Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-01-02

bling with vigorous blood. Her skin
wore the marbled whiteness of per-
feet health-her lips were red, her
eyes like brown velvet. Prom under
Jaunty red cap two lustrous chestnut
braids fell upon her shoulders, and
swept her hips with their raveled tips.
''ltescued by me from the grave
here she standsl" cried old Hagan-
ga living proof of what my elixir can
do. Every one Of You may be as hand
some. Two bottles warranted to re-
juyenate the cuticle and the cults !;
three, to transmogrify the figure ac-
cording to this Hebe's pattern;
four"
But the crowd had ceased to listen;
it could only cape and stare. From
some unseen scabbard the girl drew Il
sword, like a flash of silver fire, and
whirling il around her head, began to
cut and thrust with the dexterity of a
fencing-master.
Her slender, erect body quiyered
with flexible muscles, all set in sudden
motion. Under the snow of her skin
appeared faint rose flush. She smiled
to herself, as though the exercise was
both familiar and dear. The cleft air
Missed TO the sharp passage of the
blade, and the naked arm of the girl
looked like white lightning as she
lunged and parted with some invis-
lille antagonist, and made her cuts
with rapidity that took the breath.
Upward, downward, darted the blue
point of the weapon. The spectators
drew back little, feeling the penetra-
ting steel in their eyeballs. Electric
flashes filled the air. The gathering
darkness seemed gashed and ripped in
hundred places by that streak of
colorless flame, leaping in the girls
slender hand.
Presently old Hagan gave signal
for the sword-exercise to cease. The
crowd broke into loud applause-aIl
save the sick gentleman at the carriage
window. His pale face put OH look
of high displeasurc.
..Jacobs!" he called to his coach
man, "hcre is a banknote; give it to that
wretched old charlatan, and tell him
if he does not instantly cover the girl,
and take her under proper shelter,
will have him arrested for cruelty to
animalsl"
The servant pushed into the crowd,
and moment after returned and
scrambled on his box.
81 told him, sir" he said.
"Drive on ~ commanded the gentle
man, sharply, and the carriage rolled
away down the street, and vanished in
the gathering night.
On the platform the sword disap-
peared in its sheath, and old Hagan's
ILLUSTRATION proceeded to hide her
naked arms and tinsel gown under her
long cloak. Some bottles of elixir
were passed down to the crowd, and
corresponding number of dollars found
their way to IIagan's Happy pocket.
The receipts were not large. Plainly
a Christmas-eve, with the thermometer
approaching zero, was not favorable
time for the sale of patent-mediciHe
The crowd ebbed from the platform,
and dispersed in the street. llagan
gathered up his bottles, and said TO the
girl: "Come along, Esther!" and the
pair trudged off across the bare, bleak
common.
Her red Turkish slippers were now
thrust into ugly overshoes, and Esther
walked as if foot-sore and weary.
Even the holiday splendor of the little
shops failed to arrest her notice.
'eDaddyl" she groaned, ''l'm awful
~ cold and very hungry!n
''Hold up, grill" he answered, not
unkindly. II know of Il public-house
near by--we'll stop there. You shall
have a cup of tea. and I'll comfort my
self with a glass of today"
They found the house and turned |
into il. Old lIagan sal down before a
fire TO count his receipts.
Lets not go out again Tonight, !
daddy!" pleaded the girl. people
win not buy the elixir on Christmas
eve, and snow is beginning TO fall"
They could hear the soft rush of |
flakes against the window. In the
the wind howled like wolf.
..Come, now" said lIagan, sus-
piciously, ..youve been only month
on the road, Esther; and hanged if |
don't think you're a-growing sick of il
already Y.
She flung out her arms with tragic
gesture.
81 am, daddy ami" she ac-
in heart-broken voice.
ITO tramp all day. hungry and cold,
from town TO town--to be stared at by
strange eyes-it is very hard And
oh. daddy, it kills me TO remember how
happy once was
clark !" interrupted IIagan. "Thcrv
is somebody at the door"
lie went forward in answer to a
sharp knock. Into the room pranced
The coachman whom both had seen on
The village common.
al felt sure that | should tina you
here began the man. ..My master.