Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-07-17

search, 10 be perplexed for eh,llings and
pence was cruel in the extreme
Haggard care gathered about his brow;
he went about with money seeking air,
his eyes bent downwartls into the dust.
and carrying his bands in his pockets, MS
men arc apt to do when they have moth
ing else to put into them. He could not
cven pass the city almshouAs without
giving it a rueful glance, as if destined
to he his future abode.
Tho strangeness Of his conduct and &C
his looks occasioned much speculation
and remark. For a long time he vas
suspected Of being crazy, and then every
body pitied him; at length it began to be
suspected that he was poor, and then
everybody avoided him.
The rich old burgers Of his acqusint-
auca net him outside OF the door when
he called, entertained him Hospitality on
the threshold, pressed him warmly by
the hand on parting, shook their heads
as he walked away, with the kind
hearted expression Of poor Wolfut,"
and turned corner nimbly, if by chance
they saw him approaching as they
walked the streets
Even the barber and cobbier Of the
neigh0urhood, and tattered tailor in an
| alley hard by, thrce Of tho poorest and
morriest rOgues in the world, Dyed him
with that abundant sympathy which
usually attends lack of means, and
there is not doubt but their pockets
would have boon ut his command, only
that they happened to be empty.
Thus everybody deserted the Weber
mansion. rs if poverty were contazious.
like the plague; everybody tut honest
Dirk Naldron, who still k spt up his
stolen lists TO the daughter aud indeed
seemed u wax more affectionate as the
fortunes Of his mistress were on tho
wanc.
Many months had elapsed since VOL
fert hid frequanted his old resort, the
rural inn. He was taking long lonely
walk ono Saturday afternoon, mustng
over his wants and dtsappointmaIrs.
when his feet took instinctivclv their
wOntcd direction, and on ava Sing Qua
Of a rcverie he found himself before the
door of the inn. For some moments
/ he hositated whether to enter, but
his heart yearned for companionship;
and where can q ruined man find
better colnpanionship .han at tavern
where there is neither sober example nor
sober advice to put him out Of counte-
nance?
Wolfort found several Of the old fire.
quenter5 Of the tavern at their usual
posts, and seated in their usual places;
but one was missing, tho great Ranlrn
Rapclve, who for many years bad tiled
the chair of state. His place was sup
piled 10y a stranger, who seemed, how.
ever, completely at homo in the chair
and the tavern. He was rather under
size, but deep chested, square and mus
/ Cular. His broad shoulders, double
joints and bow knees gave tokens Of
prodiciou5 strength. His face was dark
and weather beaten: a deep scar, as if
from the slash az y cutiar5, had almost
divided his nose aud made a cash in his
upper lip through which hi3 teeth shone
like bulldogs. a mass Of iron gray
hair gave a grizzly finish to his bard ia
vorcd visarc. His dress was of an am
/ pAbious character He wore an old hat
edged with furnished lace and cooked
in martial style, on one side Of his head;
a rusty blue military coat with brass but
tons and wide pair Of short petticcat
trousers, or, rather, breeches, tor they
were gathered up at the knees. He or,
dcrcl everybody about him with an au-
thoritative air; talked in a brattlinc
voice that sounded like the cracking Of
tlorn5 under a pot; damned tho land
lori and servants with perfect impunity,
AM was waited upon with greater obsc-
Quiousnoss than had ever been shown TO
tho mighty Ra1nm himself. Wolfert's
curiosity was awakened to know who
| and what was this stranger who
had thus usurped absolute sway in I, is
ancient domain. He could get nothing,
however but vague information. PcecLy
Prauw took him aside, into a remote
corner Of the hail, and there in an under
voice, and with great caution, impaired
10 him all that he knew ON the subject.
| The inn had been aroused several months
before, on a dark stormy night, by r.
raatol long shouts, that seemed like the
howiuss of wolf Thoy came from
Tho water side; and at length wore dis
| upEriehed Il be hailinS the house in the
| seafariug manner. "Housc-a-hoT,' Tho
landlord turned out with his head waiter,
tapsJer, hoster and errand bov-that is
to say. with his Old negro Cur On APP
preaching tho place from whence the
>oico proceeded, they found this am
phiJ;Ous looking parsonage at the waters
el-o, quite alone, AMI seated on a great
o9h,u ga chest, How lie Catae there,
whether ne had been set on shore