The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-19
CHAPTER XIX.

The news Of Rosanna's disappearance had, as
il appeared, spread smoug the out-Of-door ser
wants. They too had made their inquiries; and
they had just laid hands on on quick little
imp, nicknamei 'Duffy'-who Was occasionally
employed in wecling the garden, and who had
seen Rosanna Spcarman as lately rs half M
hour since. Duffy was certain that the girl
had passed him In the fr-plantstion, not walk
ing, but running, in the direction Of the sea-
shore.
.DOes this boy know the coast hercsbOuts p
asked Sergeant Cuff.
lie has been born and bred on the coast
answered.
Duffy says the sergeant, do you want to
earn shilling' II you do, come along with
me. Keep the pony-chaise ready, Mr.. Better
edge. till | come back
lie started for the shivering Sand at rata
that my legs (though well enough preserved
for my time Of life) had no hope Of matching
Little Duffy. as the way is with the young saw
ages in our parts when they are in high spirits,
gave h wi and trotted OF ut the sergeant''
heels.
Here. again, I find il impossible to give any
thing like . clear. account Of the state Of my
mind in the interval after Sergeant Cuff had
len US. A curious and SIMPLIFYING restlessness
got possession Of me. l did . dozen different
needless things in and out Of the house, not one
Of which l can now remember. Idon't ever
know. how long IL was affer the sergeant had
gone TO the Sinds. when Duffy came came run
ming back with q message for me. Sergean,
Cuif had given the boy a leaf torn out Of his
poeket-book, on which was written In pencil
Send me one Of ROsanna Spearman's boots, AMI
be quick about it,
dispatched the first woman-seryant I could
hnd Ia Rosanna's room and I sent the boy
back to say that myself would follow him with
TIE boot.
This, | am well aware. was not the auickes,
way 10 take Of obeying the directions which |
had received. But | was resolved to see for
myself what new mystihcstion was going on,
before trusted Rosanna's boot in the sergeant.
hanJis. My old notion Of scrrenins the girl Il
l could seemel TO have come hack on me again
at the eleventh hour. This state Of feeling (tc
say nothing Of the detectiye~fe,er) hurried ms
of, as soon rs the boot was put in my hands,
Mt the nearest approach to run which a man
turned seventy can rcasoeably hope to hope 10
make.
As got near the shore the clouds gathered
black and the rain came down, drifting in grva;
white sheets Of water before the wind heard
the thunder Of the ses on the ssnd-bsnk ut the
m5uth Of the bay. A little further on rasscl
the boy erouehing Zoe shelter under the lee Of
sand-hills. Fhen saw the raging sen, and the
rollers tumbling in on the sind-bank. and the
driven rain sweeping over the waters like . ay-
ing garment. and the yellow wilderness Of the
beach with ono solitary black figure ttanding on
1.-THE figure of Sergeant CUT.
lie waved his hand toward the north when he
hrst saw me. Keep ON that siler' he shouted.
And come on down here 10 me"
went down TO him. choking for breath, with
my heart leapng as IL Il was like 10 leap out ol
me. was past speaking. had q hundred
questions to put TO him; and not one Of them