Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-07-02


s'Well, well, my dear!" 1t doesn't
do to be too energetic" said the
squire. They never had a chance"
He was aroused, however, to men
ton Black Lane to a meeting Of the
burgesses that day.
"Something ought to be done or we
shall have typhus among us" he said.
Something has been done," said
Judge Paule. 81 came through the
lane this morning and hardly knew
it. There had been a general drain
ing and cleaning, the cabins are
whitewashed, and the women-some
of them-have actually washed their
faces.''
"What has happened?" asked the
squire.
IT heard the sound of children's
voices singing in one of the cabins,
and the men told me it was Miss
Mary's class. Some good woman has
been at work, suspect"
''Miss Mary?" The squire's face
grew red, his eyes flashed, but he
SAID nOthlug more.
Going home he met Polly coming to
meet him. He looked at her with the
eye of a judge. care you the good
Samaritan? Have you been in Black
Lane, my dear?"
She blushed, laughed and STAN
mered:
ooh, that was the most natural
thing in the world, father. You know
I was brought up among colored peo-
Pile; know how to deal with them.
It was only ditch cut here and there,
few panes of glass and some bushels
of lime. They are good afectionate
creatures and anxious to learn.''
The matter was driven from the
squire's mind before he reached the
house, for he saw Tom skulking about
the stable door. He had returned
that day, and a dull weight Of misery
fell, lat the sight, on his fathers heart.
late in the evening, when the family
were gathered about the table. He
came into the room with a swagger,
unshaven, his boots reelzing of the
stable, "On purpose to mortify u.s."
thought Grace, bitterly.
''I came to see Joe's fine lady wife,"
he said, in loud voice. "Unless he's
ashamed to introduce his scrapegrace
BROTHER
'EMary is not here" said mother
80 oh
Gin Uncle Ben's room. She reads
the New York papers to him every
day now. They play backgammon
together and they have one of those
silly books of Artemus Wards.
heard him laughing, and probably
swearing louder than ever, so he
must be pleased. I wonder how she
can stand it.''
cit is hard to understand her." said
Isabella, dryly. ''Mary is not as
be.''
Tom had been listening eagerly,
Enough said!" he broke out, with a
thump of his fist on the table. eff
Joe's wife can take thought of that
lonely old man up there, there's bet
ter stuff in her than I expected. cpl
go up and make her acquaintance"
Several times afterwards TOMS
voice was heard joining in the jokes
and laughter that came out of Uncle
Ben's room.''
"Mary seems to have enchanted
them both,, said Grace.
ssTom lis clean and shaved to-day
and looks like human being" said
Joe.
But even he was startled when
Mary come down that evening for a
walk, and, nodding brightly to Tom,
asked him to go with her. "Finish
your book Joe; Tom will be my es-
cort.''
Tom followed her slouchingly to the
gate.
He stopped there. Shame, defiance,
misery looked out of his eyes. "See
here, Mrs. Denning, I reckon you
don't know, or you wouldn't ask me
to go with you.'
Polly's tender, steady eyes met his,
Eyes I know"
ssD'ye know Pm a theft" I was in
jail at Pittsburg for a year."
Polly drew her breath hard. A
prayer to God for help went up from
her heart in that second of time. She
held out both hands.
ayes, Joe told me. But that is all
over now-all over. You have be-
gun new again, brother Tom. Come!"
She put her hand in his arms as
they walked down the street. He did
not speak to her until they came