Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-05-11

Tabitha made an involuntary ges-
ture of aversion. Rachel laughed out
right; then her face grew suddenly
stern.
boy, what do you mean by such
| actionS?" she demanded.
His eyes fell and his cheeks showed
red through the tan.
Il was hungry"
"But didn't you know it was steal
ing?" she asked, her face softening.
81 didn't stop to think-it looked so
good | couldn't help takin' it." He
dug his bare toes in the grass for a
moment in silence, then he raised his
head with a jerk and stood squarely
on both feet. Il hain't got any money,
but I'll work to pay for it-bringing
wood in or somethin'." I,
The dear child!' murmured two
voices softly.
"I've got to find my folks sometime,
but III do the work first. Mebbe an
hour'll pay for Utmost He looked
hopefully into Miss Rachel's face. :
s"Who are your folks?" she asked
.huskiy.
BY way of answer he handed out
soiled, crumpled envelope for her in
spection, on which was written, "Rev.
| John Hapgood,"
"Why-it's father!'
"What!" exclaimed Tabitha.
Her sister tore the note open with
shaking fingers. = .-
ITS frOm-PauIr' she breathed,
hesitating a conscientious moment
over the name. Then she turned her
startled eyes on the boy, who was re-
garding her with lively interest.
"Do belong to your" he asked anx-
iously.
II don't know. Who are you
what's your name?"
"Ralph Hapgood."
Tabitha had caught up the note and
was devOuring it with swift-mOving
eyes.
ITS Paul's boy, Rachel" she broke
in; "Only think of it-Paul's boy !"
and she dropped the bit of paper and
enveloped the lad in a fond but tear
full embrace.
He squirmed uneaSily.
I'm sorry l eat up my own folks
things I'll go to work any time"
he suggested, trying to draw away,
and wiping a tear splash from the
back of his hand on his trousers.
But it was long hours before Ralph
Hapgood was allowed to "go to work"
His story was quickly told. His
mother was long since dead, and his
father had written on his dying bed
! the letter that commended the boy
so soon to be Orphaned-to the pity
and care of his grandparents. The
sisters trembled and changed color at
the story Of the boys hardships on the
way to Falrtown;
=, That evening when the boy was safe
in bed - clean, full-stOmached, and
sleepily content, the sisters talked Ii
over Rev. John Hapgood, in his will,
| had cut off his recreant son with the
proyerbial shilling, so, by law, there
was little coming to Ralph. This, how
ever, the sisters overlooked In calm
| disdain. -
1--WE must keep him anyhow" said
Rachel with decision.
t'>r"Yes, indeed-the dear. child.
Hes twelve, for all he's so small
but he hasn't had much schooling. We
must see to that-we want him we'll
eduaated" continued Rachel, a pink
spot showing in either cheek. 4E!Hr
h. t-Indeed we dO-we'll send him to
college, l wonders now, wouldn't he
like. TO he doctOr2' ..: -,
Perhaps" admitted the other cau-
tiously, cor a minister" ..,
Sure enough-he might like that
better; I'm going to ask him =" and
she sprang to her feet and tripped
across the room to the parlor-bedropm
door. Ralph" she called softly, after
turning the knob, "are you asleep?"
Huh? N-no, ma'am." The voice
nearly gave the lie to the words.
well, dear, we were wondering
would you rather be minister or
doctor?" she asked, much as though
she were offering for choice a peach
and pear
"a doctor" came emphatically from
out of the dark-there was no sleep
in the voice now. 'Ive always wanted
to be a doctor"
you shall, oh, you shall !" promised
the woman ecstatically, going back to
her sister; and from that time all their
lives We're ordered with that one end
In view
The Hapgood twins were far from
wealthy. They owned the homestead
but their income was small, and the
added mouth to fill-and that hungry
bne--counted. AS the years passed.
Hubby came less and less frequently to
help in the kitchen, and the sisters
gowns grew more and more rusty and
darned.
Ralph, boylike, noticed nothing-in-
deed, half the year he was away at
school; but as the time drew near for
the college course and its attendant
expenses, the sisters were sadly
troubled.