Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-01-25
PIERCE .s s:::- . CURE
OR MONEY RETURNED.

facin the street. Now, II you'd took
dislike to this lookout, l must ha' put
you over the street an moved in here my
sell. do like the street, too, there's so
much more doin.
81 think this arrangement will be bet
ter in every way" said the young min
lister.
"I'm main glad. ISIS, there's no deny
in that I'm main glad. From up stairs
you can see right down the harbor,
which is prettier again. Would'ee like
to see it now? o. course you would, an
it'll be so much handler for answerin
the door too. There's back door at the
end o. the passage. You've only to slip
a bolt an you'm out in the garden-out
to your boat, if you choose to keep one
But the gardens tidy little spot to
walk up an down in an make up your
sermons wi nobody to overlook you but
the folk next door, an they m church
goefs. "
After supper that evening the young
minister unpacked his books and was
about to arrange them, but drifted to the
window instead. He paused for minute
or two, with his face close to the pane
and then flung up the sash. A faint
north wind breathed down the harbor
scarcely ruffiing the water. Around and
above him the frosty sky flashed with
innumerable stars, and behind the barks'
masts, behind the long chine of the east
ern hill, soft radiance heralded the ris-
ing moon. 1t was the new moon, and
while he waited her thin horn pushed
up, as it were, through the furze brake
on the hills summit and she mounted
into the free heaven. With upturned
eyes the young minister followed her
course for 20 minutes, not consciously
observant, for he was thinking over his
ambitions, and at his time of life these
are apt to soar with the moon. Though
possessed with zeal for good work in this
small seaside town, he intended that
Troy should be but stepping stone in
his journey. He meant to go far. And
while he meditated his future, forgetting
the chill in the night air, it was being
decided for him by a stronger will than
his own. More than this, that will had
already passed into action. His destiny
was actually launched on the full spring
tide that sucked the crevices of the gray
wall at the gardens end.
A slight sound drew the minister's
gaze down from the moon to the quay
door. Its upper flap still stood open, al
lowing a square of moonlight to pierce
the straight black shadow of the garden
wall.
In this square Of moonlight were now
framed the head and shoulders of hu-
man being.
The young man felt slight chill run
down mis- spine. He leaned forward out
of the window and challenged the ap-
partition, batting his tone, as all people
bat5 it at that hour.
"Who are you?" he demanded, land
what is your business here?"
There was no reply for moment,
though he felt sure his voice must have
carried to the quay door. The figure
paused for a second or two, then unbar-
red the lower flap of the door and adj
vanced across the walls shadow to the
center of the bright grass plot under the
window. 1t was the figure of a young
woman. Her head was bare and her
sleeves turned up to the elbows. She
wore no cloak or wrap to cover her from
the night air, and her short skirted,
coarse frock was open at the neck AS
she turned up her face to the window
the minister could see by the moon
rays that it was we'll favored.
BE you the new preachers" she ask
ed resting hand on her hip and speak.
ing softly up to him.
81 am thenew Independent minister. "
'"Then I've come for you"
Come for me?"
'Iss. My names Nance Trewartha
an you EN- wanted across the water
quick as possible Old Mrs. Shades
a-dyin tonight over yonder. -
"She wants me?"
She's one o. your congregation an
can't die easy till you've seen her. /
reckon she's got something pom her
mind, an 1 was to fetch you over quick
as / could. "
As she spoke the church clock down
in the town chimed out the hour, and
Immediately after ten strokes sounded
on the clear air.
The minister consulted his own watch
and seemed to be considering.
Every WE'LL" said he after a pause.
"I'll come. suppose must cross by
the ferry?"
Ferry closed this two hours, an you
needn't wake up any in the house. I've
brought fathers boat to the ladder be.
low, an I'll bring you back again.
You've only to step out here by the back
door. An wrap yourself up, for it's a
brave distance.
Every well. 1 suppose it's really Sc.
rious."
mortal. I'm glad you'll come" she
added simply.
The young man nodded down in q
friendly manner, and going back into
the room slipped ON his overcoat, picked
up his hat and turned the lamp down
carefully. Then he struck match, found
his way to the back door and unbarred
it. The girl was waiting for him still in
the center of the grass plot.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.