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

ways, mind you, for generally L am very
mild indeed, but at this particular time
| ignitcd and went off like a frecracker
and you know that when frecrac ECKER
goes off it doesn't come back again"
Marcy was listening with great inter.
est. She and her companion had seated
| themselves. and she was rapidly losing all
| fear of him.
"As / told YOU" he continued III went
off and did not intend to come back, but
gradually my ideas began to change. My
brother was getting old-so was |. for
that matter-and | determined to try to
he reconcilcd with him. | started out this
day thinking it would be good thing to
begin the New Year in harmony and
brotherly love- | expected to be here
early in the evening, but my train was
detained for long time, and | really did
not know how late it was when | walked
up here. | was dumfounded at finding
the house all shut up and dark, and |
could not think what to do, for | knew
very well that If | rang the bell might
startle your Aunt Ellen. in which case
nobody could know what might happen.
SO stood there celebrating, and really
believe ! was on the point of walking
back to the village when | heard some
one opening the door so gently and quiet
~ that | was positively certain that ii
was highly desirable not to make noise.
SO, you see, I was not surprised when the
door opened. | supposed that some one,
probably Joseph Buckle, had seen me ar
rive. BY the way. is Joseph still here?"
"Oh, yes" said Marcy.
81 am so glad of that" said John Brun-
der. Joseph was always a good friend
of mine. Now you see" he continued
Just how things stand. You come down
to let the New Year in. and in | pop.
hope the New Year came in with me and
that it will prove to be the happiest that
any Of MS has yet known"
so do l." said Marcy, but she had al
ways wished that ever since she had
known what n New Year meant
John Brundcr arose. "My dear young
friend. Miss Marcy" he said, what are
we going to do nextl And if you will al
low me 10 answer my own question | will
say that the very best thing you can do
for me is to give me something to eat, or,
if it will please you better. allow me to
get it myself, for if the pantry of this
house is still under the charge of Joseph
Buckle / know where to find the eata-
bles."
ed earnestly at the good natured gentle
man. She believed just as firmly as she
believed anything that he was Mr.. John
Brundcr. the younger brother of her I'm
Gle Horace, but still she had no positive
proof of the fact; she had only his word
for it. Was it right for her to allow him
to go about the house and eat things
without giving the family notice of his
oh 70
stairs and knock at her unces door her
Aunt Ellen-oh, no; she could not do
that at this time of night
He laughed. He was almost on the
point of laughing aloud, but he checked
himself. 81 know what you are thinking
about" said he, and it is perfectly right
for you to think So
"Oh, l don't really think" said Mar
gey alphabetically, but, you see, u
"Of course | see!'' he answered. II
see perfectly. Just wait a minute" So
saying. he picked up his umbrella. Now,
please look at the name on this silver
plate" said he, holding it close to the
candle.
Margey obeyed. But that isn't your
name" she exclaimed in surprise. THAT
is my uncles name, Horace Brunder"
L
away by mistake and left mine. IL he
can change umbrellas anyway, so that
my time will not be entirely lost"
Marcy smiled. IL think that is
queer way to prove your identity" she
said, but as | truly believe it doesn't
need any proving it does not matter"
ut is a very good proof" persisted the
other. IF | were an improper person
and had taken that umbrella, do you
suppose | would have brought it back
And now lets go into the pantry. I'm
nearly furnished"
So saying, he picked up the candle
stick, and, shading the fame so that no
ray of it should go up stairs, he crossed
the hall into the dining room. Marcy
followed, and as she saw how deftly he
made his way around the furniture and
toward the pantry she felt positively as
sured that he must at one time have been
very much at home in that house. In
the pantry John Brunder put the candle
down and looked about him.
DO you still eat Albert biscuit?" be
asked.
oh yes" replied Marcy
Then | know where Joseph Buckle
keeps them. Joseph never changes. If
thing belongs in one place, it belongs
there always. There" said he. opening
dresser drawer. Here is the tin box,
just where have found il hundreds of
times before"
Margey now thought she ought 70 help
a little. To be sure, this genial gentle
man seemed to know so well where to
find the eatables that she might have
gone to bed and left him to take care Of
himself, but this did nat suit her idea of
proprety or proper hospitality, so she
opened another closet.
"Do you eat cheese at this time of
night. sirt' she asked.
'Oh yes" he replied. "when am as
hungry as l am now! And isn't that a
box of sardines? Open top, Now, let us
take these things over to the table, No.
| don't want any plate. All want is
knife to cut the cheese" And as he spoke
he opened drawer and took out knife.
Nov, my dear" said he, "if you will
look in the corner Of that second shelf
and see if there is not box of preserved
ginger there | shall he much obliged to
you. Joseph always kept preserved gin
ger in that corner"
Marcy laughed as she produced the tin
box. "iou do seem to know where things
are kept in this house, she said, "and |
don't believe anybody has eaten cheese
and sardines at this time of night since
you went away"
"No,' said he, seating himself at his
imprOmptu meal, my brother Horace