Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-04-02

put them on, don't you? Come in here
And now / must go-oh, yes-go
to feed my chickens. But there's one
thing more. Here is a nice pair OF
| trousers!"
'Doctor!'
ITS all right, Daddy They will just
ft you, I'm sure
Such drol figure awaited the doe
tors return. a little gray old man, his
small spindle legs rafting around III
the fine black trousers, his ragged,
faded calico shirt abashed in such COM
pany He looked at her speechless. his
wrinlded face working.
She smiled at him.
II have vest here for you, Daddy,
and I'll give you clean white shirt to
take home"
"Doctor!" the old man gasped. II
cayn't-'
Don't worry, Daddy. Try on the
vest"
He put it on, Juggling weakly at the
buttons
Jest what I needed" he muttered,
huslSily.
"You look very nice, Daddy. There's
only one thing more, and here it is
the finest, waimest coat in Buncombe
county"
She held it up by the shoulders and
he drew it on.
Now, is not that lovely coat?"
He stroked the soft cloth gently, pull.
ing at the fronts with his stubby fin
gers.
ITS lined with silk, said the doctor.
Daddy, shouldn't know You"
He looked down at himself in dazed
way. Then he started.
I'D better go home now,' he said.
hurriedly.
"Inever had nary suit o. clo'es afore.
God bless We, doctor"
He caught her hand.
"I'm so glad to give them to you,
Daddy" she said, softly, with tears.
The next day julie Fraley came up to
mend the roof. and while he warmed
himself at the fire he told the story of
Daddy's return home.
1--WE wuz a-pullin' corn, me an Liz
an Bud. an see the ole man err comm
down the hill, an says: Look yon,
Liz! Is tibet yer dad?'
"'Naw. says Liz. Tibet amt dad
Looks like ole Preacher Freeman
Sure nuff-he did look pint blank
like ole Preacher Freeman. An we
watched i'm tell he crossed the branch,
an when he elm up the bank he stag
gered bit-yer know Daddy's mighty
onstiddy on his legsan' ] knowed who
hit was. an said.
"''is yer daddy, Liz An Liz were
plum outdone at she didn't know her
own daddy" concluded julie. indulging
in one Of those silent laughs peculiar
10 his kind. He went up on the roof
and the doctor came out from
time to time to overlook the work, al
ways charmed into lingering by the
wonderful beauty OF the landscape
The house sat upon one of the foot
hills of the great Appalachian range,
east of the French Broad. Looking
west one saw wooded. undulating
country. rolling away into The valley
and there stayed by the massive wall
of a great mountain that rose far into
the blue. Along the mountain side the
made its way over high trestles
and red clay embankments. and at
times one caught the sound of the
The rumble of wheels, and saw
the train rush along, small in the dis
lance like child's toy. All at once
there was shout from julie Fraley
and at the same instant a shot rang
out.
"Thar's convict got off," cried julie,
when the doctor appeared. Il saw him
Jump off The train"
The doctor shivered.
And they didn't stop"
"Why, no. but the guard fred on
him. They'll send party back when
hey gifts to Bitmore an offeE$lO0 re-
ward fer him, likely. Don't wish |
I'd git it,
"Will he get caught, do you think?"
II reckon. They gin'ally does. He's
,ulS ter the woods now. They arays
Ioes when they makes break. Blu.
he'll git an outing, anyhow. Dog
yoned eff blame i'm"
''Mr. Fraley. where do they go when
hey escape like that?"
''Thcy lays in the woods. Mebby
hey knows niggers that'll feed em an
rive EN- clo'es. They're al'ays in IA
Mighty hurry to Git sheto' their striped
nit, an eff they do sometimes they git
way fer good"
Daddy John came once to visit the
loctor, wearing his new clothes, and
hen he paid visits to all his ,kinsfollt
nd old neighbors, and the queer. pa
hetic figure in the fine black suit,
Teakly climbing over the hills. became
familiar sight.
Then one night terrible calamity
efell and the next morning it was
nown all over the settlement that
Daddy Johns new clo'es at come in
he doctor woman's bar'l had bee,
toIe.'
IIorsemen riding to town drew rein
nd discussed the theft for hours.
very other woman put on her sun
onnet and called on her next neigh