The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-05-22

a million miles, and thought 1 must
have got here a hundred times.
should think you'd End it pretty hard
work getting here every day"
Temple assured him, very gravelN Z,
that it was easy after one knew The
way.
And as they kept on talking, Johnnie
expressed his opinion on all subjt cts q,
from the revival at home TO The Brook
Ign strike. He was an Independent, he
dc clared. He wouldn't be democrat,
because Tom Faber was. He didn't
quite like berg republican, eith,r.
Just here Mr.. Brayton came in.
Johnnie didn't notice him particularly,
for a good many had come in since be
sat there. SO for moment or two Mr..
Brayton listened with the others, then
walked into his flee, telling Temple %
"send the youngster in"
And Johnnie went in, and just what
conversation took place no one ever
knew. The clerks in the outer office
could hear thy hum of voices, the rich,
full voice OF Mr.. Brayton and the eager,
childish voice of the boy. Then, when
Mr.. Brayton began TO be in demand,
Johnnie was sent out and Temple was
told TO make him useful until noon.
So, until twelve, be was kept at one
thing and another; then when Mr..
Brayton went out he took Johnnie
with him.
First they went for lunch, Johnnie
all I'll cons cious of the interest and
amusem .nt be created, and Mr.. Bray
ton only smiled and raised his eye
brows when his scquaintances loo ked,
bowed and locked again.
Johnnie was modest in his desire for
lunch. III despised souI-too watery
for him, sir. He guessed he'd have
some turkey and stuffin' and sweet po-
talo and pumpkin rie, ice cream and
nuts.
These disposed of, they went to a
store, where Johnnie was told TO select
an eye like Nellie's, and as he did so
Mr.. Bray ton stood near the window
appart ntly looking cut; but his sharp
eye was on the boy, and his quick ear
caught the conversation.
No." said Johnnie, very emphatic
ally, that isn't tie color at all. It's
a different blue, just like the lake in
One tray after another was brought,
but the blue the 10y wanted was not
there. Finally he spied an eye in the
she wcase.
"That's it'll" he cried. "Let's have
her."
THAT lie an imported one of the
very finest MATERIAL" remarked the
clerk, with a doubtful look at Johnnie,
al d an il quirir G ole at Brayton's back,
/" and it cost a great deal"
" WE'LL" said Johnnie, drawing him.
self up with an air of ureriority, " /
just guess you don't know who ants
10 buy that eye. Mr.. Braytop, here,
sir, can buy anything in all this world
that be vents. I guess if you'd only
one eye you'd want tie other 10 be like
it, even if it is imported with a
stress en- TIE word.
Here Mr.. Brsyton inttrr osed.
Let the boy have it," he said; and
so, with the eye in its velvet box and
Johnnie's pockets stuffed with pam.
phlets tellirg how to insert and Gle an
the eye, they left the store. And then,
after they had bought btx of candy
for Nellie, they went back to the flee.
There be told them about what he had
sc en-, then gravely shook hands with
them all, said goCd-by and started eff.
He had been gone only few nome nts
when Mr.. Brayton came in from his
{ flee.
Miss Curry" he said, wouldn't
you like little trip? Our visitor has
left his treasured eye behind him, and
he may with it. You might follow the
your ester and see the end Of this n at
ter"
Miss Curry, rothing 10th, shut her
ma chine and departed. She caught
sight Of Johnnie just as he went into
the ferry, and size followed him on the
II ain and stepped off at the little vii
lsge where he did.
But then she couldn't keep up with
him. She saw him turn into house,
and when once she reached it she
pause at the open door.
There was little girl standing, look
ing expectantly at Johnnie, who ex.
citedly was turning bis pockets inside
cut in vain search for he eye.
81 had i'll had it'll" he declared
and his face grew troubled, and finally
the tears rolled down his cheeks.
cit was such lovely eye" he
moaned: "blue, just like yours, ind
it's lost, and l hale myself. I'm fit &c
be a democIat;" and he threw himself
into a chair as if all hope were gone.
The " cary faced mother turned bel
face away. Nellie's lip quivered; but
she swallowed the sobs.
"Never mind, Johnnie" she said
stroking the freckled, ar-stained ttc
of the boy-"never mind, john lie
You know it couldn't make me see
and / guess / don't look so very bad;
she put her hand to the bsndaged eye.
Then she looked up, for strange
lady etc cd in the door and handed her {
package.
"See, Johnnie" she said.
Johnnie dashed the tears from hi
eyes and looked at the package. Hi
face grew bright, and he tore eff III,
papers, touched the spring of the b. x
and there on its white cushion lay tn,
blue eye, smiling like Nellie's own.
The eyel the eyep' he shouted
See, Nellie; it's your very own" ar
he threw his arms about her and kiss et
l