Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-04-16

10Y ran off Is fast Is his legs would carry

boy ran of Is fast Is his legs would carry
him.
"All right I'm blest IL II IL though f.
think you're going to ride all the way from
Croydon here for nothing 70 young rascal" "
| The driver pulled up his horses, and looked
after his flying fare for q few seconds, as
if he had great mind to get down from his
box and give chase; but as tho boy was &C.
tive and had fair start, and time was proba.
bly, valuable, heshOuted 4 very good d-humored
threat after him, and drove on.
Mary had looked after him too with such
utter astonishDent that her own troubles
were forgotten. Tier eyes had tears in them,
to bC sure; bat there was no mistaking the
personal identity Of Master Samuel. She flew
to the street door, and could just sec his figure
In the distance. The coach turned the corner
In the opposite direction, and then the boy
appeared to stop and to be watching whether
any one was coming in pursuit lie began
slowly TO rctracc his steps towards the door
where Mary was standing, and Mary hardly
waited for him 10 he within reasonable dis
tancc to wave her handkerchief in the hope Of
attracting ghisattention. The movement seemed
rather suspicious one to the fugitive, for he
halted and recOnnOitered afrcsh Mary ran
last Samuel recognized friend. lie was hur
ricd into the house, and questioned as well as
his sisters agitation would allow her.
Samuel had run away from school. "Inn't
going to black Binn's boots, nor spend all my
money In buying paunchas to feed his dog,
nor to have nuts cracked on my head with
Vardy's dicsnary, nor have my tea stirred
with tallow candle, nor be locked up on
half holiday. ] cut away this morning-mc
and another did,"
Where was he going to now" Mary asked.
swell, was coming here first, to see what
aunt Martha'd say, and then I'm going home
TO mother. rode oil tho way from Croydon
here, you see, but hadn't got q sixpOncc.--
Vardy said he'd skin me if didn't lend him
all | had left, % jumped of by here, you scC,
without paying; didn't manage it primc?-
What will mother say, do you think Mary ="
Mary could have told him that Mrs. Simp-
son was not likely at present to give him q
very warm welcome. But sudden thought
had struck her. She would take Samuel with
her-cvcn he was sort Of protection and
fellow culprit-and go down at once to her
father at Barton End. She would tell him
everything, and follow his advice faithfully,
for he never would urge her 10 give up George.
Samuel was delighted with the proposal
Mrs. Simpsons moods were uncertain with all
her family, and II was quito matter Of spccu-
latiOn with him during his flight, whether she
would kiss and pity him on his arrival, or
send him to bed in preparation for the early
coach back to the hated school in the morning
And to 60 down to Barton End II is worth
running away for, even If the master flogged
him (he couldn't think Vardy meant to skin
him) when he was sent back. The old pony
might be living In the park still, possibly
OF course he should like to 60 to Barton End
It was ascertaincd upon inquiry that q
coach would pass in the afternoon, which
would set down Mary and her brother soon
after dark within mile Of the house. Sam
ucl was in terror lest the c0achman should be
his old acquaintance Of the morning; but even
he should be propitiated, Mary assured him,
by on extra shilling. The boys company
had already done her good She listened to
all his school troubles, and promised that If
he went back and was Q good boy, the abso-
lutte power Of DiDns and Vardy should be
modified. II was strange, Mary thought, that
even these boys should begin thus early to
torment each other; she wondered whether
there was any happiness anywhere in the
w0rldi
Samuel was ravcnously hungry, having run
away without his breakfast, which reminded
Mary that she had done the same; appetite is
very infectious, and she was indebted to his
example for not refusing entirely, as she felt
very much disposed to do, the extemporc lun.
chcOn which aunt Martha's maid was quito
ashamed Of, but which Master Simpson pro.
nounccd to be "primc." Mary wrote hasty
note to Augusta, to say she was gone to her
father, and rather longer ones, not nearly SO
Ineligible, to George and to her aunt, and
took her scat in the coach with sinking
heart. 1t wnsa miserable journey, this look.
cd for visit to Barton End; she dreaded the
sayi Mary had never given him one mo-
ments trouble. He had been fond Of saying
80 to her when they we're alone; she was
his hearts pride and delight lie would think
her right, she was sure; but must she be the
wrctchcd instrument Of breaking up oil his
family happiness? Still, she never hesitatcd
or repentcd for an instant. She must be true
to George. She would never have suffered
herself to think Of him; would have smother.
cd her fist feelings toward him az she might,
had either father or mother forbidden their
intimacy, would give him up even now, if he
was-what he had been called that morning;
SO she stepped out in the dark evening on tho
strange road where the turn to Barton was,
with weak and tottcring step, but with az
strong heart as when she had said to her
mother, "I can 60 to him."
1t was long, lonely milo to Barton End
but straight road, the coachman had said
and she had famous company. For Samuel
had begged to go outside, and for the last few
miles had sat on the box, had heard wondrous
tales Of horses, and taken the coachman into
his confidence as to his running away, and in
formed him Of his prospective ownership o.
Barton End, and, in short, talked in such mag
nificcnt style as must have abashed Binns
Co. forever could they but have heard him.
But he was very quiet now, partly from som,
misgivings as to the meeting with his father
and partly because Mary clasped his hand "
tight and trembled 90, and walked 80 very
FAST and then stopped for breath, that Samue
was rather frightened. Hc little knew that
In the eyes Of the world, poor Mary was By
far tho greater culprit Of the two. lie begaI
again At this last moment, as he had done be
fore during the day, to enlist hOr on his sid
against tho offended powers.
say, Polly dear, say good word for me
don't let 'eln send me back again straight, q
they did one boy, and they kept him on brea,
and wntrr for = week, and Aoggcd him twic
every day, and hc went and drowned himself
ahd there's his bones plain In the we'll now
. and his ghost comes up on Overy Saturda,
night IN the bucket"
"Dont talk such nonsense, Sam" said hi
sister, though she scarcely heard his words.
swell, but Vardy told me 10, and he show
, ed me something white down IN the water
} and told me 10 20 and draw the bucket M o