Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-18

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s.a.d feet were never failing source OF
Joy to their oWnpr-'Why not send word to
h.m 80 stay pv"y>'
Incrclyv several seconds of pregnant
siipaco. Then Coiou-l Bliss, The landlord
Of The hostrlry of that uaHc, laid one
1ugoi ca the Table with SOME emphasis.
"My mis-Gid"d an innelccnt young ten
dcroot" snid he improssivcly, "air you
acquainted with tn subject of this hSar
con- 'r'Hcc:"
Wy. yes" responded Toosty wonder
uGlv
80, reckon sc aint-nothin o tn sort,
y sc wouldn't pcrposc no sech fool trick as
yc done jess now. Tn gent a. goes t make
any seCh s'ccstipn & Mister Holmes had
better prepare hi,-cf fer tn wor' t. come
m tn ble evcrlastin. Wy, boy, Phil
holmes II send i'm cloud chasin an be
back hyar wayia tn red rag o defy plumb
in our faces fore tn Teller had his talk
haiT did. Dyou want t go, my whiskcl-
less young fiend?'
Ioot~y pondcred; he hated to be thought
wanting ia nerve, but finally wited. and
requested the barkoepei to give the gentle
men what they wanted.
The next day is a red letter mark in the
history of Adamsville. Several of us
were sitting On the steps in front of the
Hotel Bliss, still discussing Phil Holmes,
when the mail carrier from W CodTuf
came along say, you fellers," be sang
out, II spose We heered bout TIL weddin
in high s8sSety over T. Woodruff"
We hadn't, and were curious to learn,
"W'y, Phil Holmes an Spanish Dick
Yves hitchod las night, Jedge Bowker
oGiciatin.'
ljut this was not the end of the matter
When the stage from down the gulcll stop
ped at the Hotel Bliss at noon there was
another sensation of high degree Instead
of the usual cargo Of seasoned mountain
GERS there was a Wonan-not only that,
but the woman was of kind we had not
Eazcd upon for many day--a lady! Not
only lady, but u very pretty one and she
had child, little curly headed tot of
four or five, with her. Will Borden, the
manager OF the Lady Alice mine, was sit
ting next to me, and heard him draw his
breath sharply. Then-there WAS nobody
belonging to the house about--he rose,
lifted his hat and advanced to assist her
with her baggage, which courtesy was &C
ceptod with a smile that made every man
Jack of US long to knecl down and worship
the newcomer
They eurercd the office" a little in
closure just of the barroom, and we could
hear them talking. although we could not
distinguish a word, Then Borden called
to me and Went in. The lady was stand
ing by chair and her face wore an anx-
ious expression, which was very near tears.
Borden looked puzzled.
Lawrence" he asked, do you remem-
Der any one here by the name of Phil IIar-
mon? Tbs lady is his wife and is seek,
ing him. He was here up to nearly two
years ago oUt she has not heard from MN
since"
did remember such man, holding as
dld the exalted position OF postmaster.
remembered that Phil Holmes sometimes
EoC lei teEs under that name, but that was
his own altar. | looked at Borden mo
ment, trying to convey with my eyes Ii
possible the information possessed but
OF course TINS EFFORT was ia lure. Then
asked Mrs. Harmon to descrlhe him, whlch
she dld. saw ilend!sh, murderous light
come INTO borden eyes There were few
SECONDS OF painful silence. Then Borden
spoke;
Madam, lido remember him now,
Out
"Please tell me at once, sir. Is he
dead" she asked quietly.
I'm sorry to say, madam, that-he is"
faltercd Borden, lie died of heart fail
ule last year.
She did not cry. In fact, | thought she
looked relieved, as if a great load of doubt
and sorrow had been lifted from her mind.
excused myself and went down to the
Office.
In about an hour Borden entered and
sisniicd that he wanted to see me in pri-
Nate, We withdrew to corner. There
was set expression about his eyes and