue OF th
r family of fourteen under his breath.
i "Is that the lightning rod man ?" sai
e Jenny anxiously.
!. Tom nodded.
I The same dreadful suspicion came int
q the mind of both.
Uncle Philo |" said Jenny family
Gould it have been Uncle Philor An
e l told him everything ~ How dreat
o full =
"Dreadful?" said Tom with uDfeelin
4 mirth. 81 consider it extremely jolly
8 He knows our opinion Of him, anywa,
o and now let him do his worst"
d Uncle Philo's worst was vast SUI
o prise to everybody.
q Tom came home, week or 80 late
holding a thin letter, and handed it
d his sister.
n From Dalton" he said, solemnly. :
e don't dare to have you open it.: I
l. course its the formal notice OF Unc
Philo's proceedings against you"
4 Perhaps there was remembrance
IS a kind look in a certain pair OF shaT
J. little eyes in Jenny's mind. At any raj
she tore open the envelope bravely.
s 1t contained merely two slips OF pap'
3 -one check representing a sum whic
a it took four figures to express; the othe
It half sheet of note paper, with nv
!. words written upon il
b "Your dowry-from Uncle Philo."
And the will was never contested =
h Emma A, ODDer,