The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-30 00:00:00

[ALL BIGHTS RESERVED.)
STRIVP
-•••• :.A_A AND THRIVE.

CHAPTER XXII.
ARCHIBSED IS SOFTENED.
gtai: "ad accomplished two-thirds of her journey to the
ari°n, and her trepidation had partly subsided, when
a-Jnek ear caught the sound of the pursuing wag-
pidently coming at great speed.
hataaguess• You've left something, ma'am," said the
sara-Ln, au, saddenly checking his horses. "There's
gne • following us, and seems. to be halloaing to
bri • _
difa flu! go on !goon !" aid Eda, speaking with
• ._..Don't let them overtake us."
That's the talk, is it? " said the man, start-
,Fs horses into a faster trot.. "Hanged if I didn't
thatk
e was soinethin' queer about all this. Stop
f4FlitZscLearYin' in there, If you don't want the horses
Franky, hush! Please go a little faster,
tra.,,l°ll shall have double pay lff you get there
011 riaYht. If it's anybody as has a right to stop
ra'' I don't know nothin' about it. I don't think it
pa, a runaway .match. I'd like to see the old
horsas that can catch me."
.da --
tn a' lash fell without cessation around the ears and
jattriue sides of the horses; the vehicle bounced and
eit 9ver the rcugh road, and the race became quite
g, the more so indeed as the shouts from the
ta'4Ers increased, and did not seem to indicate that
`,T,:Were falling behind.
tna,-`ta afeered it won'G be of much use to you,
lo 114.1' said the driver' looking back and talking very
tkilY • Elan a t -eutsound the noise of the vehicle. "We
°e there many minutes before the train comes,
NI Y 4! Course your father, or whoever it is, catch
Ed
.L tile depot,'
had foreseen this danger, but she did not
ceaPtaar, a,
.aea- strained eye and ear to catch some in-
Of the coming train, which could not fail to
Ella„-`nee itself at a distance of several miles in the
and darkness of the night.
Eda'allkY's sobs burst out afresh; he drew closer to
nervoualy grasping her dress.
think I hcar thiatrain," said Eda.
,),11;`0, Ina am—that's only the waterfall back
a, aeicome down the hill we get in hearing of it.
dear....., this is dreadful."
no use, ma'am. The train won't be here short
taa: niinutes, more like fifteen, and they'll stop
‘aa'al minutes when they do come."
heriellow ! hold up! Hellow-ow-ow!" was the
Thwed shout from behind.
'tati'oe hack'ralm did not abate his speed, and the
tac,•.4 'was soon in sight, was reached, and tile
lab t 5 horses rested in front of a, small inn, the only
E:tl°,ll in the immediate vicinity.
t,,,NIL still no train was visible or audible, and the
lii ,7l's were coming rapidly up.
'esPair Fala beggecrthe hackman to go on with
senewhere else—anywhere—to escape her uncle.
414 °ffered all her money, and backed it with tears
`ntrcaties ; he was inexorable.
io other time, ma'am," he said, "rn be happy
tat'eniamodate you; hut just now, my horses must
fj rin afeered they're injured already."
broth' alighted sadly enough, and, with her trembling
went into the ladies' room of the inn,
thet,' she discharged her debt to the hackman, and
arr.aited in terror her uncle's approach.
a C libat
kra, s wrath, which had been wrought up to
qieefe'ci' Pit6h .by his protracted chase, was slightly
ba' the first sight of his beautiful niece, who
'or a,' Pale and 'trembling; holdiiig on to the mantel
ieh 'Plldr, •while- her brother was clinging to her
•
and hiding his face in its folds.
it}l4-I.aete..You' are, hey?" lie said; somehow, he found
he 1-, to utter any of the vituperative words which
1„a,(1. b.een thoiithing when he entered the room.
ticlbS Pretty doin's ! that I'm to be called up. at
tcachase a crazy critter like you four miles
lit i",!0 country, and lame one of my best horses so
t.ight,_le'd probably never get over it. Just march
It ail '0 the Waggon—both on ye, and we'll see about
.en We get home."
la ait 'as rather mild; but when 'ELM, sank speech-
tab, ° a chair, aild resting her arms and head upon
thsgaVe 'Way to violent and irrepressible sobs,
"TjArchibald came. down another peg.. .
Ilk • il''re-there ! that'll do," he said. a That ain't no
I,llsh up, now !"
tagafaesened asperity of his tones and words encou-
a to speak. '
4e 1, Uncle let us go; don't drag us back to that
adfel
ke I Place.
_leoala at.that child! see his pale, thin
liks It was round and red when we came to your
aeV• LoOli at these marks of her hand upon his
toa--cheeks which have never felt a mother's
Pia
Riaiese sots ._con•vulsed Eda an stayed her voice,
aachth. e tears ran in rivulets down her face.
treat 1:101L1.1d took out his handkerchief, and blew his
',./) se with vehemence,
Edy ! he said; " don't say anything more.
eakto Esther about it. Maybe she has been a
at- :Ipugli with thechild; Don't cry any more."
bea:t us. go,'unCle ! I. have friends; at least one,
via;ve." said Eda, hesitatingly. "There's a Mrs.
tae'insaa-a dear, good woman—a milliner, who
ihvltflea,t4s• . She Said if I ever became poor,
had
ma.,, to work for a living, she would be glad to
•
4_l. you started to go to her?"
yes!"
,41IligjA be your ruin."
I shall die if I go. back with you!"
414 tddore Weuld'blame it all to me."
I 44never AWL Oh, let us—let us
;tie ibakl Walked, muttering, across the room, like
the greatest perplexity; but when he returned,
With a decided'air.
kiad,°,ll shall go, Edy !" he said. "Don't cry; and
ou come to want or distress, you can ilways
"jack .to us. So it won't be my fau tif you
ID You understand ? "
Yes! thank You a thousand thousandtimes • a
P-43"," said her Uncle, sinking his voice to a
!`.how' is it about the money? How much
41, 0
iasa gct ?7 . •
ah 7,14 him the pitiful sum which remained to
4a ~a-"; he instantly 'took out his pocket-book and
a" C` 'lea the .few dollars it contained.
N°11:1,3- all Tye got," he Said. "Esther keeps the
You know. but it'll laelp along a little."
'NlC„at°,°li. the hills without looking at them, and
I,Vap,`' aim warmly. •
157 , they avere goina 4-o the train, the old man
'`)!isehii.reMa.rk- about her coming back to his
she came to want.
4;4'; there's -the whistle. Good-bye!" and the oldte
l
kissed them both, and put a piece of
oay.'mco the hands of the astonished Frank.
Nal,,-e looked on in great amazement at these pro-
-4i and. When the two men started on their
9.. eXpected momentarily to hear from
is
tOodiQr Seine solution of the mystery. But they
Wa3' in utter silence r and when Archibald
a 't was to make some remark lit 'e, I • - '
e 'darkness of the night, or the morrow's
_
41
'l4 they nearly home he broke a long
(`•• elf Silence, and te•scared his companion by
13".84d,Zeillv • qui
, ape
• 1\,51 say!"
-
lg qr,,analaldn't !ketch that carriage that we went
'
I °h •
41)"111
Itilare was 'hauled by a tunible; we a'most got
oh.llaibut—they got •away i.,
41-11, I understand! So they-did!" said the
aOiraga
noW!"
`l. fear. I know what's what."
• -
•
CHAPTER XXIII.
th:B 11,4;e: FRI END L Y S TR AN G BIZ .
tkloatlcoirrrt rejoiced so much at her escape that
aa r
t g', al, no time for apprehensions of new
thetroubles,
a.Ch the morning light, she drew near great
„tll6•vaen-She first began to "comprehend the temerity
tOia
asLeP she had taken.
ill 'cv (17W now that she 4ought to have sufferedia
1
Y's
b °nger, 'and •to have written to Mrs.
rs. NVi
efale . ' •
4r, - rahty quitting 'a home which, how-
ii
-
I)le'Sant, was still a. plaee of protection for
it
laCtilla4rahe',"did not give way to forebodings.
411`' triihg at the depot, she proceeded, with no
0ha`.1.11.414i0n, to look after her trunk; and when
ittalned• access to the good-natured baggage-
Olqa7jl: ti 'was assured that she might leave her
iVith Safety all day if she choose, she was
o d
,11.
Ai 1417 e yeur check, of course ?" he said.
tOtlyt'as-sea 'gut with her brother._ They were
\,s‘-Data aside the depot when a large, bustling man
to her, and said, with 'much suavity, yet
C,..iNly—
'ota‘°,ll7A4 mearo. if you please!"
o.theyato be lelt here?" she asked, with
tti4,,`'sttmh'fi'assment. • .
t,tb`tnin,t --;,`Y. •We keep them all at the office,
`lll.-qel(.l vrevent accidents; and when the carman
C,ornes for your trunk, he gets them in
understand. What name, if you
44a `4e, 1 l'taalWorth," replied the young lady, handing
t
"°rl(ee Piece of tin which now represented all
'aaWalac.-Y Puases'sions.
tlatilla aetr.,,,th; All right;" replied the polite stranger,
„ a-anavd and pencil, scratching down some-
atay. aatraykig off
eci's3f
" * • to the
rof tills care, Eda, repaired at once
'ilk Al. city in which her friend's shop was
1154Sthe'v,c1 although it was yet early in the morn-
ttlayinl()Nvs of the milliner were open, but, to
• s -
ageA).
-v- -as saw, as she drew near, that a strange
ma l ex'
aaa the door. With much anxiety she
quired of a yellow-haired, slatternly
" dustin the show-case, whether Mrs.
YOs .'•
tti,• • IQ,
4 ,a 1 aDeaara 4ls! Oh, la! no ! " exclaimed the
the. du,sfna brush in mid-air, and
le's 6 1-ann -• •' 1 • 1
:04,10ke, 11._ !sof 'great surprise at t stranger.
it;l'es"all is ."
t ,Nvi•Oaetll. d, Possible?"
etQc "' a eid silo owe you anything?" asked the
Eaa,°4l4liserating look, 11.)r she could not but
s di Stress,

"No, but I want very much to find her; ard
if you can help me, I shall be greatly obliged to you."
"What is it, Sally ? " asked a sharp voice from an
upper room.
Miss Burch, here's a lady wants to see
. .

Mrs. Williams very particular."
"Tell her we know nothing whatever about her.
Couldn't give her the least information."
"She says can she see you, then? " said Sally, ap-
proaching the stairs, and lowering her voice.
"Yes, at a proper time. Not now, certainly. Tell
her to come after nine o'clock, if she has any business
with me."

Eda went forth sadly enough, and as they passed
out, Franky asked, quite confidently—
" Where are we going to get breakfast, sister ?"
Tears started to Eda's eyes; but she turned away
her head, and replied—
_ _ _

"We will go into a bakery and get some nice cakes,
and we can eat them in the park."
"Oh, that will be capital," replied Frank quite de-
lighted. "Then we can see the swans again."
Miss Walworth feared to go to an hotel or boarding-
house, lest she should be misjudged and suspected.
Besides, she had only money enough to pay her way
for a few days, and she thought she must hus-
band a part of it, until she found means of earning
more.

She procured a few cakes, and repaired to the park,
where, beneath the shade of a friendly tree, the home-
less pair made their frugal meal.
Eda was familiar with the spot in which she now
found herself, for her former home was not distant
from it, and everything about her, both in the square
and in the neighbouring streets, conspired so forcibly
to recall her happy days, and to bring up the present
in mournful contrast with them, that she could scarcely
refrain from sobbing aloud.
When Frank, who saw no especial cause for grief
caught sight of her quivering lips and her red eyes,
and when he saw with what difficulty she forced down
a few mouthfuls of food, he put down his cakes, and
throwing his arms around her neck, kissed her, and
inquired what was the matter. _ _ . .

Without directly replying, she succeeded in divert-
ing his attention to some of the objects of interest
around them, and then resumed her painful con-
templations.
While she pondered, her attention Was arrested by
a man who passed near to her, looking very closely at
both herself and her brother, and who, after proceed-
ing slowly some paces, turned round and sauntered
again towards them.
He was a slight man, of thirty years or thereabouts,
rather flashily dressed, and decidedly good-looking, as
Miss Walworth could not fail to see, despite the some-
what impudent stare which he had bestowed
upon her. But there was a rubicund tint on his
features; beyond what the freshness of the morning
air is usually supposed to impart. She could not
believe that he was coming back to her; but when she
saw that such was his evident design, she rose
hurriedly, and taking Frank by the hand, walked
around to the opposite side of the pond, near to an old
gentleman in decidedly seedy apparel, who was seated
upon a bench reading a morning paper.
The stranger followed her there, and leaning
against the railing, affected at first to look at the
water and the swans; but his eyes riveted momen-
tarily to the beautiful girl, until they finally settled
upon her with a fixedness which evinced a total
disregard of delicacy.
Eda became aware of this, without directly re-
turning his gaze; but, by the observation of Frank,
who Closely watched this object of their common
terror.

"What are you afraid of him for, sister ? " he said.
"He is a nice looking man,.and does not look as if
he would hurt us.

•
Wilde Frank talked, and while Miss Walworth
trembled in apprehension of the man's nearer ap-
proach, he suddenly turned about and walked away.
Greatly relieved by his absence, Eda concluded he
had satisfied his curiosity, and that she should see no
more of him.

About half an hour later, while Miss Walworth
was anxiously watching the dial of a neighbouring
church-clock, to note the progress of the time which
must yet elapse before she could see the punctilious
Miss Burch, she saw among the passers a stout, re-
spectable - looking lady, with a market - basket on
her arm, who was walking slowly, and seeming
to take especial notice of the few loiterers in the
grounds.
As she came near Miss Walworth, and just as the
young lady's eyes fell upon her, she nodded familiarly
and smilingly to the old gentleman at her side, who
seemed a good deal surprised, and bowed rather stiffly
in return. Paying no further attention to him, she
accosted Franky with a pleasant air, and the boy
replied to her with the strict politeness which he had
been taught.
"This is Miss Brown, I believe, of Everett-place?"
she then said to Eda. "You seem to have forgotten
me."

"No, you mistake, madam," replied Eda. "My
name is not Brown, and I do not live in Everett-place
—nor indced in the city."
"Oh, I beg your pardon the resemblance is
certainly striking. I really beg your pardon; but Miss
Brown is a particular friend of my daughters."
" Pray don't apologise, madam."

The lady turned, as if to go on, but seeming sud-
denly to change her mind, said--
"You do not reside in the city, then ?"

"N-no, ma-am; that is, I have just come here to
•reside, but I have been living in the country for
nearly two years."
"Oh ! And you have just arrived, then ?"
"This very morning."
" Ah, indeed! Well, you are out early to see the
sights. Boarding near here, I suppose ?"
Miss Walworth hesitated, and was quite embar-
rassed ; but she would not tell an untruth.
"I have not yet selected a boarding place. I am
waiting to see about s,me--some employment that I
am seeking at Miss Burch's, the milliner's."
"Oh, indeed! Well, now, it's very strange and
perhaps its very fortunate for both of us that we
have met. / keep a boarding-house very near here
—at least, only a few blocks off—and I should be
very happy to take you, if my house and terms suit.
I suppose I may consider Miss Burch as your re-
ference ? "
'Eck explained that Miss Burch knew nothing about
her.

"Well, we do make exceptions sometimes; for, as I
often tell my daughters,' some faces are better than
their references, and I am sure yours and your dear
dear little brother's are of that kind."

"Thank you, madam. You are really very kind;
but I do not yet know what I shall be able to
pay--"
"Don't say a word about it, my dear. You are
without a home; you have been eating your break-
fast here in the public park, as I can very plainly
see. So come and stay at my house, at least until
you can look around and see what you can do. It
shall cost you nothing for a day or two, at all events.
The truth is, that you looked so tired and sad, and
your eyes are so red, that I never could have the heart
to leave you here. It was that which first called my
attention to you, if I must tell you."
Franky caught hold of Eda's hand, and, looking up
imploringlnto her eyes, said—
"Let us go with her, sister; she will give us some
real breakfast, and you haven't eaten anything."
"There, you surely cannot resist that," remarked
the lady. " Come ! my daughters will be glad to
make you coinfortable ; and you shall tell me your
name, and as much of your history as you choose, as
we go along."
Eda was really touched by all this kindness, and
without further hesitation accepted with thanks the
invitation thus persistently urged upon her.
(To be contin?ced.)