Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-09-04


ing his hand upon his breast. "Who is
this man of thought and care, weary with
world wandering. and heavy with disap-
pointed hopes? The youth returns not, who
went forth so ioyously!
And now Ralph Cranfeld was at his
mothers gate. in front of the small house
where The old lady. with slender but Sutfi-
cient means, had kept herself comfortable
during her sons long absence. Admitting
himself within the enclosure he leaned
against great tree. tritling with his own
Impotence. as people often do in those in
tervals when years are summed into a
moment. He took a minute survey of the
dvelling.-its win lows. frightened with
the half Of a milestone for a step, and the
family traced path waving thence to the
gate. He made friends again with his
childhool's friend. the old tree against
which lac leaned and glancing is eye
adown its trunk. beheld something that
excited a melancholy smile. II was half
ohliterated inscription-thr Latin word
cfodc which he remembered to have
carved in the bark of the tree, with a whole
day toll. when he had first begun to muse
about his exalted destiny. 1t might be
accounted a rather singular coincidence g.,
that the bark. Just above the inscription,
had put forth an eNcreScence, shaped not
unlike a hand. with the foretinger pointing
obliquely at the word of fate. such. at
least. was its appearance in the dusky
light
Now a credulous man, said Ralph
Crautield carelessly to himself. Knight sup
pose that the treasure which | have sought
round the world lies buried, after all, at
the very door of my mothers dwelling.
That would be Jest indeed"
More he thought not about the matter:
for now the door was opened and an elder
" woman appeared on the threshold, peer
ing into the dusk to discover who it might
be that had intruded on her premises, and
was standing in the shadow of her tree.
1t was Ralph Crantield' mother. Pass We
over their greeting and leave the one to
her Joy and the other to his rest,-if quiet
rest be found.
But when morning broke. he arose with
a troubled brow: for his sleep and his
wakefulness had alike been full of dreams
All the feIvOr was rrkindlcd with which he
had burned of yore to unravel the threefod
mystery OF his fate. The crowd of his
early visions seemed to have awaited him
beneath his mothers roof. and thronged
riotously around TO welcome his return.
In the well-remcmbcred chamher-on the
pillow where his infancy had slumhered-
he had passed a wilder night than ever in
an Arab tent. or when he had repOsed his
head in the CHASTITY shadows OF a haunted
forest \ shadowy maid had stolen to his
bedside, and laid her finger on the scintil-
lating heart: "A hand of flame had glowed
amid the darkness. pointing downward TO
a mystery within the earth; a hoary sage
had waved his prophetic wand, and beck
Oned the dreamer onward TO a chair of
state. The same phantOms. though fainter
in the daylight. still fitted about the cot
tage. and mingled among the crowd OF
familiar faces that were drawn thither by
the news of Ralph Crantield return. to
bid him welcome for his mother sake.
There they found him. a tall. dark, stately
man. of foreign aspect, courteous in de-
meanor and mild of speech, yet with an
distracted eye. which seemed often 10 snatch
glance at the invisible.
Meantime the widow Crantield went
bustling about the house full of JOY
that she again had somebody to love. and
be careful OF, and for whom she might veX
and tease herself with the petty troubles of
daily life. Ii was nearly noon. when she
looked forth from the door. and described
three persOnages Of note coming along the
street, through the hot sunshine and the
masses of elm-tree shade. At length they
reached her gate, and undid the latch.
See. Ralph exclaimed she, with ma
ternal pride. here is Squire Hardwood
and the two other selectmen, coming on
purpose to see you. Now do tell them a
good long story about what you have seen
in foreign parts.
The foremost of the three visitors. Squire
Hardwood was very pompOus but eX-
cellent old gentleman, the head and prime
mover in all the affairs of the village. and
universally acknowledged to be one of the
sagest men on earth. He wore. according
to a fashion even then becoming antiquated.
a three-cornered hat and carried a silver
headed cane. the use of which seemed to
be rather for tlourishing in the air than for
assisting the progress of his legs. His two
companions were elderly and respectable
yeomen, who, retaining an ante-revolutiOn-
AIRY reverence for rank and hereditary
wealth, kept a little in the squire's rear.
AS they approached along the pathway,
Ralph Crantield sat in an oaken elbow-chair.
half unconsciously gazing at the three Wis
itors, and enveloping their homely figures
in the misty romance that pervaded his
mental world
Here" thought he. smiling at the con-
ceit,-'here come three elderly personages.
and the first of the three is a venerable
sage with a staff What if this embassy
should bring me the message of my fater'
While Squire Hardwood and his col
leagues entered, Ralph arose from his seat,
and advanced few steps to meet them: :
and his stately figure and dark countenance.
as he bent cOurteOuSlV towards his 0uasts
had natural dignity; contrasting well with
the busting importance of the squire. The
old gentleman. according to invariabe Gus
tom, gave an elaborate preliminary flourish
with his cane in the air. then removed his
three-comered hat in order TO wipe his
brow, and finally proceeded to make known
his Grand
My colleagues and myself" began the
squire, ''are burdened with momentous
duties. being Jointly seectmen of this vii
lage. Our minds, for the space of three
days past, have been laboriOusly bent on
the selection of a suitable person to fill a
most important office, and take upon him
self charge and rule, which, wisely con-
sidered may be ranked no lower than those
of kings and potentates. And whereas
you, our native townsman. are of GOOD
natural intellect and well cultivated by
foreign travel. and that certain vagaries
and fantasies of your youth are doubtless
long ago corrected, taking all these mat
tiers ! say, into due consideration. we are
of opinion that Providence hath sent you
hither, at this juncture, for our very pur-
pose"
During this harangue Cranfield gazed
tiXedly at the speaker, as if he beheld
sonnet hinU arip11E NJ L. a.