Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-10-27

BaNlu D eyes WHSuSb. MS unuel
jaw dropped. lie stool for full
minute staring at her stupidity.
He didn't, did he?" he managed
to calculate at last.
Yes, he did" she said, willy
II don't know what we were think
Ing OF to let him 60"
How do you. know he 8 gone
there"
She lifted her tear-stalned face
from the depths of the apron. THAT
half-witted Jim Green drove over
this afternoon in one of the poor
farm teams with note from him, "
she said
Where is it,"
She fumbled about the step and
presently handed him a bit of crum-
pied paper. Upon 1t was scrawled in
shaky hand:
Abby-Send over by bearer my old
straw hat and my galluses. I need
them. The hat is hanging up In the
back hall, The galluses is in the sec
ond draw In my burrow. Yours
truly, A. D. Phillips.
David stuffed the note into his
pocket There could Ne no shadow
of doubt. The old nah was indeed
at the poor-farm. He cleared his
throat hoarsely.
you get your things on just as
soon's you can, Abby" he coun-
seled. IN go and get a horse off
one of the rakes doEn in the field.
Wen fetch him back right away"
Twenty minutes lstes Abby came
hastily out of the back door and
climbed into the waiting wagon be-
side her husband.
IF I'd had the Feast notion he
was really going there" David said,
as they drove out Of the yard, 81
should have said somethi"'--'---'
II know you wolld, David" she
declared. II aint blamin' you a
mite-not a mite"
1t was growing dusk when they
reached the poor-farm. The old
brick house and the outlying barns
on the summit of the little hill were
sharply silhoutted against the fam
Inc sky.
AS they drove up the winding cart
path that led from the road, AID
stopped before the shabby porch with
its crumbling yellow pillars, figure
rose from the shadows and came
down the steps with an oddly familiar
shuttle. Abby gave a little historical
cry Of recognition,
Father" she said, and springing
lightly from the wagon, she caught
the old mans arm in both her own.
He stood looking at her silently, his
face wearing an expression of mild
surprise.
Get your things right away and
come back with u.s., she said.
1--WE came to take you home"
1--WE never s'posed that mornin
you left us you were really coming
here" put in David, contritely.
The old man fell to chuckling
softly.
Neither did l." he confessed,
naively. Il intended nothing more'n
to go down to Mary J;nes to spend
a few days, just as you an Dave cal
culated l would. Didn't know that
door to the back stairs was open all
the time you were talkin', did ye?"
How came you to change your
mind about goin' TO Mary Jane So"
said Abby.
well, l hadn't got very lar down
the road when along comes Nate
Simpson, the overseer of the farm
here, an he stops an says he's sot
a lot of sick sheep up to the poor
farm, an he's. heard I'm an I'M
common good hand with SICK sheep.
I've been up here adoctorin' of 'em
ever since
Then why didn't you tell us you
were here in that note you sent down
by Jim Green to-day" said Abby
severely.
The old man chuckled again.
"Hain't l told you that door was
open when you an Dave were talkin'
that morning?" he replied. and
say, Abby, those weren't my galluses
you sent up. But you needn't bottle.
about the others. 1 cal'late l shall.
be home by tomorrow Light. -
Youths Companion.