ow I've been feeling, ever since you went away. It seemed to me
that there was a big weight resting on my breast."
Redbud colored, and laughed.
"Sometimes," said Verty, smiling, "I would try and get it away by
drawing in my breath, and ever so long; but I could'nt," he added,
shaking his head; "I don't know what it means."
Mr. Jinks, who was dusting his rosetted shoes with a white pocket
handkerchief, grimaced at this.
"Well, well," Verty went on, "I begin to feel better now, since I've
seen you; and, I think, I'll do better in my office work."
"Office work?" asked Redbud, beginning to grow more like her former
self.
"Oh, yes!" Verty replied; "I'm in Mr. Rushton's office now, and I'm a
lawyer's clerk;--that's what they call it, I believe."
Redbud returned his bright smile. Her eye wandered toward Cloud, who
stood perfectly still--the turkey, which had not been removed, yet
dangling at his saddle-bow.
Verty followed the young girl's glance, and smiled.
"I know what you are looking at," he said; "you are looking at that
wild turkey, and thinking that I am a poor sort of a lawyer, with such
a book to read out of. But I shot him coming along."
Redbud laughed; her coolness could not last in Verty's presence; his
fresh voice, so full of their old happy times, made her a child again.
"And how did you find me'?" she said, in her old tone.
"By your pigeon!"
"My pigeon?
"Yes, indeed; I shot him."
"You shot him, Verty?"
Verty experienced,--he knew not why,--a feeling of extreme delight, on
hearing his name from her lips.
"Yes, I did so, Redbud," he replied, confidentially, "and I cured him,
too. Look at him, up there on the roof, coo-cooing! He was sailing
over the town, and I sent an arrow after him, and brought him straight
down."
"Oh, Verty! how cruel!"
"I never would 'a shot him if I had seen the name on his neck."
"The name--yes--"
"Yours, Redbud. There was a piece of paper, and on it--but here's the
paper."
And Verty took from his bosom the yellow scroll, and placed it in
Redbud's hand.
She took it, smiling, and read the words--"I am Miss Redbud's pigeon,
and Fanny gave me to her."
"Oh, yes," she said, "and I am glad he's come back; poor fellow, I
hav'nt seen him for days!"
"I had him," said Verty.
"At home?"
"Yes."
"Curing him?"
Verty nodded.
"You know that was what I wanted. I cured him, and then let him go,
and followed him, and found you."
Verty
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