Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-26
The Daughter Of Night:
A STORY OF THE PRESENT TINE.

The Daughter Of Night:
AsToRY THE PRESENT TINE.
by s.w. rULLoM.
Millicent's domicil was kind of clubhouse,
abuttlng from the back Of one of the zigzag tene.
ments, occupied by Jack Rollin and his mother
1t had no window, but the air, such as it was, en-
tered through two brick holes, and numberless
little intervals in the roof. This was so low, tha,
II ever she stood erect, l. was at the imminen,
risk OF displacing the tiles and the whole struc-
ture was OF that crazy description, that it seemed
as though good blast Of wind must inevitably
overthrow it. The brick floor, like every other
part, was in the last stage of decay and being a
foot below the ground outside, and standing owe,
an abandoned coal digging, perpetually exuded
damp, defying all Millcents efforts to keep it
clean. A few bricks to serve the purpose Of a
CRATE, straw bed, and stool, constituted all the
furniture Of the little cabin and its only other
contents were heap Of Goals, a saucepan with
out a lid, fractured drinking-mug, and solita-
ry plate. For such miserable accommodations
the poor girl paid shilling weekly, mulctad reg
ularly every reckoning day from her wages
Her first act, on reaching home, was to kindle
fire, as well to warm her benumbed limbs as to
prepare breakfast, for which the lidless saucepan
was brought into immediate requisition. Indeed,
considering ali things, it fulfilled very effectively
the functions of cohee-pot; and mug of the
warm fluid, with some brown bread, composed
Of the worst possible grain, quickly supplied her
wants.
The red, flashing Goals shed a genial glow on
her face, chasing away its recent excessive pale
ness, and heightening its natural bloom. A soft
er, sweeter countenance it would be impossible
to imagine. Eyes of the purest azure-at once
quick, deep. and pensive, cleaned beneath lids
round and full, ana fringed with long Jet lashes,
poured tender radiance on her cheeks, which
had that rare delicacy Of coorng said to be caus-
ed by long seclusion from light. coarse fan
mel jacket, and trousers of the same material,
though made loose, showed but too clearly her
faultless contour, every graceful limb being in
singular beautiful proportion, an Inspiration for
Phidas.
Before long it was time to proceed 10 the pay,
and she reluctantly set forth, notwithstanding re-
newed apprehensions of meeting the detested dog
gle. The village, however, was now all astir,
and she was beginning to take courage from this
cheering circumstance, when there rose general
cry Of "Wor ork v' by which the miners were ac-
customed to warn each other Of the approach of
a constable; and, turning round, she perceived
Black Jem coming up the road, in company with
Stuck the marlborough.
CHAPTER v.
Milicent, recalling Black Jem's threat of the
previous night, had no doubt that the constable
was in pursuit of herself, and, winged BY fear,
she flew up the road, hoping to find protection
from some of the pit-men. A low. coal al-black-
ened beer-shop, at the end of the village of which
the butte was proprietor, now seemed haven of
refuge. Appointed as the place of pay. it was
thronged with the work people, both inside and
out, where, usual at roadside hostclries bench
es and tables, in this case Of the same unwhole-
some complexion as the house, accommodated a
large company:
s.Hilloa, Milly, what's the matter ?'' cried Jack
Rolin, as she came up. s'It amt thou the head
borough's arter, be t?''
"Yes," replied fiiiiicent. ''The doggie's set
him on me, all because won't take up with him,
in place of poor Sue"
"He! he'd have thou take up with him. would
he? He's noice un, don't think; but III tell
zee what, wench, thon'd best be hung first"
''He says he'll have me hung, Jack Oh don't
Zee let the marlborough take me-pray don't. If
l could only see the viewer, he wouldn't let me
be took, Pm sure"
'sNor | won't ayther, if can help it. But
what have they got against 'ee?"
''Its about dead babby as were found upon
me, and don't know how I'll be righted yet
It's all the more agen me, know /; but as true as
death, Jack, Pve done nowght wrong. What l
done was out O kindness, hke.s
"There's ne'er body alive would do kindness
sooner, lass, if so be thee could-that | know
and, slash me! won't see you put on. But be
very much afeard, though, if so be thee don't
speak out and tell the rights ont dead babby I'll
turn out cruel black agen you. Howsomever,
here they be, and We'll see what they's arter."-
And Black Jem and Stuck came up
''There she be Muster Stuck" observed Jem,
pointing at Millicent. ''Never moind them hol-
lern' out, but lug her aft, brisk"
''Hold hard Bit" said Jack Rollin. 81 won;
stand by and see the best wench in the village
hauled aft, and never speak up for her. Let me
fho Law o,,ls hnro mi 4
me for it, that's all.''
''Well done, Jack, )" resounded from all sides,
at the conclusion of this speech, while the whole
company crowded to the spot. 'Pluck up, Milly,
wench-pluck upp'
'sYou's had best all keep to your own consarns,
and let she be,'' cried Black Jem, looking round
with scowl. ''Never a one of you's III bounce
I, can tell ye''
''You'll none Of you nell with the queens Off
Ger, doubt,'' said the marlborough, Stuck, who,
to say the truth, did really seem to doubt it.
ssThen, don't thou nell of we,'' returned Jack
Rollin, still standing before Millicent.
sHere, don't have row about nothin'," inter-
rupted Sam Whitaker s'Whats the wench
done ?-what have you got agen her?'
''She's murdered a babby-that's what's agen
her." replied Black Jem, fercey. IL cotc6ed
her in the nick of it, and it's ME as has her took
up. Who's goin' to put stop to it?''
81 be-, answered Jack Rollin, sand so be the
WnOle lot on us. lpS all SaulHioh ABOUT muIuer-
in'-reglar gammon-and we won't stand and see
poor wench put on by dogge."
stBut you won't nell o. the queens officer
mister, nevertheless 20 urged Stuck, falterngly
percevng that the crowd were growing very ex-
! cited.
Before any one could reply, he was accosted by
the butte, who, as host Of the beer-shop, viewed
with great dissatisfaction any incident attracting
! attention elsewhere, and thereby suspending the
demand for beer.
"'I'll tell you what it is, Muster Stuck,' said
the butte, conidendially, "you'd best take your
self off, and leave this 'eer consarn for another
time. They're talkin o. givin' you ridin'."
ga ridin'"
eyes, carryn' you round the village, and then
duckin' you in the horsepond."
''No! surely said Stuck, rcceding ''They won;
| nell o. the queens officer, mister?''
! But the butte had turned to Black Jem and
Rollin, who were still in dispute.
"Now, then, be you goin' to foight it out, or
what?" he demanded. ''If you amt there's nc
use o. your keepin' on jawin'. Pm goin' to have
the pay Directly, and the chaps want drap o.
beaver, not this 'eer row kept up all about a
wench. Come, Jem, you be off. You see, you
borough boltin'."