Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-30

[rnoM THE Peoples MAGAZINE. j
AN ENGLISH STORY.
MR.. VINEYARDS WARD.
CHAPTER VII.


gradual ascent from the river, Pennie could
discern the front Of the Abbey, all the win
dows blank except one on the ground floor,
which shone with red glow through the
twilight. She said to herself that there Mr..
Tindal was, anu when she lost il again, at
the entering into the woods, she felt that the
night had fallen dark all at once. Under the
fir-trees 1t was very gloomy, but up near the
Abbey the plantations opened into glades
and winding paths of shrubbery, through
which again were glimpses of the grey walls,
the bright window, and the shadowy gar
dens. AT a certain point. Mrs Croft wait
ed until Pennie came up, and while profes-
sing to take breath, managed to intimate,
without calling Dicks attention, that here
abouts was the place from whence had come
the shot that killed Hugh Tindal. Pennie
shivered irrepresibly as she glanced round on
the undistinguishable bushes growing close
to the ground, with the boles of tall trees
springing up amongst them, and the black
clump of yews not ten PAGES off on the open
slope of the lawn.
Five minutes more brought them to the
lodge, on the steps of which stood Pierce.
In answer to Mrs. Croft's inquiries, he said
his master had passed a favourable day, and
had been out little while in the garden.
Dick went no further than the old Abbey
gateway, and once on the high-road, Pennie
and her mother slept out fast. 1t was dry,
sharp night, with an eerie east wind whisp-
ering in the rookery trees which spread their
broad boughs over the garden wall, and
darkened the path. The church and the vi
Garage stood about midway between Rood
and Mayiield, and they had just crossed the
the graveyard, which cut off an angle, and
shortened their walk, when Pennie said she
was sure she heard child crying, and stop
ped to listen. Her mother urged her to
come on, but the pitiful little voice rose
shrill and terrified, and she could not resist
the impulse to run back along the road to
see II the child were alone. No; lying on
the path under the churchyard wall was
q woman, fallen insensible, so far as Pennie
could judge-at all events, fallen helpless
and running to and fro, equally helpless,
making the night echo with her cries, was
little girl, bare-footed, bare-headed, all one
flutter of ragged clothing and ragged hair
Her loud complaint had been heard at the
vicarage also, and as Mrs. Croft reached the
spot, female servant appeared hurryin {
down from the house.
"She's drunk, l dessay. Whisht, BARN
whisht, you're enew to deaye body 7
grumbled the last conner. "Oh, Mrs. Croft
maam' is that you! Its so dusk, didn'
know you at the moment, I'm sure"
Apologies and compliments were abbrevi
ated by the arrival first OF the vicar, anf
tnen OF the wears man. By TINS time ZEN
ME ana her motner haa cohtfived 10 rais'
the iorlofn wayiarers head' ana TO discerr
'hat IL was pfopopiy hlnine' anu not urlnk
Una. haa oVer'aheh ner on ner Journey. Ih'
vicar oruefca NERO pe carried ineo ms kitcn
en- anu whiie 1iiis was peing aone' fennl'
tired her pest TO still the child IL was 1000
ana warmth she craVed rather than caresses
ana though her Keen cry sank to wall
the slgnt OF the hrc ana the strange faces,
SOUNDED even more distressing AS soon a
'ney haa seen the poor wars taken unde
SHELTER Mrs Croft whispered to Pennle tina
they were IN good hands, and she had bette
leave them, and come away; Tor she coul'
be oil no use, ana perhaps would only be il
the way.
The stranger had been set down ina chai
by the hearth, and divested OF a tattere
shawl that covered her head. While Mrs
Featherston administered strong stimulant
to restore her to consciousness, the chill
crouched beside her, quiet now, deyourin
cake that the cook had given her. She az
peared about seven or eight years old bu
she either could not, or would not, answe
the questions put to her, except only tba
her name was Alice, and the woman was he
mother. Presently, like a little tired doc
she coiled herself up and went to sleen
was SO long before the woman showed an
signs of returning sensibility that Mrs. Fe,
therston grew alarmed. and would bav
Doctor Grey sent for; but before he coul
arrive she.had rallied had taken some foot
and had risen to be gone. This, howeye
the vicar would not permit, and when sl
saw he was percmptory, she resigned he
self and sat passively staring into the fire.
Oh! the wan, wasted, dreadful face. Mr.
Featherston, who was round little ros
button of woman, and knew nothing oftl
wicked world but what she read in goe
books, looked at it like a revelation. Th
} was the manner of face that haunted Il
ghastly London lanes where the Bible-wor
J en- went to seek out souls that were peris
ing. This was the mask that womanly bea
ty took on when guilt and misery had drenc
! ed the womanly nature through and throug
What did she here-offscouring of some 70
city streets-in the green lanes of Eskdale
IL DR.. Grey arrived in fuss is was muc
t the messenger had told him, If he found Il
. woman alive when he got to the yicarag