Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-08-04
A Frozen Heart.

1.-TWO children J" said Decimu
Black, "Coming here l won't hav
em-and there's the end of it,
Mr.. Black stood on the red-bric
hearth in front of the big wood-fre
, in an attitude of the intensest ami
mostly, an open letter in his hand,
frown on his rugged face.
Mrs Black paused in her occupa
ton of stocking mending-a paine,
expression passed over her toiI-worl
lineaments.
''But they are your own sons chill
dren, Decimus, she pleaded. "Ant
their grandma on their mothers sid
is dead, and there amt no one t.
care for 'em at Hills Hollow
''Well, 1 can't help that" retorteo
the old man, setting his yellow teetf
together. "Do the Hills Hollow
folks think l keep free tavern?
don't like children. | never did
When John James married and had
a family he didn't consult me-and
amt going to support 'em | want
that clearly understood. AT my age
I can't have children racketing about
the house. | brought up John James
and Esther Anne-and that's all that
can be expected of me p
Mrs. Blacks countenance fell. In
her secret mind she had all the morn
ing been planning what room John
James orphans should have, how she
would unpack sundry toys that she
had kept in chest in the garrett
sole relics of the only child she ever
had had-for their behoof. and what
CLEAN of sunshine their presence
would bring into the silent dreary
house. They were no kith or kin of
her, being the children of Decimus'
first wife, yet her heart warmed to
them with longing tenderness.
est seems most pity" said she,
"not to-
"We won't argery the question no
furder," said Black, sharply; 81
amt goin' to hev'em here-and that's
the long and short of it,
''But father, they're on the way
here already!''
"Then they'll hev to be on the
way back, that's all, afore they're
twenty-four hours older
And Decimus Black went out.
Five minutes later the ring of his
axe at the wood-pile, sharp and sud-
den, gave the key note of his mood
of stern resolve.
sis this the house, Kitty" said
little Johnnie Black, as the stage
driver helped him out of the creaking
old vehicle.-''Does grandpa live
here? Oh, dear, I'm so cold !"
The sister, mite of ten, stood on
tiptoe to sound the knocker, while
little Johnnie chung to her, with one
hand on the tattered carpet sack that
contained their earthly stores.
CANT there no one there?" falter-
ed he.
81 don't know" said Kitty, "I'll
knock again"
Still no answer came. Mrs. Black
was out feeding chickens in the barn
yard, and old Decimus was perform
ing his nightly task of milking, in
the safe shelter of the constable.
AS it happened, he was the first to
re-enter the house and confront the
creatures, who were still patiently
waiting on the doorstep.
"Eh p said he. "Who be you?"
s'We're John and Catherine" said
the girl. owe couldn't make any
one hear. Please, are you our Grand
pa Black?'
The old man peered up the road.
"Stage gomez" said he.
eyes, sir," answering Kitty shiv-
ering.
"Wal, it stops at the tavern an
hour to change bosses and give the
their supper. You go
arter Tits only half mile-and |
tell the driver to take you back on
the night trip to where you came
from"
"Ain't we to stay here?" hesita-
ted Kitty.
"No," said Decimus, "you ain t.
We don't want no children here.
Come, start on-it'll soon be dark
And by way of terminating matters
he shut the door in their faces and
went into the house with a grim
chuckle.
"It's good thing Betsey wasn't
here" said he to himself. "She'd
been dead sure to hev made a fuss.
Women hain't no judgment nor dis
cretion."
Half dozen rods down the road
Regina Whelpley, the village school
mistress, came upon two forms
;rouching among the dead leaves in
,he angle of the old stone wall.
''Mercy upon us!' she said with
4 little start. 'Who is this
And with tears and tribulation the
children told their story,
Regina was tall, straight girl,
with eyes as black as Goals, rosy
color, and true, womanly heart.
s'It's a shame !'' said she. 'sTwo
little helpless creatures like you
But every one knows that when DEG
mus Black makes up his mind there