Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-28

anu Mlhs M0rgey!
give me your hand, my good Jo-
seph," said John Brunder. 81 don't won
der you don't believe your senses. But
what are you doing with that club? Did
you think we were burglars?"
81 did. sir" said Joseph. 81 heard
voices and | was sure there was some
body in the house, and so | came down"
why didn't you bring a pistol? What
would you have done with that club if we
had really been burglars?"
"Oh couldn't bring a pistol, sir" said
Joseph. IF | should fire pistol and
Mrs. Brunder should hear it, there's no
knowing what might happen. SO ! had
to come down with nothing but club"
You're a brave fellow" said John
Brunder, "and a loyal one, and am glad
for your sake us well as for our own that
we are not robbers. You see, Joseph, |
have not forgotten where you keep the
good things to eat"
Marcy now took pity on the bewildcr-
ed butler and told him everything that
had happened.
"Well WE'LL" exclaimed Joseph. "I'm
wonderfully glad to see you, Mr.. John.
It's been a different house here since
You went away sir. Don't you remem-
Der, sir, we used to open the front door
for the New Year when you lived here 2"
'Of course | do said John Brunder.
81 always used to have some youngsters
here, and we had fine times"
"And il had had any idea. miss, that
you were used to that sort of thing I'd
have some down to help you
'Oh, she didn't need any body's heinz
said Mr.. John. "She did it as well as an
angel could have done it. If had gone
back to the village, | believe should
have been so cross that | would have
started for the city early in the morning.
You know that's my way, Joseph"
"Ies, sir" said the old man, land
sometimes it has been a pity that it was
your way. But would you like me to go
and wakcn Mr.. Brunder, sir? | think |
can do it without making any STIR"
"Oh, no. no, no. exclaimed Mr.. John.
Don't think of it. II either of you ever
wants to be reconcied with anybody,
don't make him get out of n warm bed
of cold night to do it. No, I'll wait un-
til morning You can get me into my
old room, can't you. Joseph, without dis
turbing anybody?'
'Of course can" said Joseph We'll
go up the back stairs"
Then III bid you good night" said
| Marcy, "as l can do nothing more for
you"
"More" exclaimed Mr. John. "If it is
all right between my brother and me to-
morrow morning. there isn't being on
earth who could have done MS much. And
I am very sorry indeed that | have kept
you up so late with TINS he picked up
the candle and he and Joseph escorted
Marcy to the foot OF the great stairway,
where she babe them good night and
-.
went quietly up In the moonlight.
When Marcy reached her ROOM she
did not go TO bed. IL was very late not
iar from CLOCK but she did not mlnd
that' some OF the Ianllly at nome were
up yet II was the most natural thlng IL
the world 10 SIT up late on New Years
eve, linen she began TO think OF all that
nau just happened
As She 'nought ana tnought the anar
OK the evening seemed IKE a romance to
her' II an turned out we'll 1t would real
~ oe ho'iuaS story, Ana YET there was
an iriperlectioh IN the romance 1t was
ho' anose'ner ,he SOFT OF story she would
nave maze II she had oeen writing It, and
heither was II eNacty the sort or real
happening tnht IL Wouio nave been II she
nau arra1seu IT, Mr' Jonh was as prisht
ana rs cneery as ANYBODY cohid be' but
everything and was going to make n ro.
nance in real life. which il might inst ma
well have been. her own personalitv
would not have been the only element Of
youth in this pleasant invention. Marcy
was capable of being very fond of elderly
people. but still she was youny-sbe was
! not vet 2O-and il the person who came
with the New Year had been lust like
| Mr.. John. only Younger Rut she would
I
ought TO be ashamed of herself Still for
all that. 56 was prettv old Evervhodv in
that house seemed TO be so old, Her fa.
vorite maid, Mary. had a married daugb-
ter. and. so far as the romance Of IN,
evening was concerned. things nigh.
/ have been different lust as well AS not.
| When at Inst she pressed her face 70
the inflow. she WAS still thinking
"Fifty-six." she said to herself "and il
might inst as well have bcen-hovo
been And she had not decided upon
the exact date it might have been when
she dropped asleep.
The next morning MarCcy was down
stairs very early. nearly n quarter of an
hour before breakfast, for she was anx-
! ious to know everything which should
happen. In the hall she met Joseph.
az wish won q rorr bor,r Nor, YAM
), ~ ..oi, ..f n"pP; ,. ;eI,
hn; I'll, ~
san 'X1 "''J - o0'
|