The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-02-12

ana Olu DeCllnuS was pclluillllS mo
nightly task of milking in the safe shell
ter of the COW stable, As it happened,
he was the first TO re-enter the house and
confront the little creatures, who were
still patiently waiting on the doorstep,
"Ah" said he, "Who be you?r
Were John and Catharine." said the |
girl 1--WE couldn't make any one hear.
Please, are you our Grandpa Black?'
The old man peered up the road.
"Stage gomez" said he,
Eyes, sir" Kitty answered, shivering.
oval. it stops at the tavern an hour to
change horses and give the passengers
their supper. You 60 arter tits only
half mile and tell the driver to take you
back on the night trip to where You
come from"
"Ain't we to stay hcre?" hesitated
Kitty.
"No,' said Decimus, you amt We
don't want no children here. Come,
start On-it'll be dark pretty soOn.h
And by way of terminating matters he
shut the door in their faces and went
back into the house with grim chuckle
"It's good thing Betsey wasn't here, =
said he to himself "She'd a-becn dead
sure to hev made fuss. Women hain't
no Judgment nor discretion
Half dozen rods down the road
Regina Whelplcy, the village schOolmis-
tress, came upon two forms crOuching
among the dead leaves in the angle of
the old stone wall.
"Mercy upon us!' said she, with lit
tie start. "WhO is this?''
And with tears and tribulatiUn the
children told their story.
Regina was tall, straight girl, with
eyes as black as coal, rosy color, and
true womanly heart,
sits a shame!" said she. ''Two little
helpless creatures like you! But every
one knows that when DeCimuas Black
makes up his mind there ail't no soften
ing him. Hush! there he goes now"
She drew the children back into the
shadow as the old man trudged past the
visor of his old fur cap pulled over his
eyes, his hands thrust down deep into
his pockets. All three drew long
| breath of relief when he was gone.
"LOok here" said king Regina. I'D
take you in myself If | had a home; but
have none, I'm only a country school
teacher, boarding around. One thing Is
very certain, though-you can't go any
farther tonight. I'm boarding my week
with your Grandma Black now. know
she'll let me take you into my room
there. and we can fix up some sort of
bed there for one night at least. Your
Grandma Black, she's human Christian
and not heather sphinXm setting her
| lips closely together. "COme, don't cry
any more little boy, I'll take care of
you"
Mrs. Blacks amaZement at the sight
of Miss Whelpley's leading a child by
either hand on her kitchen threshold
may easily be imagined. At the piteous
tale she burst into tears.
sob, Miss Regina said she, what
am to do? He says"
Never mind what he says" curly in
terrupted the girl. ave can't let these
two poor little creatures perish of cold
this bitter March night because he hasn't
any heart As to getting to the tavern
before the stage starts, they cannot do it,
And, after all, what would become of
them at the other end of the route? No,
Mrs. Black, we'll give 'em a good supper
of warm bread and milk, and fix 'em a
bed i'm nv room tonight. And if your
husband finds it out and scolds you, why
Won may Just tell him it was my fault,
I'm not afraid of HIM, if you are, And
tomorrow Wen consider what it is best
to do next"
Thus relieved to certain extent, of
the responsibility, old Mrs. Black set to
work with glad and plying heart to
warm and feed the two poor little chill
dred, and did not rest until she had seen
them snugly asleep on a floor bed IN the
corner of Reginas small apartment,
at don't seem Us II | could ever let
'em 90 again, Miss Whelpley," said the
old woman, wiping her spectacle-gla
''But you don't know what 1t is 10 be
married"
"No. don't" said Regina, laughing.
"But never mind, Mrs Black, two sweet
children like this will be sure to find a
home somewhere"
Old Decimus came home at the usual
hour from his chat at the village store.
Mrs. Black looked at him guilty rs
he entered.
"It's snowin'" said he; "snowin'
hard
us It, father2'
Eyes, where's the lantern?"
"What do you want the lantern forg''
Decimus Black wrlthed uneasily.
II stopped In at the tavern on my way
back" sain he, "and they told me the
stage went back empty"
ibid it father?' lin low voice.)
SAN feel sort of uneasy TO think
what can have become O them children,
unwillingly admitted the old man. ~
dare say fort, | can't get the look o that
boy outen my head. It's jes the way
John James used to look at me. John
James had dreadful pleasant eyes. Hell
me to a s'arch for the lantern, mother
| must 90 out and hunt the children up
! wish TO goodness I'd never sent EN-
away"
the stairs opened, Regina Whiplcy stood
there, with flushed checks aud shining
eyes.
"lf You really mean that. Mr.. Black,
said she, "PrOvidence has been kinder II
you than you had any right to expect
: Light the candle Mrs. Black, SHOW
i where the poor creatures arc, founC
4 them covering under stone fence Mr.
! Black. and brought them up here OF
my own responsibility. LookY'
She held the candle high above he
Q head. Old Decimus leaned forward, an6
/ for the first time In her life, Mrs. Blacl
saw a big tear splash down from his din
, eyes on the blue plaid covelet.
4 "Pm glad ont said he, I'm gla6
! on'tP It's bitter March night, and thu
g snow is falling as ! never knowed It t.
i fail afore in March, and IL them little
, ones bad pelished-"
Ills yglce broke down; he turned hi
face away.
/ 6Fatber." pleaded the old woman, com
/ inc close 10 him and putting one with
| cred hand appealingly on his arm, 1.-THE!
, NAV stay here, mayn't they?"
IYes. q he answered in a husky voice
sithev may stay here"