Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-01-12
Ned'S Sister.

of restless living. Even the rumble
of wagon served to mark more thar
to disturb, the silence that prevailed
At such sounds Aunt Narsy would
look up from her easy-chair and knit
ting and say:
"There's a team a-comin', Milly
Jane"
Then MilIy would go out to the lev
er bar in the piazza and appear tc
watch the coming wagon. But, tho
she moved lightly, her step and ges
lures seemed uncertain. In her mild
gray eyes was helpless, waverine
look that is only seen when those
. ''windows of the souP' are forever
closed.
For Milly Jane was blind. 1t must
not be thought that she was idle or
fretful, or helpless or sad. Her slen
der fingers, alive with the keenest
sense of touch, were very busy. There
was knitting, sewing, and general
homework.
The kitchen garden behind the
house was also part of her care.
Had her eyes really Toasted upon the
rich green of the growing plants she
would not have handled them with
greater nicely. 1t looked as if be-
tween the sharp hoe and the young
shoots a mutual trust and care were
exchanged, yet the source was in
Milly's heart that was tender towards
every living thing.
Aunt Narsy was fat and sluggish
Uucle Scion hardly ever stayed at
tina house. Thus it fell upon Milly
to attend the gate. But since the
building of the railroad travel had
decreased, until the task was easy
even for her.
The sound of the great wagons was
to the blind girl a never failing
source of interest. They came from
the great worlds strange, far-off life,
and they crept down into it again,
bringing noise and hustle a moment,
and leaving silence behind. She
never tired of listening to the stamp
ing horses, the rattling wheels, the
strange voices that marked each slow
passage. Even the long, white road
had it's unseen attraction. 1t stretch
ed from town to town-a great vein
in the worlds life, sweeping by, yet
barely touching her own.
When the teams would halt for
rest, Milly Jane took great interest
in the tired wayfarers, the more so if
families of "movers'' were along.
She would nurse the babies, bring
sweet cake for the children and water
for the mothers, and listen eagerly
to their talk.
One night, two men came in bug
gy and stopped for supper. One-a
mere youth-sat on the porch wrap
ped in a cloak, with his hat pulled |
over his eyes. The other talked to
Uncle Scion in the dining-room, but |
kept an eye upon the first, saying
that he himself was a constable and |
had the lad under arrest on quite a
serious charge.
He do declare, though, that he
amt guilty, but-bless e!-they |
usually all does that.
He'll eat bite, l reckon? asked |
Aunt Narsy, not wanting to see any
one 60 hungry.
Says he don't want nothing. l ask
ed him to come in, but he seem'd
BACKYARD nd l low I'd humor him.
Mebbe if you'd eat something,
you'd feel better, said Milly Jane, ap-
preaching him with cup of coffee
and biscuit.
No, he returned coldly, I'm obliged
to you, butt don't want anything.
There was lantern over the gate,
and its rays shone fully upon her
sightless eyes. AS she turned to go
back, the lad said interestingly:
Are you blind?
Something in his voice startled her
and she seemed to listen closely.
Then she smiled.
Yes-but / don't mind it. Every
body is so kind.
Did you always live here? he asked.
l was raised up in the Blue Ridge
under old Snowbird Mountain. But
after mother died, brother Ned went
away. Then Uncle Scion come and
took me away.
The boy uttered a groan.
I'm afraid you amt we'll, she said.
Do try and eat something.
No, I can't eat, he replied in low
tone. So you had brother Ned?
Yes-I was little then. Ned was
older, but he was such good brother.
She had turned her face, but he
saw tears in the gentle, unseeing
eyes. He muttered something and
strove to rise, but sank back again.
What's that? cried Milly Jane.
ask your pardon, but I thought
thought
How-what do you mean?
l don't know. Talkin' Of Ned set
me to fancyin' things, reckon. I'm
always a lookin, for him back.
Nd you can't see, said the lad in
a broken voice.
There's some things I can look for
'thout bein' able to see, she returned.
Do you reckon he'll ever Gomez"
I'm most sure on it. Uncle Scion