Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-02-19

house which stood back little dis
lance from the road. The dwelling
and the out houses in the rear 10 oked
bare and forsaken. He pushed open
the rickety gate and followed the
wagon track to the side entrance of
the house.
AS he was about to knock upon the
door he caught the loud complaining
voice of an old man. There was no
mistaking those hoarse ,rasping tones.
ssThen Uncle Zeke is still alive,'
thought the stranger, as he dropped
his suspended knuckles against the
warped panels of the door and wait
ed for an answer, But no answer
came. Again he knocked, but there
was no response. "Well, Uncle Zeke,
I guess you have not grown sociable
with age,'' muttered the gentleman,
as. with a look of determination on
his face, he dealt the door a vigorous
blow.
| This time a savage voice growled
| "Come int" and he pushed open the
door. In the middle of the room sat
| the bent form of an old man about as
| decrepit and broken in appearance as
the incidentals of his environments.
The old man raised his head, from
which the hair hung in white snarls
| over his ears, and darted fierce look
from a pair of blOodshot eyes upon
| his visitor.
Il N>1v II nc
gotten me-" said the stranger.
The old man tottered to his feet.
ct am no uncle of yours, you puppy!
Who are your
The gentleman flushed angrily.
ct am sorry to confess the relation
ship, am sure" said he, "but my
name is Adolph Griffis."
The old mans eyes blazed more
frightfully than ever and he shook
from head to foot.
$50 We ran away because I whaled We
when We deserved it, did We? Right in
the busy season, too, and lot of hay
got spoilt. Oh, We scoundrel! I've not
forgotten ye, and if We were only un-
der me agi'n I'd whale We within an
inch of yer life. Ye come back now
with yer fine clothes and yer pocket
as empty as an old boot; but yell
have bad times here. No SIR" he
roared; ''ye'H never get cent-not
a cent"
He fell back into his chair and there
came into his weakened face a mali
cious smile. He turned his evil eyes
toward the gentleman and chuckled
at what he childishly supposed was
his nephew's chagrin and mortifica-
ton.
'sWho dye s'pose will git all my
place and all my money? Come, now,
who dye s'pose? Ye were such
sneaking boy" he went on, without
waiting for a reply, "and played me
so mean that yell fare bad, but Mile
my bound girl Mile, who is none of
our blood, mind yell git it all-all-
ALL" screamed the old man, with
frightful emphasis on the last "all."
81 certainly hope she may, ''said the
gentleman, ''for she doubtless de-
serves it; but as for me, Uncle Zeke,
am able to take care of myself, SO
do not imagine that want anything
from you except decent treatment;
but good day, I shall not trouble you
any longer" and he rose to go.
At that moment he was conscious
of some one entering from an inner
room, and, turning, he saw a lady
standing on the threshold.
Strange meeting this of the two
playmates of long ago, for it was Mil
lie who stood in the doorway! Mile,
grown tall and graceful, much differ
ent from the chubby, good natured
girl whom Adolph had cherished SO
lightly in his memory all these years.
The delicate features, the sympathetic
eyes, the charm Of a beauty hard to
define, yet quickly sensed by all who
came in contact with her, affected him
strangely. He read in the patient
face and strange surroundings the
self sacrifice Of years, and out of the
shadowy depths of the past came a
flood of tender memories.
He was in the presence of one thrice
more dear to him than he had ever
imagined. Perhaps, after all, a kind
fate had led him here. His heart was
filed with nameless longing and he
spoke almost appealingly: "Don't
you remember me, Mile? I am
Adolph."
The panied, frightened expression
on her face gave way to one of
pleasure and she advanced with out
stretched hand.