Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-09-12

was driven to the Fletcher homestead
on the outskirts Of the town. He went
to get the lay of the land and left the
officers sent with him. at the tavern.
lie found az old-fashioned country
place-a big. hcmelike house sur
rounded with great trees in the midst
Of farm Of great natural beauty,
rolling meadows and fruitful fields
traversed by a ripping brook
In response TO the knocker a grim
old woman opened the front door far
enough 10 let the major see that it was
fastened with a chain inside, and in re-
spouse to his request to see Miss
Fletcher was told to wait on the porch
and she would see him there. As the
major stood smiling at the crude at
tempt to thwart the edict of the law,
and inwardly Tuning at the trivial ne
cessity for taking him so far from his
snug bachelor apartments, the door
opened and Immediately he heard the
chain rattle into place again. Turn
ing, he lifted his hat TO the girlish fig
ure in the doorway. 1t was perfect
type of budding womanhood, the
major noted briefly. just before his
eyes rested on her face. Then with a
start the hat dropped from his hand
and he grasped the railing for sup
port.
"Amyln he gasped, his hand seeking
his brow with a gesture Of bewilder-
ment. For there before him in the
flesh stood Amy Lester, the sweet
heart of his boybood, just as she had
looked on the day he had left her 70
go to the war. Not a day older, not
feature changed And he knew she
had died these ten years ago. Had he
lost his mind? Had paresls overtaken
him in the prime Of life? He stood
transfxed, with trembling limbs and
staring eyes.
"Amy Fletcher, If you please. sir,
replied the young woman, with some
spirit. "And what is your business
here, may ] ask?"
y must beg your pardon" said he,
with courtly grace. "You reminded
me so strongly of an old and very dear
friend"
you were a friend Of mamma 5,
then?" inquired the girl. "Her name
was Amy Lester
"Yes; she was once very dear
friend Of NINE" replied the major
gravely.
The girl. who had been standing de-
family, with eyes flashing, softened
visibly.
"oh, I'm so glad you came. I'm In
the most dreadful trouble, and they
are trying to take the old place away
from me; but they won't do it. III
never let them. I'll die first Grand
pa told me never to let them do II, and
that they had no right, and l won't.
But it's so hard for girl who don't
know anything about business or law
or ANYTHING TO combat all those men.
| need a friend. Indeed do, and II you
were a friend of mammals you viii be
nv friend: know you will. You will
help me, won't you? You are so big
and strong. And you know all about
these horrid business things; / know
You do. And-and you-you are kind
and honest; know you are. Tell
me-tell me what so do"
"TeT me all about IT," he said, with
a tremor in his voice.
They sat down on the rustic bench
topether-and the majors tail. sol
dierlv figure thrilled MS Il had not for
20 years. and he could not realize thai
il was not the other woman-the WON
an 81 % years ago-who was seated be-
side him. as she had been so often u
The old days. She told him her pa
thetic storv-how she had been lefi
an orphan TO her grandfather care
and how he had died year ago in the
midst Of quarrel with a big land syn
dicate that sought 70 acquire his prop
ertv. and had told her that the nego-
tiafions had not been closed. although
some papers had passed. He warned
her never 10 yield possession OF the
propertv. Then there had been law
SHIFTS. and now they were trying to
eject her from the house in which she
was born and 70 deprive her Of all she
had in the world. Going further into
the matter. the major learned many
things that had puzzled him during the
trial Of the case involving the proper
~. and discovered how a great inJus-
tice had been wrought
go not be afraid, said he, rising alb
ruptlv. "You will be harassed no
more"
He went straight back TO the city.
and there was an interview with Van
5elmeier-the stormiest, Il is said.
that ever occurred in the majors old
fashioned back room-and the result
was that certain checks bearing the
majors signature passed to Nandei-
meier and the deed to the Fletcher
estate passed 10 Amy Fletcher.
There was the glow Of long-deferred
youth on his face and the agility Of
how in his soldierly carriage as he
snrang M the steps with the deeds in
III pocket. She did not entertain him
IN The veranda this time and before
,be dav was over she invited him 90 en-
49, short season on the estate he had
.svad for her-she did not know at
II. ,-,.,,. y, f,ag-ad Eastman 5