The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-04-28

0 AI0Nls
JlIa gets IA good thing occasionally
now he's bc2lnnlng to talk, said raxley
ard everyone felt better. Il vas so unus
usl not 10 be sbie 10 talk sboG, snythlrl
ard everything with pasley.
The next day be had some bright sayinI
to retail, tia, made the boys laugh heart
ilv ard honeslly the conventional gig
gle that IL generally reserved for such. &C
eounu Of Juvenile wit.
Psrley smiled. la fact, HAincs, still re
sentful, asserted that he smirked like sell
satishsd old woman. but things were cas-
ier at any rate, and from that time on
PATley talked Of the boy freely, and told l
score Of funny thirgs that became famous
throughout the Office.
The respec. for "Paxley's KID grew
Tas. he was an exceptionally bright ard
clever little fellow everybody admitted,
snd Cummings, who went out with Psx
aud the decor ore Sunday pight and saw
the boy ir his erib, gave an enthusiastic se-
count Of his beauty.
The crash cane one ',rmy December
night, when Paxley had bsen parent
ir-lss, as the hoys expressed 1t, for about
ayesr.
A number OF his friends, Hslncs, one or
two more from the oillcc, and others who
we're members Of his club, were gathered
again in the library as they had been the
summer before.
As usual, Hines started the CONVERSE
tion. Paxleys clean dalj over that hid
Of bis, isn't hef Can't hire him to 20 out
this winter. ani he's thin as wire fence.
The others grunted, Then little Cum
Minis, rather red aud altogether embarrssf-
cd, spoke.
He's too datfs, seems to me. He may
think he's the whole thing, you know, but
be needn't tell lies about him.
Why, what are you driving sts cried
HaiDes, and the other men sat up and look
ed interested.
Well, sputtered Cummns, you know that
story he told about the boys asking II the
clouds were Gods dust clothsg
There was grunt Of assent. Too pre-
,ocious by far, muttered jenkins, who had
got a night of, and was eIi i,ying the socic-
y Of adults unmixed with children.
don't know about that, went on Cum
nins, for don't know anything about
But do know that that's an old |
tory. read 1t myself 10 magazine last
light. And the magazine was dated more
han year ago.
There was an odd, strained silence.
Yes, said another man, 1--we had my
uspicions myself. told two or three OF
'ax's stories at dinner not long ago, and
he people just howled said they were
very one Of them gray bearded with age.
I've done that too, remarked Haines, but
thought maybe two kids could say the
anne funny thiDgs-,hey're capable Of any
hing, you know.
The doctor rose and walked undecidedly
p and down the room few times.
Then he stopped by the table, leaning
onward. with his long fingers resting light
Y on the polished wood.
Boyr, he said, aud there was something
olemn In his voice which made the others
~ down their cigars and look expectantly
t him. Boys, am going to do something
We never done before-I'm going to betray
he confidence Of friend.
The men sat very silent, gazing up at
i'm.
II you would stop and think, the doctor
'ent on slowly, as though choosing bis
'ords,I would not have to tell. You would
But you have not seen, and
ou must-for your own good and Paxley's
and little Jlm's. Do you remember when
e few at Haines when he said jokingly he
idn't think much Of the boy? The strange
lip to New York? The anxiety and the
brow In his face for months nowy And
lese stolen stories? For they are stolen, !
very one. He's stolen them for Jim
les been learning them for months They |
ave been his last weapons In the hardest
sht he's ever fought. For he's been fight !
z against G ID this year. And he has not
on. Oh, don't you understandf For the
ret time the doctor raised his hands and ,
rev them out as though asking help and
reDgth from the men before him. DON'T /
~ see? Little Jim will never say any
light thiogs Of his own. Taey will have /
be put into his lips forever. Because r
ID Ut utconsciously the doctor lspsed into t
e Scottish tongue Of his boyhold dayf--
cause, lads, Paxley's found his wee lamb I
one OF G IDS innocents. I
And only the waiter, who had just come 1
noticed how blindly the doctor walked d
ross the room. 4
For all the other men were strangely d
inded, too Parsons Magazine. b
-~.>---
Claus Spreckies' Advice. :
John Diedrich Spreckles, son Of Claus 2
reckles, was lately talking about pei b
terce, Ia the conrse Of bis remarks he II