Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-15


bands flight had been fatal error, which it
was now too late to mend.
1t was dusk when the travellers arrived,
all of them very quiet and weary. Mr.John
Hutton had parted from, them at Norminster
to return to Brackenfeld. Mr.. Wynyard
came in shivering and shuddering with cold
and Lois failed to recognize the father she
most lovingly remembered, in the crouching,
blue-lipped, despondent-vl -vlsaged man, who
made nervous and hurried response to their
welcome, and Immediately shrunk into a
chair by the drawing-room fire, and spread
his lean white hands to the blaze,
care you there, Mary?" he asked a
minute Or two after, turning his face to the
open door. Mrs. Wynyard appeared, Francis,
Geoffrey, and Maurice following her, and
old nurse bringing up the procession.
"I'm blithe to see you home again, mas
teri" cried Jenny, loudly and shrilly, as if
addressing person hard of hearing. I've
looked forward to it, an have allus said
should live to see It,"
"There, there, my good soul, / am not
deaf" replied Mr. Wynyard, testify. SIT is
Jenny, is it Mary, If there is fire in the
library, think will go in there, and be
quiet tonight"
The sight Of so many obscryant faces about
him, though they were his childrens, dis
turbed him. Perhaps, also, his retirement
was relief to them. They did not talk
much about him, and what they did say was
in shy whispcrs-that they should not have
known him; that he looked feeble and jaded;
that he seemed not very clear which of them
was which, except mamma. They did not
consider that the change from little children
to tall boys and girls, which had advanced
for them imperceptibly, was made at one
spring for him, and that they were really
strangers to their father at first sight. Pene-
lope Croft, who had withdrawn herself until
the meeting was past, came downstairs to
cat at Lois's summons, and found the young
people seated round the table in unwonted
silence, with no signs of joy at his much
wishcd-for coming home. There was, in
face, sense of pain and disappointment
more or less present in the minds of all and
Lois could hardly swallow a morscl for her
choking tears, that she tried to repress
On the morrow Mr.. Wynyard looked moro
like his former self again; and whatever his
secret burthens, he was bodily at ease in the
old library, of which he was put in sole and
peaceable possession. He did not yet sue
ceed in talking freely to his children; and
after paying him a brief visit, they all left
the library together, with the air of escaping.
Penelope Croft went in afterwards alone to
make her compliments, and was equally re-
lieved when her duty was done. So also
was he. A man of kind and honorable dis
position cannot look comfortably on those
who, he knows, must eat the fruits Of his
neglects, mistakes, and misdeeds.
His wife gave him her company all day.
He did not dlate on his sordid shifts and
mean privations abroad, but he said enough
to let her infer them, and compassionate him
for his tedious and degrading sufferings. II
was not these, however, that. set the look
of hcart-brcak on her face, which she wore
when she came out to the children after Mr.,
. Hargrove had been and gone-his first inter
view with his ruined client over. 1t was tht
,. dread he left behind him, menacing the
future, that did that.
The news of such an event as Mr.. Wyn
1 yards return to Eastwood was soon bruitet
t through the length and breadth of the dale
s and few of his old friends rode over tt
d show their respect. But he refused to Sc
: them on the plea of ill-health, and NOR
i than week elapsed before he was preyaile
n on to cross the threshold of his house.
IS There then enused a spell of rare weathe
e for December-we weather soft, warm, and hazy
y with occasional hours of sunshine in til
le morning. While the frost and snow endured
u he hugged the library fireside closely; b,
u Lois, prompted by her mother, told him on
e' day who the air had changed, and invite
him to come out with her and see He WI
III reluctant to move at first; but being owe
W persuaded, he consented, wrapped himse
up in warm plaid, and accompanied her
u languid stroll to and fro the sheltered te
a race. The next day heyenturcd little we
rk into the park and the next day after tn
en- again, Francis happening to mention Cra
he tree, as confined to his chair, Mr.. Wynya
We proposed walking down to the lodge to s.
ng him.
uu Old Crabtiees working times were no
'e' over, and he was declining fast into crus
seniity. 81 heerd yo had gctten hon
he Master Robert thof seed no welcomes u
ia' nor arches o green, like there used to be.
en These is bad times, doubt, bad times at t
gu Ha'," was his puzzle-witted greeting.
,w "They might improve, Crabtree /; but wi
ther they do or no, you will soon have do
nd with them" iv
;at "Maybe not so soon as yersel, SOUR
~. maybe not SO soon as yersel'. Use not
~, cranky but that can hear an see, an
i. my food, tho cannot go as | did. Ill
~, grove passes most days, an' marks him
~. Shifty dog, that lIargrovc; sliifty dog, ,Squi
49, l nivcr could Tickle him, Try as would;
as | mistrust him for a the mischiets thu
~, come upo' the IIa'. He is like what Pars
=, Brown says of { auld una liar far
.r- beginning.
be Mr.. wynyard was disconnected by t
her plain speaking before Francis, and he mi
fn, his visit short. When he was gone, Or
elv tree called TO his daughter, Farmer Dyl
on dairy woman, who lived at the lodge, to tt
,a,. care oi him ''Molly, blast o death W
i'm out agcn the Squire as he shut to the dc
,ow II is much if he lives to see New Year. "
ute Molly was practical body, with so mi
gly. anxietes of milk and butter and eggs on
low mind, that she gave very little heed at
time to her fathers dark sayings. She g
,unt none now, but went about her work Of
md, ting the cottage to right all the more moi
YES and diligently for having had a rest W
we're the Squire was there; and the old man p
vay emily sank back into the drowsy apathy f
hen which he had been momcntarily roused
had Meanwhile, Mr.. Wynyard and Fra
fe to pursued their road up the avenue tow
tiers the house. When they had gone about
husi | vay twO common men evidently stran