St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-08-20
SADIE HOLMAN, HEROINE.
BY MRS. MARY r. P. HATCH Of st Johns
bury, in The Interior.
CHAPTER l.

A stout, middle-aged gentleman
and slight young girl in pretty
travelling dress hurried into the de
pot Just as the train steamed away.
"You are left, Sadie" said he.
so | am, papa; can't go today,
can l ?" asked she, gazing after the
train that had steadily gained in force
until now, with resistless majesty,
it bore down upon the long
vista of the rails. &c don't care, be-
lieve | am glad of it. will coax
mamma to let me stay home this
week There's lovely freshet and |
will get my boat down from grand
fathers. The hollow behind our
house is like a little lake. Aren't
you glad to have me with you
papa?" and a bright, saucy face
was uplfted to his own.
"Glad? and am only too glad,
Sadie. The little mother and | made
only half home without you We
shall be glad when your school days
are over" and tucking his daughters
arm under his own, they recrossed
the track and entered his store which
was just opposite
L was sort OF country emporium
where might be found almost every
thing from paper OF pins to hogs
head of molasses, and as is usually
the case, the speciality stores, of
which there were several, were slight
ed by the loafers, who in dull times
found Holman's the social center.
Now several river drivers, one or
two transfers and a few others,
sat about the stove, listening to a
tall, weather beaten man, who
stood upright, dressed in a long, blue
frockng coat that reached to the
top of his gray leggins, and fur
cap, pushed back from his forehead.
He advanced to shake hands as they
entered.
How we do, Mr.. Holman; how
do We do Sadie. How is Lima? Oh
Lima is better this spring. Had her
in the logging camp all winter and
she's like a different girl-lost all
that peaked look"
Twill she be able to go back with
me for next term, do you think. Mr..
Barnes?"
May be l hope So"
A strange contrast they made, the
daintily attired girl and the weather
beaten, roughly clad lumberman,
and yet his daughter was Sadie's
dearest friend, and Mr.. Barnes him
self the wealthiest man in Uptown.
Outside polish goes for but little in
country places; a mans dress be-
speaks his occupation, maybe, but
not what that occupation has
brought him. Barnes mill furnished
work for scores of men, and his lum-
Der filled the river at this season.
Uncultured? Yes, but honest, sensi-
BILE and energetic.
"As was sayin'," continued he
to the group around the stove, II
scarce ever see such a freshet.
When | come down through the pint
this mornin', | noticed particular
that the big stone under the bridge
want half kivered. | crossed an
hour ago and there want no sign
of rock, and the water was foam
in and rushin' like all possessed.
Twas up to the beams, Almost, an
if the water keeps risin', it'll 60 off
fore night, and maybe sooner"
"Think SOP" asked Mr.. Holman.
81 know it. hope it won't do no
worse damage, but Pm feared ont.
tell We what should do if lived
here in the village, should flee to
the mountings," said he, impressively.
"The village sets low, and the woods
is full of snow Ne and others has
cut off the wood, and there amt
nothin' to makeit thaw out gradooal,
as it generally does. The snow is all
honey combed-a good rain would
wash every mite of it down, and it's
goin' to rain fore night. That, with
the river rsin', would make terri
BILE work. The sun was blazin' hot
Yesterday, and it's goin' to be today.
Then the wind keeps up a Study
kind of blow. That always fetches
up the water, and all these things,
mark my words, is going to make
such a food as was never known.
Holman's house sets high; that'll
escape, maybe, but this ere store
well, IT may be here tomorrow, but
the goods-Id move EN- today"
and he threw an earnest look at Mr..
Holman.
"Oh! | guess it isn't as bad as
that, Mr.. Barnes. I've seen the
water a great deal higher. and If If