Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-11

81 am almost man, father" he said,
after he had made his request. land |
want You TO trust me now. as you have
always done IN small matters. ! can't
tell you about il now. but am doing
nothing wrong. am only helping a
poor fellow in great trouble. know
my mother would wish me to do it.
Il don't doubt the excellence of your
intentions. * II. said his father. You
can be trusted, know; bat are you sure
your heart has net the better Of your
head in this matter. and viii get You
into some scrape:"
Il give vou my werd Of honor, sir
That in my circumstances | believe yon
would do just what / wish 10 do"
Then here are your papers. and re
member it is the commander of the fort
as well as your father who trusts you.
/ Every leaf in the old cottonwood on
the bank seemed to culver as Will
started on his lonely trip. The green
band of light above the horizon had
/ quite died away, and the river seemed
blacker than the night. Things which
We're plain enough by daylight appeared
mysterious and fearful now. and every
huge black shadow around the boat
seemed to contain an enemy.
Ii was not pleasant TO think Of the
sunken snags an unfamiliar oarsman
might encounter, nor was that CHASTITY
bend Just above. where the encroaching
1 river cut far into the old cemetery, a
cheering recollection.
81 viii not think Of itr' he said. at
must be nearly time for Inc to turn
across to the Towhead The current
may carry me down little. but | would
rather pull for it than stay on this side
and get the horrorsr'
His sharp. short whistle was answered
by figure leaping aboard before the
sl1iff had fairly touched the shore.
81 knew you would come, the young
man said. AT dark Nina put light in
my window just as she used TO when
was out late on the river, and knew
you had been there. Before we go any
further tell me the name of the person
am trusting myself 70.
"The trusting is not entirely on your
side, Prescott. Do you know what it
means when ten you my name is Den
ningy'
1T means that if play the rascal it
would be worse for you to have helped
me than for any one else. ses and
appreciate it,"
"The only way in which | can settle
it with my conscience il to consider you
my prisoner ON parole while you are in
side the lines, and see you safely outside
before leave you"
How about your pickett"
Fortunately for you he is mp at the
old sawmill. He saw me, hailed me, and
got the password as went mp Lie low
now as we go by. He knows me and
will merely wonder what am about.
As they were swinging inshore by
raft Of decaying logs a suppressed voice
called to them:
Joint It's Fred, and it's all right
You slip off here and cut for the side
gate Harry is there and Nina"
Now. Prescott" said VIII, Its 10
o'clock and give you until midnight.
Goodby."
1t was a long walk. VIII never for
got those two hours alone on the great
river at night All sorts Of doubts and
misgiyin.s came crowding into his mind
as he listened to the mysterious noises
Of the night and the river A bright
constellation which he had watched at
home seemed like the visit Of friend,
as it came wheeling into sight over the
hill. 1t cheered him not a little, but it
was marching westward rapidly before
the paroled prisoner returned.
"Nina's cedar skiff is just here" Pres
colt explained, as he came ont promptly
ON time. 1T is loaded with all need
for my journey. She has planned for
everything, and you need only go half
way with me, Denning Your duty will
be done then. Strike directly across.
and miss your picket. We can make
the Towhead by hard pull ON the other
side-at least | can"
At daylight viii was in his fathers
room again.
rs it all right, WIZ
"All right, father. and am not sorry
| went"
The talk of the town found the COM
mandant's boys intimacy with the Pres
colts nine days wonder, and scoffed |
not little at the Prescott boys But |
the intimacy continued, to the secret |
amazement of Colonel Denning, and in
after years ripened into the friendship /
of lifetime. Mary Stewart in Youths
Companion.
The Dumb Restaurateur.
Some years ago | was stopping in a