The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-19

81 knewl l guessed 1 put two and
two together, and l know more about
the old man than the rest of the peo-
pie; and do you know, if you will let
me say it, think you haven't treated
him right"
The woman flushed and looked at
the boy angrily.
"Don't get mad about it," he advised
her, in friendly way. 81 mind my
business. What you two people want
to do is to make up and stop all this"
He paused with judicial air.
How did you know all this?" the
woman asked. "Does Mr.. Griswold
make a confidant Of his oflice-boy?"
Swipesey was all dignity then: "You
are mistaken there. He never said
word to me about it. l don't know
very much about it, only l have put
two and two together. l remember,
about six months ago, when he bought
the paper, that one day some one was
in the office and asked him about you.
He all at once became very cool, and
said, in an uneasy way, that you were
in Californy for your health. And one
day | was cleaning up his desk, and
found picture there-your picture. L
put it back where found it; and one
night, when had to come to the Office
with some copy to leave for the COM
positors to begin on in the morning,
found him in the dark at his desk, sit
ting there and crying, with the picture
in his hand. He didn't know | saw
him, but 1 did, just the same. And
that's why | am sorry for him; | had
never seen a man cry before. And
when he's cross and hard with US peo-
pie about the office, | know that he
amt really that way, but that the pain
drives him to it, and he is trying to for
get about everything"
The ofice-boy told all this in a grave
manner, and his quietness evidently
impressed itself on the woman in his
favor, for she said nothing and allowed
him to go on.
Sometimes | would see in the other
papers that Mrs. Griswold, wife Of
Editor Griswold, of the BriggSville
Bugle, is in Santa Barbara for her
health and then you would be in
Tacoma and all sorts of places; but he
never spoke of you in his paper, and
you never came here. l have heard
talk, too, of quarrel you two had,
ard-of course l have-have surmised
that something was wrong. l don't
know what separated you, or why you
left him, or he you, and it isn't any
of my business; but now you have
come back to him, hope you will stay
with him."
The woman looked at Swipesey's in
telligent, freckled face, and saw the
brightness of his small gray eyes. She
was impressed with his red hair and
snub-ncse. And she humored him by
asking, " Is that what you would advise
me to do?'
Certainly" answered the boy,
without hesitation. THAT'S what l
would advise you to do"
But suppose he wants me to come
more than half way? Suppose, after
all, he doesn't want me to stay?"
"That's all right. I'll fix that. |
can manage it. He's been waiting for
you along time, / guess, but he's too
proud to tell you to come back to him.
He's upstairs now writing a letter,
and "-here Swipesey looked at her
brightly" think it is to you. Some
times he has started letters, which I
have found in the waste basket torn
or partly burned, beginning, My
dearest wife, but | don't think lie has
ever sent them. However, that is
none of my business. But to-day what
do you think he did? He sent every
body home in order to be alone that he
might write. 1t was nothing con-
nected with the paper, | know, for the
copy is all in. l think he is writing to
you upstairs to come back, and he
doesn't know you are here already"
eff he will only say he is wrong, and
ask my forgiveness, the woman NUT
tered, looking out of the window at the
patteiing rain. Then she started up,
seemingly unaware of the boys pres
ence. But | mustn't ask too much
| was in the wrong as much as he"
"Now | tell you what to do" said
Swipesey, with eagerness. elf you
put this into my hands, Wen fix it up
all right" His eyes shone, and he
took few steps forward, with his small
hands clasped together and his face
raised hopefully toward the woman.
" You let me 90 up stairs and sort of
prepare him. l'll not say who wants
10 see MIN, put III Just give him a hint.
And then you go up and surprise him;
and if you look at him and smile, and
if you tell him you are sorry, don't
think he would send you away; now, do
your"
The woman looked down at the lad,
and smiled sadly at him. She could
not help being amused at his eagerness
to help her and the lonely man up
stairs.
He seemed to divine what she was
thinking of, for he said, son, you
mustn't think am dipping my finger
into something that amt my business,
for l should like to hear him laugh as
he did long time ago; and besides, it
is not right for two people to be apart
the way you and him are"
The woman laughed nervously. 81
don't think you had better NEEDLE,
after all,' she said. "You may be a
very bright boy, but it might make him
angry to think | had allowed"
=" never set up to be bright" said
SWineseV in an iniured tono IEJf