St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-12-07

on to Harrodsburg, and laid off to
stop IN and tell you some ones Twin
IN the old log house down on the
river. | knowed it was Shaker
property, and | jedged you'd want
to know. M vile she see smoke
comm from the chimney, and she
he'd me climb up the bank to see who
was living there. l could raise no
one. But m wife she says she see
woman sneak throo the bushes up
there with passel of fagots. /
didn't know but you'd want to hear
il any one was Twin in one of your
houses and stealth your timber.
Me and m wife we're always glad
to do the Shakers a good turn"
| One OF the Shaker women uttered
an exclamation: "Law me! who
ever hes to lie in that old crib must
be poorly off 1t amt fit for fire.
wood and half a mile from Twin
critterl wonder who-Why, law
me it couldn't be old Huldah ?"
| Lucia started. "She went to her
people" she said sharply. And then,
suddenly enough, she said to the
tollgate man: Twill you take me
to the place? Some one there may
need help. Sister Rose, tell Abram
to hitch up"
The spring wagon, however, could
60 only the less part OF the way. At
the turn to the ferry the tollgate
man tied and blanketed the horse.
Then he proceeded up rocky break
in the cliff side. and Lucia toiled al
ter him through murmuring pines
and between jagged stones, which
nibbled hungrlly through their slight
covering oil snow.
In the midst OF leahess trees an old
house presently disclosed black
and tumbling roof At one side of
the bleached log walls massive
chimney rose in a broken, hoary
heap. Family from its mouth came
dying breath of smoke, but there
was no other sign of occupancy, not
even so much as footprint in the
. slight snow about the door.
Lucia laid her knuckles against
the rude panels. There was no re-
Spouse. The single window was
boarded up, but as Lucia peered
through a crack in the planks she
t caught glimpse of garment hang
. ing across the panes-a garment o
brown print at the pattern of which
her heart twitched.
: TRY the door," she said breath
: lessly. Push it in!' There was {
crack and sharp cry as the tollgat'
man set his shoulder against thu
' rotting panels. He caught himsel
r by the jamb and stood peering in
1t was nearly dark in the bare
: puncheon floored room, except tina
e now and then a tongue of fam
, thrust itself from a smolderin,
e handful of twigs on the hearth
i. Against the farthest wall woman
crouched, woman who at sight @
G Lucia struck out two bony hand
n and moaned and gazed blankly.
S Don't touch me-" she said hoarse
d ly. II won't gol l won't! Nv
g hid away here and prayed you
;. never find me- -
d "Huldahl' broke in the elderes
i. passionately, don't look at me so
$ I've come to take you home, Hulda
n home to West House. Lister
e Huldah! I've been hard and crue
S but I'll never pain you again"
e The old woman seemed not t
D hear. She gazed round at the crack
;. ed walls, the pallet of brush, tn
), darkened window.
e II amt no trouble to no one" sh
t muttered. "Tve starved and froz
g and all. I've heard the owls boot a
night and been skeered, and bee
|. lonesome and sick, but was hom
II and could "a gone on if Ann woul
e "a heard my prayers. But she ain
e listened. She's turned agin me. ST
O give me into your hand"
O Lucia had cast herself on tt
y rough floor and was claspin
,e Huldah's knees.
n you are killing me. Huldah," 81
d wept. II have sinned against yo
,e and against all those whose lives
,e have made cold and hard. | NEAR
e. to do right, but l was vain an
A. wicked. Huldahl Huldahl do nj
II forgive me. | do not ask it. d
l. not deserve it. Only come hon
he with me and let me serve you as
d. daughter who has erred may ser,
h the mother who pities her."
id The tolgate man rubbed his no.
20 with the end of his red scarf ar
o wheeled away. Huldah stood ga
is ing confusedly down on the kneelir
10 slender figure, with its ringing hant
g and beautiful pale face and strear
Id ing eyes.
N "Be you'ns a-cryin' ?" she stamme
In ed. II lowed you was flint. Ar
es kneelng to mel Elderess Lucia
i'd don't We, don't vel Sit up, Edere
he Lucial'
nt But Lucia clasped her the closer.
r. Not till you promise to cor
an with me-" she sobbed. mot till W
he promise not to hate me as l