Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-07-06

Their grimly. you're a man now, but
the principle holds"
dad, you come here" invited
Eldred and he led his father outside.
Then he lifted the package he had left
tilted up against the %clapboards.
"KnOw what's in that?"
81 don't"
"a pane of glass and some putty.
Nine by fOurteen-say, all through the
years I've remembered the measure.
ments of that unlucky window pane
l even snOoped around the old Sloan
place before l came here. Bless me
If that shiftless old Jediah Sloan
hasn't let that shed window stay out
all of these years. I'm going over
there now and set it. I'm finally able
to obey you, dad. Surely that settles
the score, hey?"
you're the same quick-witted rascal
you was as a boy, hain't you?" almost
chuckled his father. "Yes, call II
quits" and taking out his pocket knife
he slowly cut the leather strap into
bits and threw them aside.
81 say, dad" broke in Eldred afresh
'how's Miriam?"
"Oh, she's grown to be a likely girl
responded the old man.
mot married YETI"
"Oh, no; she don't seem to care any
thing for fellerS."
A bland, satisfied smile covered the
face of the returned wanderer. He
tucked the package under his arm and
crossed lots to the Sloan place, whis'
Ting thoughtfully, but with his usuaI
innate heartsomeness.
Eldred came to the Sloan home by
the rear. There was the old shed used
as a kitchen as of yore, there was the
unglazed gaping sash. Eldred sat down
beside a sheltering lilac bush and re
moved the covering from the pane OF
glass and the putty, placed these handy
for his meditated operations and drew
a putty knife from his pocket.
A keen mental retroSpection hello
him within its thrall for a few viviC
moment. His thoughts ran back twelve
years and the picture was dominated
by a vision Of sweet Miriam Sloan, 6
child of his W age. How tenderly
had they exchanged love tokens! She
had given him a cheap metal ring
which time had worn and furnished
and the luster of the glass imitation
ruby was dimmed. He had used his
small savings to buy Miriam a tawdry
neck chain and this was one of the
reasons that he had run away from
home, for the discovery Of this quasi
embezzlement would have certainly
won him a double castigation.
"And the further reason was Miriam
dear little Miriam! !" now %soliloquizeC
Eldred and his eye frightened at the
memory of her %bewitching beauty.
1t was Miriam who had carelessly
flung the ball that had shattered the
shed window, and she had run alright
ed as she heard her father CONF
around the house, and Eldred haC
darted homewards. Mr.. Sloan haC
held Eldred the guilty n and had 81
apprised his father.
Il wonder if Miriam is as sweet an(
bewitching as ever" murmured Eldred
and proceeded to the denuded window
sash. All the lights were gone, but hi
set the one in place the destruction Of
which had sent him wandering ovel
the globe. He had just finished wher
a merry thrilling voice echoed through
the house. 1t approached nearer anC
nearer. Miriam Sloan, headed for
clothesline where hung some laces anC
kerchiefs, paused with a shock.
"Oh, Eldred!" she cried, and stooC
stock still and trembled.
He advanced and clasped her Willing
hand between his own She was flut
tering like a frightened dove.
1.-The window" he said all a-smile-
II came back to fix it-after twelv'
years."
"Then you did not forget"
"You? See," and Eldred dangled tn
cherished ring before her gaze. "You
1 suppose, have never thought Of MI
since that day in the long ago."
"Wait !" she said, her face flushed
her eyes dancing.
She sped away like a deer. She re
turned GREATNESS. Miriam removes
the cover from n little ~pasteboard DO,
In her hand.
Look !" she breathed, and he saw In
side a faded rose, nesting in a down,
mat of cotton, the tinsel neck chain h
had given her In the far past.
"And l broke the window, and yor
took all the blame |" she chided hersel
mournfully. Have you come back t
stayP"
THAT rests with you. Miriam" sal,
Eldred Davis simply.