Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-02-07

returned for moment as she held one
finger aloft in gesture which only
and my Aunt Deel understood. We
knew it slgnallzed peril and a mys
terry. That l should have to meet 1t
somewhere up the hidden pathway,
had no doubt whatever.
DINNERS ready" exclaimed the
cheerful voice of Aunt Deel.
Then what stirring of chairs and
feet as we sat down at the table. Old
Kate sat by the side Of my aunt and
We were all surprised at her good man
ners.
We TESTED and laughed and drank
cider and reviewed the years history
and ate as only they may eat who have
big bones and muscles and the vitality
Of oxen. l never taste the flavor of
sage and currant jelly or hear hearty
laugh without thinking of those hOli-
day dinners In the old log house on
Rattleroad.
That Christmas brought me nothing
better than those words, the memory
of which is one Of the tallest towers in
that long avenue of my past down
which l have been looking these many
days. About all you can do for a boy,
worth while, is to give him something
good to remember.
The day had turned dark. The tenn
perature had risen and the air was
dank and chilly. The men began to
hitch up their horses.
So, one by one, the slelghloads left
us with CHEEKY good-bys and a grind
ing of runners and a jIngTIng OF bells
When the last had gone Uncle Pea
body and went into the house. Aunt
Deel sat by the stove, old Kate by the
window looking out at the falling dusk.
How still the house seemed!
"There's one thing 1 forgot" said
as proudly took out of my wallet the
six one-dollar bills which l had earned
by working Saturdays and handed
three Of them to my aunt and three to
my uncle, saying:
"That is my Christmas present to
you. earned it myself"
l remember so well their astOnlsh-
ment and the trembling Of their hands
and the look Of their faces.
"It's grand-ayes" Aunt Deel said
In low tone.
She rose in moment and beckOned
to me and my uncle. We followed her
through the open door to the other
room.
"Tll tell We what I'd do" she whis-
pered. "Td give 'em to oil Kate
ayes She's goin' to stay with us till
tomorrow"
"Good ideew said Uncle Peabody.
SO | took the money out of their
hands and went in and gave it to the
Silent Woman.
That's your present from me- 1
said.
How can l forget how she held my
arm against her with that loving, ia
miliar, rocking motion Of a woman
who is soothing a baby at her breast
and kissed my coat sleeve? She re-
leased my arm and turning to the win
dow, leaned her head upon its sill and
shook with sobs. The dusk had thick
ened. AS returned to my seat by the
stove l could dlmly see her form
against the light Of the window. We
sat In silence for a little while.
Then Uncle Peabody rose and got a
candle and lighted 1t at the hearth.
l held the lantern while Uncle Pea
body fed the sheep and the two cows
and milked-a slight chore these win
tel days.
"You and are to go Off to bed purity
early" he said as we were going back
to the house. "Yer Aunt Deel wants
to see Kate alone and git her to talk
If she can.
II dunno but she'll swing back into
this world ag'ln," said Uncle Peabody /
when we had gone up to our little
room. ~ guess all she needs Is to be
treated like human beln'. Yer Aunt
Deel an couldn't git over thlnkln' O.
what she done for you that night In
The OIL barn. So 1 took some O. yer
aunt's good clothes to her an pair
, boots an asked her to come to
Christmas. She lives In little room
over the blacksmith shop down to But
mill. l told her I'd come
litter her with the cutter but she shook
Ter head. 1 knew she'd rather walk"
He was yawning as he spoke and
loon we were both asleep under the
Ihingles.
Continued Next Week
WECT nODNWAII