The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-17

thief, through Canlock lane. For
now it would not even let him sleep,
tired as he was after his hard days
work.
And the young man passed restless,
wakeful night. Conscience had been
awakened as from trance. If mother
was at home he would 90 to her and
confess all, just as he had always done
after any wrong-doing when little lad
at school.
He arose at daybreak and hurriedly
left the house. Rena called after him
to know where he was going, but he
did not answer. He was going back to
Canlock's, and he could not tell her that
he wanted to know if faithful Major
was really dead. He earnestly hoped
that the poison had not done its dreadful
work, after all. And on he went, taking
long strides through the still sleeping
village. The Canlock farm was just
upon its edge, and he slackened his pace
on approaching it. The house was still
closed, so it would be perfectly safe
to reconnoiter. He stole up to the
broad, old-fashioned door on tiptoe, and
there, on the step below, he found his
great hunk of poisoned meat, Just as he
had left III And Major, evidently, had
neither touched nor tasted it, for he
came bounding up from the barn with
an interrogatory yelp. And at that
very moment out stepped Spence Can
lock-
Why, Frazer Bain " he cried, cor
daily, Pm glad to see you, and that's
fact. Come for your mother, sup
pose? Sister Rose has had a good
night, and she'll be all right in day or
two. Guess you've heard how Major
saved her life! Hello, what's this?"
his foot striking against the meat on
the doorstep. cit looks as though
Major has been stealing, doesn't it?
for some one is minus roast. Here,
Major, boy, give an account of your
self | hate to accuse such brave
fellow, but circumstances are against
you!"
And then Frazer Balm found cour-
age to step forward. "Spence Can
lock-" he said, huskily, 81 put that
meat there early last EVENING""
You'll"
eyes"
What for?"
"To poison Major"
The dickens you did
81 wanted to get even"
Because / shot Grip"
eyes"
But 1 explained dozen times that
it was an accident"
And never believed it until this
morning. l thought the meat had
killed Major, and came over, hoping
against hope that it hadn't"
1t was a mean, contemplate act"
6" know it, but if it hadn't been for
bit of text learned long ago, I'd
be glorying in it yet"
And we will cry quits, after all, and
be friends again. Frazer, I've found
bird dog for you that is even better than
poor Grip"
81 wouldn't take it,"
"You will have to, Baip, so shake
hands, and We'll go in to the folks.
Your mother is just getting ready to go
home. She'll be glad of an escort, even
if you didn't just intend it,
"But, Spence, l am not fit to cross
your doorstep"
Fudge! Others are of a different
opinion. Come right in"
You forgive me, Spencer"
Freely and fully, and I'll soon for
get it, too" Then he lifted the latch
and they passed in together.
Why, Frazerl" exclaimed Mrs.
Balm. I" 1t was kind of you to come
after me! Little Rose is better, and so
we will go home at once. Rena is not
in?n
No, mother"
She wondered why his tone was so
strangely low and faltering. But it
was not until after breakfast that he
told her the whole miserable story.
Mother" Frazer Balm finished,
gravely, never again will | recon-
pense to any man evil for evilp'-ltrS.
Fndley Braden, in the Presbyterian.