Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-15

cncISieS. heh shc cunle up win the
rest ofthe party, she offered the key 10
her father saying her mother wanted
her; but to her surprise, the miller for
babe her to leave HIM. The mysterious
stranger appeared no more that day.
and The only effect of the epparition was,
to make Mary's parents determine never
to lose sight her, never to allow her to
ascend the hill by herself,iill they should
hear some certain intelligence ofGeorge.
1t was no difficult task to keep Mary in
sight, without her being aware that size
vas watched. For many days no strun-
gers arrived, and Mary was fully occu-
pied at home, and found in her pretty
garden, ali the relaxation she wanted. -
Then rainy weather came and there
was no temptation to go out.
The first fine day, after a week of
rain, was market day at Toiness, and the
miller's wife mounted her horse to 60 to
town. She had never believed that the
aPparation, which troubled her husband,
was George himself. She was far from
being convinced that he had seen any
one: or, if he had, it was some servant
belonging to the strangers, or a sailor,
who choose to sec the ruin without feel
ing the gate keeper. Whoever it might
be, the danger seemed over, as he had
never returned. So the good dame did
not trouble herself L tell her husband
the hour other departure; but, leaving
Mary plenty of employment, she trotted
of, unnoticed by the miller. Mary sat
down to her work, but was soon inter-
rupted by the children.
Mary! you have not played with us
ever since the Gay the last company
came: do take us up to the castle.
am busy, my dears, but you a go
by yourselves. Here, John, take the
key, you can unlock the great door,
But you can do your work this after
noon, when the sun is gone down; and
we have not had such a fine day for a
week.
very truc,' said Mary; { and I will
60 with you just for hai.-an-hour.
So she tied her bonnet, and carried
the youngest chile up the steep hill,
while the others run on before. The
children were full of play; they climbed
the broken walls; and called 10 their Sis
ter to jump them down again. They
laughed at their own little feats, and
when they looked in Mnry's face, she
smiled kindly at them; but then she re-
membered the time when she was as
merry as they, and she sighed. When
she and the children were tired Of climb
ing and jumping, they sat down, and the
little ones pulled other bonnet and stuck
it all round with wood and
then she remembered who had done the
same thing, in the same place, a year be-
fore, and the tears came into her eyes.
After a while, the children besought her
to play at hidc-and-seck with them, and
she did so. She hid herself with all prop
or caution, and burst from her hiding
place to catch her little playmates, whose
shouts of glee echoed through the build
ing.
'And now | must co. said she, at
last; Il am sure l have been more than
hall. an-hour with you
90, don't 90 yet, Mary cfied little
John, : | am to hide this time, and you
must stay till l have my turn.
'Well, just one turn more, and then
must CO.
So the childen hid themselves; and
Mary, having given notice to them to
keep close, began her cautious search.
She had by this time caught the spirit Of
the game, and was almost as intent upon
it as her little brothers-she kept q
watchful eye on all sides; she listened
for every little noise; and trod as softly
as ii there was any fear Of a step so
light as hers being heard. She fancied
that the children had chosen to hide in a
different part of the building from that
where they had previously played though
equally near to the goal. That way she
turned, and, presently, she saw, behind
Il corner, the flap of a coat. She gave
notice, Of having seen il, and run to the
goal, but no one followed. She called
again but no one came out; she thought
she had boen mistaken, and again began
her search, amidst the most profound
Stiffness. With steady pace she ap-
preached the corner, ready to spring
away at the first alarm. No alarm was
given, and the coat flap was no longer
visible. She drew nearer and nearer,
touched the wall, and pushing back her
bonnet, bent her head forward and for
warder, and at length fairly turned the
corner. She caught some one: but it
was not John or Charles: no, it was
George himsclC.-Mary screamed, and
sunk on the ground. The children flew
from fhnir hidinn.nlncn and hor lnuar