Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-06-11
A BURNT BARRIER,
The Lover Laid His Pride at His
Sweetheart's Feet.
ey MARIE moNTRosG.
[Copyrighted. 1898. by Associated Literary
Press

stricken. her eyes bent on volume OF
smoke that was rolling up from the
sheep dotted pasture She went cross
lots" aud came to the charred remains
Of the old farmhouse. where knot OF
neighbours. helpless and wondering.
gathered round the pathetically small
pile of rescued household effects.
Doxy was not young woman, but
she was of the type that time touched
gently Her eyes were soft and gray
and expressive of past but unforgot-
ten time. Her optimistic fatallsm was
not wanting IN this hour 81 trouble.
IL don't see how you managed TO
save So many things" she said to her
friends. each of whom at this encour.
agement began to point out what he
had snatched from the flames.
"See. Miss Barton" cried lad, tri
umphantly thrusting tin can into her
hand. Il hearn you say as how this
ERE was yer bank. so I grabbed 1t fust
thing"
"Oh, Jim, there is SO In it,
Her father. Seth Barton. now arriv'
ed upon the scene. His heart was full
of memories which were smothered In
the philosophical remark, Never could
have saved her in this wind"
"You aud Doxy II come right home
with us and stay" cordially invited
the nearest neighbor.
The others followed suit In this prof
fer Of hospitality, rendering wide open
doors.
you are so kind. but wen stay
right here" said Doxy In response 10
each invitation. "Our upstairs Is fitted
up snug as a Preside. you know"
Her fathers stoical face frightened
He had catlike clinging TO home
not from love of every heart beat fol
1t, as In Doxy's case. but because he
could not bear the thought OF uproot-
ing and transplanting
The neighbors carried the goods and
chattels to the barn and helped Doxy
arrange temporary home. While the
men were aiding IN the evening work
their wives prepared supper. ANY
event, joyful or calamitous. In the dis.
trict was deemed an occasion" wor-
thy of general repast. After supper
they departed for their homes. Seth
settled down to his evening pipe and
weekly paper as II nothing had hap
pened
Then lDoxy in the soft shadows OF
the dusk stole out and went through
the garden to the backened ruins OF
tottering walls and crumbled mortar
All the voices Of long ago called to
her. most persistently the voice OF the
youth who ten years before had wooed
her
There had been the lovers quarrel
and Jed Knox in a moment Of hot
headed anger had sworn he woult
never again cross the Barton thresh
old.
Time and events showed him that
he was entirely In the wrong and thai
the quarrel had been Of his own max
Ing, but he held stubbornly to hi
oath With quiet and firm dignlt!
Doxy had refused to see him else
where than In her own home.
AS Jed's stubboruness increased b,
mention OF Doxy.
She started ut sight Of man com
Ing from out the ruins, but In an In
slant she recognized Sol Oppcr. III,
village carpenter, early In line for ,
contract
Sol" said Doxy hriskly. Il wan
you to build me a house as near Xix,
this as you can"
WAL Miss Barton. tell me how
much you can put into house"
There's the $50 Jim saved. the banl
account, a little insurance, some tina
Hobbs owes US
After n mental accounting she gave
the total of her capital. Sol shook hi.
head discouragingly.
you cant do 1t noways for tina
money"
"KnoCk out the cellar" commanded
Doxy. land take off the blinds. In tn,
fall | will use the turkeys for blinds"
1.-THE turkeys!" repeated Sol wonder
ingIy.
THE money get for selling them
I mean"
When the blinds were Off, the ba,
window deducted, the gables torn off
the back porch taken away, the Stair
removed and general clearing of fire
place. attic, paint, plaster. lath and PAL
titions had been effected. the amour
Of cash available was triumphant,
reached.
The architecture appealed to Sol a
easy to build. but was not in accord
ance with his ideas Of what a dwelling
should be-
"Your house won't have no insides
Miss Barton, but III be on hand to
morrow to begin" said he disapprOv
ingly.
When he had gone she again resum
ed her twilight reveries.
Miss Doxy"
She started and, turning. saw tn
figure of lad so like the youth Of tn
long ago that there was momentar.
stirring in her heart like pain.
Don't you remember me? Laurl
Knox?"
He was Jed's young nephew. VIII
had been used as child to spend hi
summer vacations with his uncle.
az ittle Tauriat monw
II hope So" he replied, taking he
hand. 81 came today for visit afte
all these years. We just heard Of tn
| fire, and Uncle Jed asked me to com
and see you and ask If there was any
thing we could do to help you. Won
you ana your father come over to Tn
Gle Jed's and stay. lust for night any