Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-08-21

"Bless yer heart, Mr.. Page" exclaim-
ad Uncle Terry. grasping both of Al
bert's hands in his, "but the sight O. We
Is good fer sore eyes"
And how are Aunt Lissy and Tel
W." responded Albert, smiling into the
glowing face of the old man.
ooh. they're purity middlin', an
they'll be powerful glad to see We, too.
IT'S been long time since We left u.s."
How vividly came to Albert every
detail Of his last parting from Telly,
framed as she was in a background of
scarlet and brown foliage! He could
500 her as be last saw her, standing
with bowed head and tear wet face,
and feel a tinge OF the keen pain that
nulled at his own heartstrings then.
ue could almost hear the sad rustic of
the autumn winds in the dry leaves
that had added a pathos to their part
ing
And now only few miles separated
them!
But the way was long and Uncle
Terrys old horse slow, and the road
in the hollows a quagmire of half
frozen mud. Gone were all the leaves
of the scrub oaks, and beneath the
tbickets OK spruce still remained
white pail Of snow. A half gale was
blowing over the island, and when they
halted in front Of Uncle Terry's home
the booming of the giant pillows filed
the night air, and by the CLEAN of the
lighthouse rays Albert could see the
spray tossed high over the point rocks.
GO right in," said Uncle Terry, IAN
don't stop ter knock; yen find the
wimmin folks right glad ter see We,
an I'll take keer o. the boss"
With Telly it had been long, dreary
winter. Her only consolation had been
the few letters from the only man
who had ever uttered a word of love
to her, and how eagerly they had been
read again and again.
At times, when the cold desolation of
winter was at its worst, only maidenly
reserve had kept her from writing him
that her loneliness and heart hunger
were more than she could bear.
She had no inkling of his coming.
and when Uncle Terry babe him enter
the house she was alone in the sitting
room laying the table, while Aunt
Lissy was in the kitchen cooking sup
per. She heard the click of the front
door latch and, stepping into the little
hall as the door slowly opened, she
met the man who for five long months
had never been absent from her
thoughts.
A glad cry escaped her, and then
When Aunt Lissy came in and
greeted Albert, if she noticed Telly's
red face and neck no one was the
| wiser.
When Uncle Terry came in, and
| after Telly, as usual, had brought his
| house coat and slippers. what happy
| little party was seated at the table.
What if the ocean surges Numbered
so near and at times tossed their angry
tears against the windows! Inside
were light, and warmth, and love, and
trust. and all that is hottest in human
emotions.
After supper Uncle Terry and Albert
smoked and talked, and when the
evening was two-thirds past, Albert
said: Nov, my good friends, have
a little surprise in store for you"
| Drawing from an inside pocket a
bulky envelope, and crossing the room
to where Telly sat, he handed it to her
with the remark:
Il have the honor and exquisite
pleasure Of presenting to you, Miss
4 Etelka Peterson, sole surviving heiress
/ and descendant of one Eric Peterson
of Stockholm, your paternal GRANDPA
Their, these legal documents certifying
to your inheritance of about $130,000
besides various pieces of real estate as
yet unappraised."
The effect of this announcement upon
the three. listeners was not exactly
what Albert had anticipated. They
seemed dazed, and Telly, holding the
big envelope gingerly. as if it might
bite her. stared at Albert. Aunt Lissy
was the first to speak, and Good LORD
a-massy" came from her in an aweG
: whisper.
THANK God, little grille, you've got
yer dues at lastr' was Uncle Terry's
/ IT.