The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-21
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE.

IDan he hau Planned?
Fred Boykt Lad been in Auckland fol-
three years, being the New Zealand agent
for a New York linn. He had been expect.
ing TO return at the end Of the third year.
October came, and though three months yet
remained, he was both surprised and pleased
to receive an order from the firm for him to
return at once.
Up 10 this time the novelty of being in a
strange land, the Importance he felt in the
work being done, and the pleasantnesS OF
the social life, prevented even a shauo" OIL
Inconsistencies from disturbing MN.
But. on the sudden Relation Of an early
retain. little village in the Vermont hills
seemed to show itself with surprising dis
tinctnesS, and a snug little house seemed to
stand out more plainly than any other. 1t
was the scene of his childhood. lie lad
never left it more than month at time
until when, three years before, he had babe
goOd-by to his parents TO start on what then
seemed journey of indefinite length.
With these thoughts now presenting them
selves sovivid y, the few days that remained
at New Z-aland seemed more agonzing and
interminable than any he b ID ever spent.
The time was more than filed with little
odds and ends Of business and a host of
good-by calls.
Soon Fred found himself on the broad
Pacific. journeying toward San Francisco.
Owing to the SuddenncsS Of lis departure it
had been useless 10 write home of the
change OF plan; and. instead of cabling,
Fred thought it would be a good joke to
surprise them all by arriving unexpectedly.
The steamer, however, did not hasten
across the Pac nc. Some Of the machinery
was disabled by heavy storm that drove
the vessel out of his course. This necessi-
tated a stop at the Sandwich Islands TO do
some repairing. and two weeks later than
was expected the Golden Gate was entered
Six DAYS more We're us d in crossing the
continent and on 4 cool morning late 10 De-
cember Fred arrived in New York.
thousand times during this long and
wears me journey had he pictured 10 him-
sell his return. sometimes he thought he
would arrive in the early morning and sud
denly drop in upon the family at breakfast
Again and again lie pictured to himself the
happy but astOulshed expressions on the
faces Of his father, mother ami little sisters
Sometimes 1t was at noon that he would
arrive, and unceTemOniouSly walk in white
tie family was at dinner. This plan did not
suit very well. In going through the village
street many old friends would be met, who
would delay him when he was fastening to
see MS mother once more, and also possibly
q
On the whole, the evening seemed the best.
In the dai kneSS he could pass unrecOgniZad
through the village. and reach the house m
DELAYED. Arrived there. he could enter the
family circle around the pleasant fireplace
m the sitting room, and spend the rest Of
the evening quietly at home. If he arrived
during The day, the house would soon he
crowded with friends eager to see him. and
the first few moments with his parents cOuld
not be enjoyed alone.
Ga arriving in New York, Fred went i'm
med lately to the firm to report. Mr. Clair
voy, the senior partner, was out of town,
ana would not return until later in the
day. Fred must wait. The trip had seemed
long enough, but now to sit down and wait,
no one knew for how long, was absolutely
cruel There was nothing 10 do, so he sat
down, and alternately consulted his watch
and looked at the door through which Mr..
ClalryOy must come to enter his private
Office. Every time the outer door was
opened he could not help going to see if the
absent senior partner was entering Each
time for four hours he was disappointed.
At last Nh ClairyOy returned and after the
business at hand had been transacted, Fred
fastened to the Grand Central station.
in planning his return, Fred had paid
little attention to the time OF arrival of
trains. On reaching the station he found
that the frsttTan he could take would reach
the much thought OF village at y that night
Several hours delay would be caused by
waiting for the train that arrived in the
morning. THIS delay would surely be the
last straw, and could not be endured.
He therefore took the first train. This
would really be much more of a surprise
than any OF the others. He knew that his
parents were sound SleeperS. He knew also
how the house could he entered at night
/ VIII crawl in quietly, spend the re-
malnder OF the night in my room, and come
down 10 breakfast with the rest"
Slow IL the afternoon ma sSpd Tho
beeStiy supper, TYPICAL Of all New England
railroad restaurants, was served in a dirty
little station. The evening passed more
slowly than the afternoon. At last when
sleep threatened to become master of the
situation, he ordered his berth made up and
soon turned in, strictly charging the porter
10 wake him in Il 40 o'clock.
In tie midst If pleasant dream of an in
Dc scrlbable mixture If things, lar foreign to
the thoughts that were uppermost in his
anna when awake, he was rudeIy aroused
A dark, woody head with two bright, shin
ing eyes, peered In between the curtains.
and q Voice said:
"Quarter of twelb, sahi Bleeb you wanted
to be woke al quarter of twelb. sab"
week OF sleeping-car life prepares one
1or ANYTHING, and without taking an extra
doze, Fred immediately dressed. neither
pumping his head nor putting his right font
into the left shoe -0O'
- AS usual the train was late, and it was
Il: ~ before 1t stopped by the small station
Vi the SiuinOerlng village. A very sleepy
laIiIaad ohcial, surprised that any one
Shouid leave the train at that unreasonable
houT, stood waiting upon the platform
Fred iett his trunk in the care of this man
and with his valise in his hand started To-
tween this and the station.
The night was beautiful. The moon.
Slightly on ;he wane, re-enfolced by count
less stars, made the snOw-covered ground
Iesplendent for miles around. A good path
had been trampied in the road, making
waldng comparatively easy.
Three years had made no difference in the
quiet village. All the old landmarks re-
mained und'stGrbed. The houses with Which
he had been familiar all his life were il
their accustcmed places. unchanged. In one
nelu, lor years unused, stood a modern Queen
Anne cottage. In no less than ten letters
from friends at home had this been accu.
ratt.y described, for it was the only houss
Ihat mad been built since his departnre
me oid white church stood out. hideous in
It's piainness, with its CHASTITY spire pointing
toward heaven. The town hall. with ite
row OF half-snawed horse-posts coated with
ice, and the town pump, kept free by per.
petual use. were as natural as ever, and
numerous other familiar objects brought
back pleasant memories and recollectiOns.
Not soul was moving. The stiffness was
broken only by the occasional bark of dos
in some distant farmhouse, or the subdued
moo of cow, disturbed possibly by q
draught through some neglected crack. Ii
was with feeling of unspeakable happi
ness That Fred tramped along over the
slippery ground. How much longer seemed
the mile tonight than in the DAYS of hi
childhood. when with his companions he
Jagged along to the district school.
AT last the old homestead was reached
Dark and still 1t stood as if deserted. M
friendly light, no friendly sound, to welcome
nome the traveller. His mother and father
sept within, little dreaming that at thai
moment their son stood outside the gate
NOW to enter the house unheard, Every
door was bolted and barred, for although in
me country, there were too many valuable
Things In the house to permit Of any risk
Delns run. Nevertheless, with all the care
mat was taken, there was one weak point
known, however, to the family alone. Rv
the use OF knife blade from the outside ;
catch ON one of the dniug-room wlpdow,
could be easily unfastened. 1t was one o,
those little things about the house that baG
needed attention for years. 1t had beeI
neglected, as all things are when it is every.
b1dy's business to have them repaired
The crust of the snow in the yard seemed
to snap with unusual noise as Fred carefully