St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-09-21

PEELED her to look in at the peddler's
open window. She was prompted
by an inde6nable fear. What she
saw there caused her to start back,
clasp her hands and gasp for breath.
Then, trembling in every limb, she
looked in again.
my Godp she faltered. "Am |
dreaming? surely it can't be-and
yet | must believe my own eyes.
Acting under a new impulse she
turned and fled along the trail lead
ing to the still. Arrived there she
found the place silent and deserted.
There was no fire in the furnace and
nothing to be heard but the cries of
the whippoorwills upon the noun
tain side.
Full of painful forebodings she re-
traced her steps and once more
crouched beneath the peddler's win
dow. There she waited until her
limbs became cramped and the night
air chilled her to the bone.
II might as we'll lie down again."
she thought. II reckon uncle has
gone down the valley, for he said to-
day he'd have to 60 after coffee right
away. l could wake the man up,
but somehow | dassen't. He might
think was forward"
But the second trial of the bed was
no better than the first. The ped
dler's heavy breathing was ever in
her ears, and her thoughts averted
constantly to the sense of peril that
vaguely yet persistently kept her
upon the tenderhooks of anxiety.
II wish morning would come"
she said for the hundredth time.
Lord, what a meeting there'll be
then"
The sound of stealthy football
upon the gravel without brought
her to a sitting position at once.
Her heart beat loudly as she listened
breathlessly. Yes, it was moving
around the house. Now she heard
il no more. Could she have imagined
it all? No; there it was again-in
the back porch.
characteristic heard a gentle
creaking sound. All The bedroom
door! She sprang out of bed and a
hasty bound brought her to the
door leading into the back porch.
She wrenched it open just in time to
catch a glimpse of tall shadow
that disappeared within the she'd
room.
Good Lord, help mel she family
CALCULATED as she sprang forward
nerved to desperation by this dread
fulfillment of her fears.
She entered the room. There lay
the peddler, slumbering heavily il
the white glow of the moonlight
His face was strangely altered, fol
the heavy beard had fallen off, leav
ing exposed a clean-shaven youthful
face. But the white-bearded ole
man bending over the PROSTATE form
with uplifted knife saw nothing dis
tinctly. To his morbid imagining
only the form of a hated spy la,
helpless before him. spy in tn
service of the detested "revenoos,
who had robbed him of his only AM
well beloved son.
"Unclel" screamed Nan, dragging
him back. Uncle! You shall not
Can'tyou see? It's John-our John
your John y
The peddler awoke and stared up
ward in a bewildered way. TIL
knife fell to the floor as Nose. hi
eyes almost started from his head
stared at his sons white face. Sud
denly he comprehended and the effec
: descended upon him like thunder
: bolt.
Uttering low quivering cry h
sank to his knees by the bedside
and his head fell forward. Nan
and Johns eyes met in mutual
| recognizing glance; then they turne
,, their attention to the old man. A
they laid him upon the bed Aun
Whey, awakened by the noise cam
in. She fell as though confronte
by ghost.
a John!' she exclaimed. "Yet
can't shorely be ~
Eyes, it is, mother. | didn't kno'
$ how you'd all take my bein' so lon
II in the pen, so when the governc
pardoned me out thought | woul
!, come home as a peddler and in di
u guise till l found out if you all care
for me any more"
> While John was speaking Mo:
opened his eyes, and tears blinde
q them as he gazed.
y my son, my SOM" he murmure
!, n brokenly. And l might have kille
him My minds made up. There
be no more shilling done in Bee
:; Holler after this.
q do you reckon Nan cares for n
e anymore, father" asked job
while his eyes sought those Of Ma
Is "Of course she does. Hasn't 81
le been grievin' herself away ever sin
II you was took. She never looked
III another man."
:, Mans confusion seemed to sanctit
this.
m "Tnere's only one thing to
IN DONE" Interrupted Aunt Whey 6
cisively. They've just got to