Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-01-22

~Hc@u Va uo ano must Dc Dack by day
light.
As the spirited horses dashed away
over the moonlit road with Arthur
nestled between Brace and Uncle
Phin on the single seat Of the
wagon, the boy learned how it hap
pened that his friend had been induced
to aid them in their fight. Uncle Phin
had gone directly to him two nights be-
fore, and reused his Indignation by de-
scribing the unhappy life his young
charge was leading, and how much he
suffered at the hands of Mrs. Dustin and
her children. Then he told Brace OF
Dalecourt, and gave him to understand
that Colonel Dale was ready to receive
his grandson with open arms, whenever
he should go 60 him.
The kind-hearted young fellow, enter
tanning sincere regard for the little
chap who had recently rendered him so
great service, readily agreed to plan
that promised so much Of good to the
boy, and willingly consented to assist
him and Uncle Phin to make start on
their journey. He devoted two whole
days to the task of preparing for it, and
did so much more than Uncle Phin had
dared ask or hope for, as to win the old
mans everlasting gratitude and render
the first stage of their journey compare
lively easy
For some time Arthur enjoyed
the exciting night ride over the
steep mountain roads. across deep
valleys, and through forests, all
bathed in the glorious. unclouded moon
light. He did not ask whittier he was
being taken. Nestled warmly between
his two best friends, he felt perfectly
safe and happy. He knew that they
would do what was best for him, and the
very mystery and uncertainty attending
this part Of the journey had lent it a
fascination. At length his. weary head
nodded, the heavy eyelids. closed, and,
sound asleep, he was unconscious of his
surroundings until the horses stopped
and he awoke to find himself being
lifted from the wagon.
There was CLEAN of moonlit water
in his eyes, and as he dimly realized
that he was on the bank of river.
strong arms bore him into the cabin of
queer-lool1ing craft that lay moored to
the forest trees. Here the boy was
gently laid down and was vaguely con-
scious that Brace Barlow was bidding
him goodbye. when the sleepy eyelids
again closed and the child passed on into
dreamland.
The young man stood looking at the
sleeping boy for q full minute. As be
did so he said. softly: Dear little char
hate to have you go away and to think
l may never see you again. But | sup
pose it's the best thing to be done or /
wouldn't have lifted a hand to help it
along. ! only hope it viii come out all
right, and that you'll have a happier
life in the place you're going to than you
ever could have had here. God bless
you.''
1t was benediction as well as the
farewell of one brave soul to another.
AS he uttered it the young man slipped
bank bill between two pages of the
book the boy had clasped so closely, but
which had now fallen from his hands.
.'It's little enough" he said to him.
self as he turned away. "but it's all I've
got, and may be it will help him out of
a fix some time" Then he went out to
assist Uncle Phin, who was casting off
the fastenings of the boat and Prepar-
ing to push it from the shore.
In another minute the clumsy little
craft had swung clear of the bank and
was moving slowly down stream, in tho
shadow Of the great trees that grew
- tla v,o&ar,c adra Rraca Rarlou
watched it until it became a part OF
the shadows, and he could no longer dis
tinguish the white-headed figure bend
ing over the long sweep. that was made
to do duty as a steering oar, or rudder.
Then he again mounted the seat a his
light wagon, and started on his long
homeward drive. feeling more lonely
than he had ever felt in all his life.
The craft on which the old man and
the sleeping boy were now slowly
drifting down the broad. moonlit stream,
was tiny house-boat, such as are COM
mon on all American rivers. 1t had
fioated down, empty and ownerless,
with the high waters of the preceding
spring. and had stranded. and had been
left by the receding flood. at the point
where Uncle Phin discovered it some
weeks before. 1t was small, fiat-bot-
toned scow. on which was built low
house, ten feet long and six wide. This
house contained but a single room; and
beyond it. at either end, the deck of the
scow projected about four feet. At each
end of the house was a door, and on
each side a square hole or window that