The Dermott news., 1919-05-01
CHAPTER xI-Continued.


one, although it seemed not so at the
time of 1t. \ traveller on the road to
Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing large amount of money
S2,700 was the sum, If l remember
rightly. He was Il man who, being
Justly suspicious of the banks, had
withdrawn his money. Posters an
nounced the loss and the offer of
large reward The village was pro-
foundry stirred by them. Searching
parties went up the road stirring Its
dust and cropping In its grass and bril-
ers for the great prize which was sup.
posed to be lying there 1t was said,
however. that the quest had been TN
successful. SO the lost pocketbook
became treasured mystery of the
village and of all the hills and val
leys toward Ballsbeen-a topic of old
wives and gabbling husbands ut the
EreSide for unnumbered years.
BY and by the fall term of school
ended. Uncle Peabody came down to
get me the day before Christmas. l
had enjoyed my work and my life at
the Jackets. on the whole. but | was
glad to be going home again. Ny
uncle was In high spirits and there
were many packages In the sleigh.
"A merry Christmas to We both an
may the Lord love ye!" said Mr..
Hacket as he bade us goodby. EVERY
day our thoughts will be going up the
bills TO your house"
The bells rang merrily as we hur-
Red through the swamp in the hard
snow paths.
Were go!n' to move" said my
uncle presently. We've agreed TO get
out by the middle o May"
How does tina. happen?" asked.
81 settled with Grimshaw and agreed
to so. II II hadn't n been for Wright
and Baldwin we wouldn't "A got
cent. They threatened to bid against
him at The sale. So he settled. We're
gein' To have new home. We've
bought hundred m fifty acres from
Abe Leonard. Coin 10 build new
house in the spring. II VIII be nearer
the village"
He playfully nudged my ribs with
his elbow.
we've had little good luck Bart"
he went on. "Ill tell ye what IL is If
you won't say anything about It."
l promised.
y dunno rs 1t would matter much"
he continued, but l don't want 10 do
any braEgin'. II amt anybody'S busl-
ness. anyway. An old uncle over In
Vermont died three weeks ago and
left us thirty-elght hundred dollars.
1t was old Uncle Ezra Baynes o
Hinesburg. DIsd without n chick or
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
to Potsdam nn' took the stage an
went over an got the money. II was
more money than / ever see before
in my life. We put IL In the bank In
Potsdam TO keep II out o Grimshaw's
hands. l wouldn't trust that man as
fur as you could throw bull by ths
tnil"
It was cold. clear night. and when
we reached home the new stove was
swapping with the heat In It's firehox
and the pudding putting In the pot
and old Shep dreaming In the chimney
corner. Aunt Deel gave me n hug ut
tIt ENilRg' bdihtd itllfth "
my shoulders.
"Why. Bart! You're CROWN like
weed-aln't ye?-ayes We be-" my
aunt said as she stood and looked at
ne. "Set right down here an warm
ye-ayes I've done all the chores
ayesl"
How warm and comfortable was the
dear old room with those beloved faces
IN II. I wonder If paradise itself can
seem more pleasant to me. have had
the best food this world can provide.
in my time. but never anything that
! ate with keener relish than the
pudding and milk and bread AND but
ter and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Deel gave US that night.
Supper over, I wiped the dishes for
my aunt while Uncle Peabody went
out To feed and water the horses. Then
we sat down In the genial warmth
while ! told the story of my life m
"the busy town." as they called II.
What pride ana attention they gave
me thenl
My fine clothes and the story of how
I had come by them taxed my inge-
nuity somewhat, although not improp.
erly. | had 10 be careful not to let
them know that | had been ashamed
of the homemade suit. They somehow
felt the truth about 1t and little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
Deel drew her chair near me and
touched my hair very gently and
looked into my face without speaking.
ayes! | know" she said presently.
In kind Of caressing tone, with
touch of sadness In It. They amt
used to coarse homespun stun down
there In the village. They made fun
o ye-didn't they. Bart7'
II don't care about that" assured
them. 1.-The minds tho measure of
the man., | quoted, remembering the
lines the Senator had repeated to me.