Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-04-29
folded the letter and restored it to its

VNNl az III. SIC gov ufl-Nt pun "
she looks like her ma, and Lucy was
the best lookin one of our family.
But she don't write u word about her
brother! | wonder how that u.s. Lucy
had two children"
Three weeks later the stagccoach
came whirling up to Aunt Nau.e.
door. ana Jack Hughes called ouf when
he saw Aunt Nance mt the open Ior:
Light load today. Aunt y nee
only one passenger, and ! guess shoe
the one you're lookin' for"
a young girl, her plain black dress
and hat covered with dust. stepped
to the ground Aunt Nance embraced
her warmly.
You're sister Lucy's Marcia" she
exclaimed eXcitcdly. II know with
out askin'. You're Il rcglar Doolit-
tie, and you don't know how glad | am
to see you
'You don't really look strong" Aunt
Nance said while Marcia was eating
the elaborate dinner prepared express
look like another girl after a summer
up here in this mountain air"
Then she suddenly asked in softer
tone Where is your brother David,
Marcia?"
Marcia's smile gave place to a panied
and troubled look.
81 don't know, aunt" she said.
Don't know? Why, how is that?
at is more than a year since we
have heard anything from David" said
Marcia. Then she added: That is one
reason why ! wanted to come west,
Aunt Nancy, besides what the doctor
told me about my health. l think Da-
vid Is out here. | did not write any
thing about it, for | thought | would
rather tell you all about it myself
thought you might understand the story
better and feel more kindly toward him
to see you.
1t was brief and sorrowful little
story of a boys waywardness that she
told, not an uncommon story of nat.
urally we'll disposed boy being led into
wrongdoing by evil companions and
finally running away after bringing dis.
grace upon his home.
"All we have known for nearly two
years is that he is in the west We
heard once of his being in this state.
If | could only find him, am sure he
could yet be saved. He is so young
not yet twenty
I'll help YOU find him." said Aunt
Nance earnestly. "We'll begin at once.
| know all the stage drivers around
here and people in nearly all the noun
tain towns. If he's anywhere in this
part Of the state we'll find him, dear.
Merricll amt a common name"
The mountain summer soon came on
in all its soft and tender beauty. Mar
ella lived out of doors much of the time.
She rode on horseback down into the
grassy gulches or far up to the noun
tain SUBMITS, where the snow lay in
little patches throughout all the sum
mer days. Soon the color came to her
cheeks. Her thin shape grew rounder
and fuller.
The night of the 18th of Au-
gust was one long remembered by
the dwellers on that mountain side
and by those in the gulch below. They
referred to it long afterWard as the
time of the big storm
AT . o'clock the wind abated its
fury. At 10 it had died away so that
no sound was heard but the pouring of
the rain. Marcia and Kate Dooley
went to bed
1t was II o'clock when Aunt Nance.
rising to 90 to bed, stopped suddenly,
threw up her head and listened.
The rain was falling softly now, and
high above its gentle sound she heard
a voice shrek out as if in mortal
terror Then she heard mems voices
shouting wildly.
what in the name of wonder is 60
in on up there on Taylor mountain
at this time of night?" she asked her
self as she hurried to a door and look
ed out into the darkness.
Dear, dear!' she said, with more
of irritation than Of fear in her voice
Il wonder when this country'S ever
goin' to get civilized so folks III live as
If they was Christians! There's mis-
chief goin on up therel l saw them
Taylor mountain boys whisperin' to-
gether and lookin' savage when they
were down here to dinner today. I've
notion to Who's that?"
The rear door Of the room had open
ed suddenly and been closed.
Aunt Nance turned quickly. Before
her, his back to the door, his hands
spread out upon it as If he would hold
it against all resistance. stood a hatless
and coatless young man, his clothes
drenched and tattered, his face ashen
pale, his eyes wild and staring, while
his slender form quivered with fear.
"Oh, please come in and shut that
door, he cried. stretching out one
hand imploringly. They're after me
those men are! Can't you hide me?
l haven't done what they say have,