The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-23 00:00:00

[ALL RIGHTS ItMRVED.] _
STRIVE AND THRIVE.

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• CHATTER ICX.
tintx s TIDINGS OF THE WALWORTHS.
used no half measure in searching for the
an 'who had suddenly become an object of so great
wateiwreset t? him; and of course the particulars of
rth s recent history could not long elude a vigi-
wk inqui
E • •rY*
out
ale' very
Crimp, a shrewd, active fellow, found
N.ale a very few days that he had removed to Crow-
, , that he was very poor, and an invalid; and he
ii?°„...r_ted these facts to Mink, who at once dispatched
str"' to the place to learn something more. His in-
Were full and minute, and in nothing more
thi- 'lan to let no one there or elsewhere know any-
of his Reerrand.
steassslvent down as a pretended cattle-dealer, and
alai"' for several days in the neighbourhood,
stie-hngh the farmers and examining their stock, for
had promised the highest prices as soon as he
of binade his selections. Of course he was made much
Y all 4c who had cattle to sell, and as he took a par-
ited
ss:itillilatdr flaking to Archibald Walworth's breed, he was
inv there several times. Twice he sat at table
abse , whom he conversed with freely about her
-:s at father, and everything else which he thought
t111111:1 be of interest to his employer. He questioned
ers also about their means, their prospects, &c.,
ta, ,
attew' Old Archibald found it difficult to get any further
besslitien paid to his talk about the "short horns," and
sieell. to think the dealer had fallen in love with his
setetr.inlP visited Stoddy's, too, where Charley was
the ing ready to emigrate, but found time to sound
silePraises of Eda ; while the muddle-headed squire,
Ir
but stew something about his son's disappointment,
se Was unable to believe that the penniless girl wculd
s.ssrsist in rejecting him, intimated his expectation of
'
v'e.edilY having Eda for his daughter-in-law.
at4raps she'll be a Stoddy, too, before long," he said.
ar_leY knows what he's about. I don't believe he
wo,sguin' off to the West all alone; and you see it
w4dn't hardly-do for him to marryher and stay here,
caias
Thses there's been Bich a pullin' o' caps for him.
isserd a'rnost tear her eyes out, I believe; so, you see,
aept kind o' still yet."
esit`iv soon are -they to be married ?" asked
ort;Orthi, I don't say they're goin' to be married; it's
too Y opinion. He says she won't have him, but
het him she's only playin' off, to make him coax
%ins' and then she'll fall right plump in his arms. I
know something about women; but these
T‘fri are sues
greenhorns !"
altster„' Crimp treasured all these things in his memory,
alas "gn he was uncertain whether they would have
issei Peculiar interest for his principal. But he had
stet! instructed to obtain as much information about
nd
iss,'Val'wortlis and their affairs as possible; and he
,asa
also sat to obey his orders without troubling himself
taillat the value of the news he procured, being cer-
ql.la , t in any event his pay was sure.
jeatei
the expectant farmers were all certain of
closing a profitable bargain with the
the ealer, he suddenly disappeared from among
stilt, leaving them to compare notes in regard to
thas,Pr°naises, and his decided preference of every
stock.
to iTstaP's report, of course, proved highly gratifying
revs enaPloyer, and he was surprised at the liberal
est.(' he received.
en hastened to his wife with the welcome news.
last 4_'alvsorth has gone to the West Indies, in the
look.B'ge of consumption," he said, with a delighted
atosi‘ nt What of the daughter?" asked Honom,
r , for that, he saw, was the material point.
sws te
alas,. an, there is a rumour that she is on the eve of
atsf ',sage to a rich farmer's son, by the name of Stoddy,
sTat they are going West."
lasie,ll, that is good news," replied the lady.
could be more satisfactory than that."
tits "e Miranda a hint," said Eben, "to improve her
ss; and make hay while the sun shines."
Nsaa'ss Mink needed no advice on this point. She
zlot teeVen able to give her parents a few useful hints,
to di Ineddle to much, nor to permit Mr. Belmont
cat scover their wishes. She knew that nobody
oNe4 for fruit which falls into the lap, and that it is
boni,When it has to be climbed for to the highest
ssizgeci, or shaken off by hard exertion, that it is really
l're ha •
bst sat n politely as you please," she said;,
Isla 'en% let him think you are ready to eat him.,
kas„°,Wing, too, the advantage of being in demand,
to a -"a gave a little fresh encouragement just now
iloklearlY despairing suitor, whose attentions she
Ilea, Would excite competition on the part of her
Is ;Ind distinguished admirer.
kiZiont had proved polite enough to call on the
foams orl the second day after dining there, and he
with ,50 many sources of entertainment which,
thst°4llL seeming design, had been provided for him,
form;:e, PrAracte% his stay far beyond the limits of a
aas-S: call. Miranda, dressed with taste and care,
practising an interesting reserve, was even
Was, engaging than when he first saw her, and it
te4it DelhaPB' not the least of the signs of his failing
h‘sass..o4.ur_Ytstoofhismri. i‘i
'deal that l love, at he did not inquire the
nk's researches for Walworth until
than an hour after he left the house.
t,ea said that he had heard nothing of him yet,
Was certain that a day or two more would put
Isir„lt possession of full information on the subject.
v 4.1,7) assurance seemed to satisfy the young man,
inqu'ia„ll°4wever, Was not neglecting other modes of
ssa _ Visit was before Crimp's return to Crowvale,
as;auti the day when he brought his agreeable report,
citiae had an appointment with the Englishman to
tel. Out to some of the suburban curiosities.
llj,llent, not doubting that his friend would' give
tefsais'ie earliest news that he obtained of Walworth,
aajee'sed from wearying him with questions on the
k The 'is,.
ts.'"aues did not accompany them on their drive,
Y
a 'Were to take tea and spend the evening with
few friends," meaning, as the result proved,
rt
Thisthi Y.
Press' Was preliminary to a great party, given ex-
la t 3:! sor the honourable Mr. Belmont.
tl,ka 41.118 and similar festivities which followed close
!j°. re Howard, who was quite the lion of the hour,
gotshlshonours gracefully and won general admira-
lats,„,
4hos"'"lgible, affable, and courteous, quite devoid of
ttrietalinee and conceit, he pleased without an effort,
110,1taces" s Praises were on all lips. The ladies pro-
-I:'t,trauci4 }li charming, and looked with envy upon Are was naturally the object of no small
}leis," ilia attentions.
§ 'hese-'ett indolently gave himself up for a while to
tes eatDleas ,nres, believing that he was not losing his
•raass in his old friends, and continuing at
'eta to re,n ind Colonel Mink of his promised
}, hegell,ee•
,1(1t11,11 ahen could no longer put him off, and when
him sufficiently interested in his daughter
"ive th
closs _ e pretended tidings without serious regret
. 414 i'l:lBorutiny, he said:
a°llsa 'lse news of your friends at last, Mr. Belmont,
"-4t- ans s it ' not of the most plea-
t,
Sr a o„
11,:t
.ester.
rry to say
ia kr, z
IN,!. it?" asked Howard, eagerly.
1, sash alworth has gone to the island of Tobago,
et,tlra srierY poor health that he is not expected to
tlreu sls sad news indeed. And what of his
tsn_4‘l\lo They are with him, I suppose?"
tit‘k-atla) his daughter Eva, or some such name, was
Naa " 'tarried to a wealthy young gentleman by
W ale of
lae Stoddy, the son of one of our country
'st7ld they too have gone off somewhere ere
r)id you know her?"
lie'ttathlals a child, or little more," replied Howard,
s2laS 01`37. "She was a sweet girl "—how certain
att, that now that she was lost to him for ever! 611,
lh-411(1 `lOPe she has a husband worthy of her.
ass sorry to think there were any thorns planted
Ta Paths:v. „
e.
IlsearelteinabYra• nee of Edith's charms grew upon him
I.) Dok
set st ,
hosktio, reflections, he did not pursue the con-
Ws 4;4 Which had been started; and Eben was ill
it t t•he subject would be dropped, without
114,4
as'sels ,"e Was disappointed, for Howard IVa roused
G 'ast not only to question him further about
Itila4Naa°rtlis, dea
anso with them. He had never be o but also to relate fully the originf of
„stt
esta:nae the subject. and Mink listened to ther
sirsly s4erY as if all its thrilling details were
saa tle'ew•
ssme(l„ Ilet Wonder," he said, when the tale was
that
"lat',4lto„ , You take an interest in these people,
cial '4 to -ssgu they may
_be somewhat—obscure.
ze\s thoth :4Y, they do not seem to be known in our
(44151 - Id, no doubt, they are very respectable."
srs' trssu-sAvorth was a most estimable gentleman,
(4 Much intelligence,"
A, 011
,i'rtow how long he has been ill?"
15 aa(VLear, I believe. He gave up his house last
s'sltig somewhat limited in means, went
``g,liat Triter brother in the country."
Q(at sArose-! nig name ?"
41137i18 adals replied Mink, promptly. "I will give
s„l3ollrth,, es ,sess, if you would like to write to obtain
"Ail) asnrrtielllars"
'4te raa secissiiresvd • hto see that the frank
st'les°jtalvtelildirenvots_sns enough to
truth, and that this
lt,a;est
oftatsaakinea n t h
susp
was icion.
ly anticipating the
He was confident,
4tas ef the elinent ; but he was careful to give the
3as qr. to,„„n
all 'ens and county, as he had that of the % Pa• self •
as-alse ;el:loam' Incorrectly enough to mislead, and
tsu Ise's: to the truth to make it seem only a
akddse,„ard ahOuld ever by any means obtain
;tuent
411111dred miles from here," he con-
asslualeatiou`"ertunately, not in any direct line of
it-per4Al
e. th the city. If you write, it will
e4unt yegt;tt 9rsten days before you receive an
Thase„d to get it a little sooner by having
airs soip‘ajit yva eare.”
li,a'kfor-'44th,,ess if \ll-11 certainly avail myself of
licit, 7044 Darpose-"Le, which I shall only do, if at
sirn-ltlss",tyl
ass. 4._ of learning if I can render Mr.
;sis a 41,4'11• 10e- But think you saki his
Pr°PertY?" ,
Y large Property.'' •

..
"All, then of course Eda will not see him want for
anything ?"
"Of course not.

Howard was not conscious of the heavy sigh with
which he closed this conversation, nor of his very
downcast look; but Colonel Mink had some ready
scheme of amusement. to offer, to divert his thoughts
into brighter and pleasanter channels.

CHAPTER XXI.
FLIGHT AND PURSUIT.

EDA WALworrru believed that she was capable of
enduring a great deal for her father's sake, and did
not lack an-opportunity of exhibiting the extent of
her fortitude. She bore up against tyranny in every
form; she toiled daily till her whole frame was
wearied; she suffered illness and pain without com-
plaining, and without claiming the abatement of a jot
of her daily tasks.
"She is so handy," said Esther, "I never saw
anything like it. I don't see where she learned to
work so." _ _

"Only don't you go to overworking her and dis-
couraging on her with scoldin' and frettin'," said
Archibald.

" Scoldin' and frettin' ! I don't scold Edy, not
when she minds her own business; but when she
undertakes to tell me what I shouldn't make Frank
do, and that he is weak and sick, when I know he is
shammin', then I shall scold. As long as Frank eats
our bread, he shall mind me; and as to his not
being able to churn jist two or three hours a day,
it's all gammon; a great boy like him, most eight
years old."
"But the boy has been brought up so differently,"
suggested Archibald, rather timidly, "and it don't
seem worth while aggravatin' Eddy jist for what
little he can do. I saw her ironing out there in the
kitchen, jist after you had boxed Franky's ears, and
I saw her tears fall on the hot irons, and heard them
siss."

_ _
"Oh, indeed! Well, let 'em fall, and let 'em siss!
'Twas only temper. Did you hear what she had the
impudence to tell me?"
" No."

"She said I mustn't do that, and that she could
stand anything but that ! I tell you I was mad then,
and jist up and told her that if she didn't mind her
own business, I'd box hers too."
"Good !" said Folly; "that was good. I should
like to have heard that."

Archibald laughed faintly, for he knew that some
token of approval was expected, and he did not quite
dare to withhold it.

It was indeed becoming the severest parts of Eda,'s
trials to witness the treatment her beloved brother
received, and to see his pitiful appealing looks for
help, which he was slow to comprehend she could not
impart.
Frank was not of an indolent disposition, but he did
not like to do anything for his cruel task-mistress, of
whom he entertained an unspeakable terror. He worked
freely and gladly whenever he thought he was assist-
ing Eda, or lightening her tasks, and often when he
was not employed he followed her about, patiently
waiting for the termination of her toils, in order that
she might sit down and read to him a letter from
papa, or hear him recite some lesson which she had
given him to learn.
Frank was not robust; his appetite was poor, and
sometimes he could not really eat the lye-bread and
salt pork which, with potatoes, ofteu formed the
staple of the farmer's dinner.
"It's only whim," Esther said, "and ought to be
whipped out of him. He turns up his.nose at every-
thing on the table, and always did, ever since he came
here."

"Let him have milk if he wants it," replied Archi-
bald. "Milk is cheap enough."
"It's cheap enough, but I don't like to see him
humoured so. Then there's that meat and potatoes
wasted; but it shall be kept for him, if it's a week."
So it was. Three days afterwards, when Franky
came in, really very hungry, from digging potatoes—
a new branch of work which he was learning—he was
obliged to eat the objectionable mess, or none.
Eda watched him with brimming eyes, as ravenous,
yet loathing, he gulped down the unsavoury food.
She gave some appealing looks to her uncle, in hopes
that the cruel decree would be rescinded, and, when
he remained silent, rose from the table, and retired
to her room. Her cup was at last full. She knelt
long and silently by her bedside, but when she arose,
if there was a look of resignation on her features,
there was another and a sterner expression naing'ed
with it. _ _

•
After a time Frank followed her, and, when she
heard his steps, she unfastened the door, and let
him in." . _

" Don't cry, sister," he said; " I won't mind it, if
you only won't cry."
Eda threw her arms around him, and kissed him
again and again, while her tears fell like rain upon
his neck and cheeks.

"We have half an hour left yet," Franky said;
"won't you read me again what papa said about
coming home next spring, and about taking us back,
maybe, to our old home?"

_
Eda complied, though with husky and choking
, voice, taking the letter from her bosom, and still
holding her brother in her arms while she read.
"How long will it be to next spring? how many
weeks? how many days? Won't you let me keep
the letter ? " _ _ _

Eda answered all his questions, soothed him with
caressess and kind words; and when the sharp voice
of her aunt was heard, calling him to come and join
the men, who were going back to their work, she
kissed him, and bade him be a good boy, and said
she should have something to tell him in the
evening.
When she went to her room a little before dark, she
found that Frank, who was waiting for her there, had
fallen asleep, holding in his hand his father's letter,
which he had evidently been trying to decipher. She
awoke him with some difficulty.
"I want you to go and take a walk with me," said
she; "and we must hurry, for we have a long way
to go."
"I am all ready, Eda ; but you said you had some-
thing to tell me.'
"I will tell you as we go along. Come!"
It was not quite dark when they went out, and
their departure excited no remark. •
"Tell me now, sister," said the boy, when they were
in the road, and advancing with rapid steps towards
the distant village.
"Yes, yes. We are going away from here, far away,
to look for another home."

"Oh, lam so glad—so glad! But the won't let us
go, sister: she will follow us and make us go back.
You don't know what a dreadful woman Aunt Esther
is.,,

Eda hurried on, explaining her plans as she went
along, and scarcely pacifying the alarmed boy, who
looked momentarily back, and started in terror at the
scream of the night hawk, which he mistook for the
shrill voice at which he was accustomed to tremble.

They reached the village, where Eda learned the
hour at which the night train passed toward the great
city, and where, after much difficulty and delay, she
engaged a conveyance to come after them and their
baggage. The railroad did not pass through the little
village of Crowvale, and the station to which Eda was
to be conveyed was about two miles from that settle-
ment, and nearly twice that distance from her uncle's
house.
She had a little money more than was required for
their travelling expenses; but she had still a few
ornaments remaining, and some superfluous clothing
which she believed she could dispose of, if it should
become necessary.
Her plan of action on arriving in the city had been
well considered, for she had long calculated the pro-
bability of being driven to her present extremity, and
had spent many hours in thinking what she should do
in such an emergency. She knew, indeed, that these
hopes might be frustrated, but all her present solicitude
was to make good her escape, for she was certain that
she would not be permitted to. depart, if her design
was suspected.
Siie made certain of the exact time when the con-
veyance would arrive, and resolved to be ready at the
gateway with her baggage, which she did not doubt
her ability to drag thus far.
Fortunately the night was a dark one, and her uncle
and aunt were both sound sleepers, and if, as she
hoped, no suspicion should be excited by her absence
in the evening, she believed she could get off un-
observed.

She hastened back, therefore, with such speed that
she was compelled to stop several times for breath, and
to allow her brother to rest.

_
Frank was discouraged when he found they were re-
turning to the house, and he had no hopes of getting
away again. •
"I'd let the clothes go, sister," he said. "We can
both work hard and get new ones; but it will be
dreadful if we get in there and can't get away

again."
It was past nine o'clock when they reached home,
but no questions were asked, although Esther and
her daughter were in the doorway through which they
entered.
"Mind that you get up in the morning when Eda
does, Frank, and don't let me have to call you," said
Esther, as they passed by.
Franky did not reply, but he trembled from head
to foot when he got to Eda's room.
"Oh, I know we shall never get away," he said.
Eda locked her door, and having lighted a candle,
proceeded aa silently as possible to pack, all the most
necessary and valuable of her own and her brother's
apparel into a single trunk. When this was done, and
when she and Franky had attended to their usual
nightly devotions, they lay down, side by side, to
await the hour of starting, which was to be a little
after midnight.
Franky soon fell asleep, but Eda lay listening to
the gradually decreasing sounds which indicated that
the inmates of the house were retiring—listening,
when these had subsided to the chirping of the
cricket choir beneath her windows—to the baying of
distant watch dogs, and the screech of the boding
owl, which fell upon her excited nerves like an omen
of some coming evil.
Midnight came at last: the :sounds seemed to ring
with terrific clangour through the still house, and
she wondered greatly why they were so much louder
than usual. But, contrary to her fears, they seemed
to wake no one, not even the sweet boy at her side,
whom she found it really difficult to rouse.
Ere he was fully awakened, she had donned her
bonnet amo shawl, and was thrusting his hat into his

hands. Franky was soon on the alert, and, taking
their heavy burden between them, they lost no time
in starting.
Unfortunately, before reaching the stairs they had
to pass the door of Polly' s room, which always stood
open, and at this critical stage of their progress the
poor boy was seized with a fit of trembling, which
compelled him to drop his end of the trunk somewhat
heavily on the floor.
There was immediately a rustling inside the room,
and a sharp voice asked—
" Who is there?'

Eda placed her finger upon her brother's lips, and
both remained motionless and almost breathless for
some minutes, after which they again cautiously
lifted their load and descended the stairs. It was a
very slow and tedious process, but it was at last
accomplished in safety. They stood in the lower
hall. They unfastened and passed out of the front
door, and after frequent restings they reached the
gate in safety, and in advance of the arrival of the
conveyance.
But Folly's alarm had not altogether subsided She
lay long listening and catching faint sounds of the
departing fugitives, yet utterly unsuspicious of what
was going on. Somebody, she was sure, must De up
—or else there were burglars in the house, and she
resolved to go to Eda's room, which was nearest to
hers, and inquire whether she had heard the noises
that had disturbed her.

She did so, and after vainly calling at the door for
some time, advanced into the room, and, to her utter
amazement, found that both beds were vacant.

"They've run away, as sure as the world ! " she
exclaimed, oppressed at the same moment with a
painful foreboding of the loads of work which would
fall back upon her hands, if their patient; drudge had
really gone. Goaded by this reflection she ran to her
mother's room and gave the alarm, which Esther no
sooner fully understood, than she leaped from the bed,
looking another Hecate, and then turning round, began
to shake and pummel her hard-sleeping husband with
all her might.
"Stop, Esther; stop, I say t I haint got it! Go
away ! " said Archibald.
"Wake up, you old goose!" she shouted, slapping
him soundly oti the uppermost ear, and then on the
other, as he turned over; "it isn't for the night-
mare I'm shakin' you. Edy has run away; do you
hear ? "

He sa. up it last, and listened, gapingly to the
startling tidings.
She's run away; she and- Frank! They're only
'ist off—not ten minutes out of the house, for Polly
heard 'em go. Hurry up now. Polly has gone to
call Ben, to harness the horses; and you can easily
,ateh her."
"Which way has she gone?" asked the old man,
who had by this time jumped out of bed, and had
begun dressinz himself in great haste and excitement.

To the railroad, of course, to take the one o'clock
train for New York. But they must have gone afoot,
and you can overtake them before they get half-way,
even if they run."
" There ! there' I hear a wagon or carriage, as
sure as I live " said Polly, who, having roused both
men by screaming to them from the garret-stairs, had
returned to her father's room. "And that's what the
sly puss was gone for so long last evening, you may
depend on it."
The fugitives had been compelled to wait many
minutes for the arrival of the conveyance, but were
proceeding now rapidly on their way.
By the time her husband was nearly ready for a
start, Esther had driven the loitering workmen, half-
clad, downstairs, and had herself. superintended the
harnessing of the best team before the lightest wagon,
beside which, whip in hand, and with her nightcap
still on, she awaited her husband's descent.
"Come on, old tumble-toad!" she said. "They'll
be in the cars, and the cars 'll be in New York afore
you get down stairs."
But Archibald was ready much sooner than his
scolding wife anticipated.
" You'll easily catch them," she said, encouragingly.
if Jump in, Dave! Never mind your hat."
"Oh yes, well ketch 'em' trust us for that, with
Such a team as this," said Archibald, as he climbed
into the wagon. "Can you see, Dave?"
"Like a bat," said the man, who had taken the lines
and whip.
"I can't see; it seems to me it's very dark."
"Oh, you'll see fast enough when you get your
eyes open. 11Iind now, don't come back without
them, Arch, or you'll—"
The remainder of the sentence was lost in the noise
of starting.
"I ain't a comin' back without them," muttered
Archibald. "What would Theodore say if I should
let his children go to ruin like that? No—no 1"