Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-01

eve must have gone wrong at the cross
road, said Wilhelm; a. if this candle win but let
US read the signposts, we shall do"
But suddenly Hans gave false step, plunged,
ana over went W 1lheim, candle and all, on a
roadside bank. He jumped up unhurt, but Hans
and candle were gone.
Wilhelm swore some terrible Dutch oaths; all
at once he started at feeling a soft nose rubbing
his shoulder. Poor Hans had only been looking
for his master. With growl, Wilhelm re-
mounted As he did so, he wondered which way
Hans heard was turned, 1t was all so very con-
fusing if only the fog would lift
But 1t didn't, and they got hopelessly lost
Hours passed, miles were traversed once more
they found themselves back at the Office. This
time Hans was stirred again with difficulty, but
Wilhelm would not give up the effort
" 1t can't be more than nine O'Clock; won't
fail Lucy if there's aInortal way Of getting
there"
Again they proceeded, footpace this tina.
Hurrah he could see lights shining in the dis
lance.
:" Cheer up, Hans, old beast, we're right at last.
Now for Stony HILL"
Wilhelm had rejoieed too soon: a moment
later, and Hans had nearly sunk in quagmire;
the l'shts were will-o'-the-wisps. After intense
difficulty the poor horse was dragged out. Hans
shiyered with fright, and whined piteously.
Wilhelm Van der ROost was in despair; all
thought of his appointment with Lucy was lost
now in the thought of saving hts poor horses life.
1t was a terrible predicament. Taking the
weary horses bride, he slowly, step by step,
sought to regain firmet ground:
there. The fog may lift at midnight; if It
doesn't, we can but freeze to death instead Of
being smothered in the swamp"
Suddenly Wilhelm's head came in contact with
something hard.
What's that?' he cried, and felt it up and
down. Was ii tree trunk, or gate post? Hap
Ply thought was it the fnger-post at the cross
roads?
Slipping the bride over his arm, he climbed
up, and felt the four long arms stretching out.
Yes, il was the finger-post; now then, which led
to Grangely? There was the dificultyl He tried
to strike light with flint and STEEL but the fog
preventedhim There seemed no help for it but
waiting. He fretted to think of Lucy, lest she
should deem him false to his word.
But hark What was that sound that made
Wilhelms heart beat quicker, and cause poor
Hans to plume?
One, two, three, cling, clang, cling, rang out
the merry churck bells through the fog.
"Grangely bells, Grsngely bells!" cried Will
helm helm joySusly; They sounded 50 close and
The horse snorted, as If he too knew that
good thing had happened. Wilhelm mounted
once more, riding in the direction of the sound.
"Come this way, come this way" the bells
seemed to be pealing, loudly and more loudly.
ItSas all right, the road began to ascend;
impatient Hans had to slacken his pace up the
steep; stony bill At last the village lights began
to giimmer.
.ECling. clang, cling, ciang," still crashed the
bells, an Wilhelm rode by the church He had
no idea what time it was, but he would ride
straight to the barn door. Fortunately, the fog
was not nearly so dense up here, and he could
see around him.
Hans and tied him up. As he did so, a sound Of
sobbing fell on his ear, and he saw figure lean
ing against the door.
"Lucy!" he cried.
With spring she was in his arms AS fast as
he could, he told her of his peril, and how the
bells had saved him.
lads knew it was midnight, and they were afraid
20 cross the churchyard later for fear of ghosts.
Dame Metealfe looked at the clock; it wanted
one minute of twelve; she felt uncanny. Where
was Lucy? she didn't see her. She looked at the
best tea-set, which she and some gossips had
washed, replaced, and locked up in the corner
glass cupboard. No games were being played
now, and dancing was getting slack. Folks
were growing weary, and wanted to be home.
They got impatient at the heightened absence of
the boys. Old Reuben, now that fddling and
tipping had ceased, began to wonder whether
the pastor would blow him up tomorrow for the
untimely ringing Of the bells.
Lucy" called Dame Metcalfe, sharply;
"Lucy, child, where are your"
The big clock began to strike the hour slowly
and solemnly. At the first chime the door
opened, and in walked Meinherr Wilhelm Van
der Roost, wet and damp with fog, smoking
astonished. The Dutchman walked straight
up to the dame, utterly unooncerned by the
pipe in her lap, placed his hand on his heart
and drew shy little Lucy forward with the
other.
n sctH6 VI iutStIUHS, dIs"eIs, tAplhnAllOOS,
followed. A few minutes later the six lads stole
In, looking rather sheepish, for they feared
licking. When they came in, they found VIII
helm and Lucy sitting hand-in-hand, and the
dame herself heaping hot food on plate for his
supper. The story was briefly related to them,
and the boys suddenly found themselves heroes,
and gladly pocketed the broad piece Wilhelm
gave them, calling them the savers of his lite.
In gratitude for this, Wilhelm, before he re-
turned TO Holland, taking with him his faithful
Lucy, and her recipes for fat ducks and sausage
meats, left a sum Of money which was TO pay for
the ringing of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES bells
every 9Th of November. SO they ring to this day;
and the stranger in the village Is surprised about
ten O'Clock in the evening TO hear the bells ring,
cling clang, cling, through the night air. IfyOu
ask the cause the villagers say, "Those are the
Dutchman's bells"
i have heard them, and 80 can you, If you ever
60 to Grangely-super-Montem.
forgot 10 say Silly Billy was foundfast asleep
under the kitchen stairs, 50 ''some ones" ears
had played them false. Clearly 1t was the good
angels Of Wilhelm Van der ROost who rang the
bells.
As for Dame Metcalfe, she became q greater