The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-03-13

employed in knitting by the light of 4
torch stuck in one of the stone lambs
of the broad fireplace. He, however,
had scarcely time to note these cir
cumstances before the door was softly
opened and the girl who had Just left
the other room entered on tlptoe and
Whispered in her mothers ear some.
thing that seemed to produce an in,
stant effect on the hitherto sedate and
hstless countenance of the latter, for
starting TO her feet she stood gazing al
the other with flashing eye and
listening with the keenest interest as
some further particulars were added
to the communication.
Are you sure he was not fooline
vou?' said the mother.
VERY sure, replied the daughter
significantly holding up the Canada
pin.
''Well Vine, rejoined the former,
with the air of one whose resolution is
taken, you whip back to your post
the same way you came: and see that
you keep him here till-say about mid
night she added. exchanging a
meaning glance with the daughter,
whose hand was already on the latch
to depart.
No sooner had the intermingling
tones of conversation in the other room
apprised the woman that her daughter
had there joined the unsuspecting
sutton. than, hastily seizing bonnet
and shawl, she noiselessly left the
house and glided out into the road.
After hesitating moment here. re-
speeding the course she should take,
apparently. she made up to the log
fence enclosing an adjoining fed.
threw herself over it with the ightness
of a boy. and, striking off directly
wes., almost flew over the ground till
she reached the boundaries of their
little opening; when she fearlessly
plunged into the dark and painless
of the wood lying between her
and the main road, to which she was
evidently directing her course.
There! just as | told you" NUT
tered Bart, who, inwardly vexed that
the secret he had been hugging. as ex-
his own should be shared by
another, for fear measures might be
taken to deprive him of the sole honor
and profit he had promised himself of
it, had been jeaou ly
noting what had occurred. Just as
| told, Bart the old woman has got
your story. and there she goes stream
ing off with it, like the house atire.
for the great road through woods,
swamp, and all Well, it's too late to
try to stop her now, to save her the
trouble of going, cause you'd brighten
her, likely; besides, she'd find out
you'd been listening. But We'll follow
get lost, and We can cut by her; or
maybe we can seem to come under ac-
on her, and contrive to get
to do her errand. and so let
ler go back.
With this resolution, he Immediately
gave chase; and by occasionally paus-
ng after entering the forest, to listen
% the rustling of her garments as the
intrepid woman rushed through the
.angled thickets on her way, or the
tracking of dry twigs under her rapid
read, he was enabled to trace her
course and keep within hearing dis
ANGER, though not without exertions
which drew forth many an exclama-
ion of surprise at the speed with
which, at such time and place, she
rot over the ground. At length, they
10Th reached the opening on the other
tide of the forest opposite to good
lied house on the main road.
Il vags," exclaimed Bart pausing
md wiping the perspiration from his
ace with his sleeve, as she emerged
rom the wood, " if the perlite French
nan, they tell of, who thought women
lad no legs, had followed this one
through a mile-swamp at the rate she
las gone, he would think little diff
erently about the matter, | guess. |
Gut. never mind the tramp, Bart, but |
till keep your eye on her. There she |
,oes smack into that house over yonder |
which is-let's see, now-Why, that is
,Iajor Ormsbee's, who, | remember |
low Harry told me, was her brother. |
Veil. Bart, seeing you are fairly beat |
n this business let's work along over
nto the road against the house, and
ee what comes of it.
Scarcely had Bart gained his pro-
,osed situation in nook of the fence,
efore major followed by his son, came
ustling out into the yard.
Jock - he said, hastily turning to
is son. YOU run W iut DdIus du u
addle and bring out my horse, while
slip over to Captain Barney's. But
tho have we here?" he added, cspying
nd approaching Bart. WHO are you,
-iend?"
"Well. you may call me anything
ut a tory and | won't complain.
laior.
THAT'S right o, | believe | know
GU now-the comical chap | have
zen with Woodburn, at Warmers en-
All right. Glad you hap.
en- here just at this time-we have
usiness on hand. .
Il know it.
Know it, how? You didn't come
it'll my sister,
"No: after her; but got at the
rinkle about the gang down yonder
sfore she did; and am now on my
ay TO the council, or the camp, with y
le news" u