Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-12


ran to the door, opening which she met
her brother on the threshold.
ooh, this is merry 1 didn't expect
'eeP' she said. "Ah, Roger thought
it was John" Her tones fell to disap
pointment.
The sailor kissed her, looked at her
sternly for few moments, and pointing
to the infant said, lyon mean the ia
ther of this?"
eyes, my husband" said Edith.
81 hope so, )" he answered
"Why, Roger, I'm married-of a
truth am ~ she cried.
"Shame upon zee if true If not true,
worsel Master Stocker was an honest
man, and ye should have respected his
memory longer Where is thy husband"
"He comes often. l thought it was he.
now. Our marriage has to be kept Sc
cret for awhile. 1t was done privily for
certain reasons, but we were married at
church like honest folk-afore God we
were, Roger-six months after poor
Stocker's death. "
" Twas too soon," said Roger
81 was living in house alone l had
nowhere to go to. You were far over
sea in the New Found Land, and John
took me and brought me here.
"How often doth he conner" says
Roger again.
"Once or twice weekly" says she.
"I wish tn DIST waited till 1 re-
turned, dear Edy," he said. cit mid be
you are wife-I hope SO. But, if so,
why this mystery? Why this mean and
cramped lodging in this lonely copse
circled town? OF what standing is your
husband, and of whereof
He is of gentle breeding. His name
is John am not free to tell his family
name. He is said to be of London, for
safety's sake, but he really lives in the
county next adjoining this"
"Where in the next county,"
81 do not know. He has preferred not
to tell me that may not have the secret
forced from me, to his and my hurt, by
bringing the marriage to the ears of his
kinsfolk and friends"
Her brothers. face flushed. "Our peo-
pie have been honest townsmen, we'll
reputed for long. Why should you read
lily take such humbling from a sojourn-
er of whom tn st know nothing?
They remained in constrained con-
verse till her quick ear caught a sound,
for which she might have been waiting
"a horses football "It is joint" said
she. This is his night-Saturday.
Don't be frightened lest he should
find me here, said Roger. II am on
the point of leaving. l wish not to be a
third party. Say nothing at all about
my visit if it will incommode you so to
do Twill see thee before 1 go afloat
again"
Speaking thus he left the room, and
descending the staircase let himself out
by the front door, thinking he might
obtain a glimpse of the approaching
horseman. But that traveller had in the
meantime gone stealthily round to the
back of the homestead, and peering
along the pinion end of the house Roger
discerned him unbridling and haltering
his horse with his own hands in the
shed there.
Roger retired to the neighboring inn
called the Black Lamb, and meditated
This mysterious method of approach de-
termined him, after all, not to leave
the place till he had ascertained more
definite facts of his sisters position
whether she were the deluded victim of
the stranger or the wife she obviously
believed herself to be. Having eaten
some supper, he left the inn, it being
now about II O'Clock. He first looked
into the shed, and finding the horse
still standing there waited irresolutely
near the door of his sisters lodging.
Half an hour elapsed, and while think
| ing he would climb into loft hard by
for a nights rest there seemed to be a
movement within the shutters of the
sitting room that his sister occupied.
Roger hid himself behind fagot stack
near the back door, rightly divining
that his sister s visitor would emerge
by the way he had entered. Ike door
opened, and the candle she held in her
hand lighted for & Noment the stran-
gers form, showing it to be that of q
tell and handsome parsonage, about DC
years of age, and apparently of a su-
perior position in life Edith was assist.
ing him to cloak himself, which being
done he took leave of her with kiss
and left the house. From the door she
watched him bride and saddle his
horse, and having mounted and waved
an adieu to her as she stood, candle in
hand, he turned out of the yard and
rode away.
The horse which bore him was, OF
seemed to be, little lame, and Roger
fancied from this the riders journey was
not likely to be long one. Being light
of foot he followed apace, having nc
great difficulty ON such a still night in
keeping within earshot some few miles
the horseman pausing more than once.
In this pursuit Roger discovered the
rider TO choose bride tracks and oper
commons in preference to any high
road. The distance soon began to prove
more trying one than he had bar
gained for, and when out of breath ant
in some despair of being able to ascer
tain the mans identity, he perceived al
ass standing in the starlight under {
hayrick, from which the animal wa
helping itself to periodic mouthfuls.
The story goes that Roger caught the
ass, mounted and again resumed thu
trail of the unconscious horseman, which
feat may have been possible to a nau
teal young fellow, though one Cal
hardly understand how sailor would