The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-11

tary your aunt may procure for you,
provided, of course, you believe your
self competent Bear in mind one
thing-a fellow who can make of him
self what you have, under such ad-
verse circumstances, is no fool In
deed, you seem to me, quite remark
able man, Quedar. Good night now.
must dismiss you, as my time is linn
tied" He shook my hand most hear
tily as he accompanied me to the door.
I lost no time in dispatching a dar-
key l knew across the city for Bob,
telling him to come to me at once and
to keep my presence in the city a Sc
cret. Within As minutes Bob was with
me, having ridden back behind my
messenger, and a more delighted dar-
key was never seen. l had brought
with me from Schoharie a suit of
heavy butternut. the frock of which
was trimmed at the skirt, wrists,
shoulders and collar, with fringed
buckskin. The small clothes were of
the same material as also was hand
some set of leggings buttoned from
the knee down, with strap passing
underneath my moccasins. A beauti-
fully worked shirt of doeskin I had,
seemed more appropriate to this suit
than laces or ruf1es So / wore that
Having been bathed. shaved and my
hair put in a queue by the handy Bob,
donned this attire, while he polished
up my rifle. New moccasins, of heavy
sole and elegant make. Beatty had
been saving for me for weeks, as his
maker had mistaken his figures and
built two sizes too large. Everything
seemed provided. and buekling my
sword belt outside my froek and dom
ming my hat, / stood forth at half
past 8 o'clock, a fit representative, as
| fancied, Of the famous body of rifle
men. to which l at last regularly be-
longed Leaving Bob to bring my
luggage at his leisure 1 set out with
out delay.
The night was clear, crisp and cold
The stars twinkled brightly in the
steel-like vault above me, and the
snow creaked beneath my feet. as with
long and rapid strides 1 sped toward
the object Of my tenderest desire.
had tramped IS miles that day, with a
heavy pack on my back, but I felt as
fresh as at morning now. Aye! fresh
er and better, for 1 wore the dress Of
an officer and had name and fortune
at my command at last. l made that
two miles in less than 20 minutes. AS
I walked UP the broad gravelled path
way 1 could see the flicker of the fire.
light on the polished panels at the
rear and sides of the old drawing
room. As / bounded lightly up the
steps I came near sprawling over the
well remembered settee and involun-
tarily glanced sidewise at the little
arbor. the scene Of that memorable
parting. 1 was now where 1 could see
in at the window. At the farther side
of the great fireplace sat Uncle Jason,
his long pipe drawing full and free,
his dreamy eyes bent on the flaming
wood, next him and nearer me. was
Aunt Abigail, not a whit changed. her
swift flying knitting needles, flashing
in the freight
But where was Edith? At this in
slant she stepped forth from the lit
tie curtained alcove in which the
books were kept one of our favorite
volumes in her hand. She turned its
leaves and paused at my making of
some passage I had fancied. | could
see her lips move as she read 1t. she
smiled. glanced at the old couple to see
if they were looking ana pressed the
page to her lips. And then-but
know not what next happened. nor
how 1 entered the room. / suppose il
was by the doors and through the
hall. for the window was unbroken,