Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02

came in: David first, for his step-father had
stopped to speak to somebody In the road.
But, David dear-you mast 90 to worces-
ter" she said. when he told her.
He'll never let me, mother" was David's
whispered answer. " He says the things mieht
be stolen If nobody takes care of them; and
Mac mtosh is afraid to be there alone.o
She paused and looked at him, a thought
his fond manner, his hand in hers.
Should you be afraid, Dayid?''
Not-l thiDk-with Luke. We are to be In
the same room" -
But Mrs, Hill noticed that his voice was hesi-
tating; that his small, weak hand trembled in
hers There was not more morally brave
heart than David Garth's; he had a religious
training; but at being alone in the dark he WAS
very coward, afraid of ghosts and gobblins
HILL, said she to her husband, when he
stamped In, wIping his shoes, the lad having
gone then TO wash his hands, 50 can't let David
timid."
2 Timid,. repeated Hill, staring at the words.
ny, Luke Macintosh will be with him."
% David won't like it. Macintosh is nothing
but a coward himself
Don't thee be . fool, and show it," returned
rough Hill. " They'll keep that boy a baby for
his life. Davy would as soon sleep In the house
alone as not. but for the folly put into his head
by you. And why not? He's fourteen"
Hill-to give him his due-only spoke as he
thought. That any one in the World. grown to
fourteen and upward, could be truly afraid of
sleeping IN house alone, was to him literally
incompreh ensible-a social phenomenon never
"Isaid he must 90 over to. Worcester to see
mother, James" she meelLy resumed; .'you
know L did"
"weIl, he can't go tonight; he shall 90 in the
morning. There! He may stop with her for a
week, an ye like, for all the good he is to me-
Mothers looking for him tonight, and he
Now just you drop 1t, for he can't be
spared" interrupted Hin. "The goods might
be stole, with all the loose characters there is
hSNurt arr1f 1.a&f .rl NF. ~
OF himself. Dayy must keep his company-it's
not so much he does for his keep-and he may
start for Worcester by daylight"
Whenever Hill came down upon her with his
Iesolute decision, 1t struck her timid forthwith,
The allusion to the boys keep was an additional
stab; for il was beginning to be a rather sore
subject. An uncle in Worcester, who had no
family and WAS well to do, had partly offered to
adopt the Lad; but it was not settled vet. Dsyy
was great favorite with all the relatives; Miss
Iimmens, the schOOl-mistress, doated on him.
STRANGE, made the best of the situation.
., n,Daayy, you are to to Worcester the first
,nning IN the morning. she said, when she came
you've been home and had a bit O. breaSfast
you shall run off to the train"
The tea over, Hill went out on some business,
saying be should be in at eight, or thsresbsuts.
70 go with Davy to the cottage. AS the hour
drew near, David, sitting over the fire with his
mother in pleasant talk, as they loved to do
asked IL he should read before he went: for her
habit was to read in the Bible to him. or cause
him TO read to her, the last thing
Yes, dear" she said. "Read the Ninety
SO David read it. Closing the book when it
was over, he sat with IL on his knee thought
fully.
'.lf we could but see the angels, mother, 1t is
50 difficult TO remember always that tlev are
close around, taking care Of us"
So 1t is, Davy. Most of us forget IT,"
when life's over it will be so pleasant for
them to carry us away to Heaven! wish YOU
and could 90 together, mother,
2 We shall each go when Godpleases, David"
"Oh, yes, know that"
yersation word for word, repeated il afterwarj
TO me and Others with how they had sat ami
Davids looks. / tell this for fear people might
Hill came IN, and they. prepared to go to the
other house. David, his arms fuli-for, OF
course, with things to be carried, they did not
the door in going out, flung his load down and
clasped his mother. She bent to kiss him.
I" Goodnight, my dear onel Don't you and
Luke get chattering all night. Go to sleep be-
He burst Into tears, cIinging to her with tremb-
ling sobs. IT was as If his heart were breakup
g Are you afraid to go?'' she whispered.
must GO" was the sobbing answer
&" Now, then, Dayy," called Back Hills rough
tones, "what the plague are You tagging for3r
Say good-by 70 me, mother' Say good-by!"
81 Good-by, and God bless YOU David. Re-
member the angels are around you!,
know! KNOW
Catching MP his bundles, he departed, keep
ing some PAGES behind Hin ali the way; partly
to hide his face, down which the tears were
raining; partly in his customary awe of that
formidable funetionary who stood to him as
Arrived at the house Hill was fumbline for
the key, when some one came dtrtin y,forth from
under the shadow of MS caves. 1t proved to be
Luke Macintosh ssss l..s.- stf
q 1 was a-lOOking round for yOu," said crusty
Hill. 81 began to think you'd forgot the time
o meeting"
No, I'd not forgot it; but I've come to say
that can't oblige you by sleeping there" was
Luke's reply. "The master have ordered me off
with the wagon afOre dawn, and so-Fm going
to sleep at home"
Had been there. 1 could have said the mas
ter had not ordered Lake OF before dawn, but
after his breakfast. IL just a ruse of his to
avoid doing what he had never relished, the
sleeping in the house. Hill suspected as much
and went on at him finely. mockingly asking
him If he was afraid to see a hObgoblin. Luke
lodged away in the midst Of it and Hill relieved
his passion By little hot language.
Come aleng, Dayy," said he, at last; "wc
mnst pat thesc mere things inside.s
CnJcking, the door, he went in: and, the first
thing, fell against something or other in the
a light, the fire having gone out. This lower
room was full of articles, thrown down out OF
hand; for the putting things straight was left to
the morrow.
Garry the match afore me, Davy. These
blankets must go up stairs"
By some oversight no candles had been taken
to the house; only the box of matches. David
lighted one after the other, while Hill arranged
the blankets on the mistress for sleeping. This
room, the one that had the sky-light, was to be
Davids. .afrrE
"There, !" said Hill, taking the box of matches
from him, ''you'n be comfortable here till
morning. If you find it cold, you might keep
on your trowsers."
David Garth stood specifies, look of hor-
ror struggling TO his face. In that first moment
he dared not TO demonstrate; his awe Of Hill was
too great.
Whats the matter now?" asked Hill, strik-
ing another match. - What ais y0u?''
you'll not leave me here, all by myself:'
whispered the unhappy boy, In desperate cour
age.
Not leave you here by YOURSELF WHY,
what dye think is to harm you? Don't you try
on your nonsense and games with me, Master
Davvy. I'm not soft, like your mother. Say
your prayers and get to sleep, and I'll come and
let you out in the morning."
BY a dextrous movement, Hill got outside,
andSclosed the door softly, slipping the bolt.
The match in his fingers was nearly spent; but,
nevertheless, il had shown last faint vision of
boy kneelilg in supplication, his hands held
out, his face ONE Of piteous agony. As Hill
struck another match 10 light up the staircase,
wailing cry mingled with the sound entreaties
to be let out; prayers not to be left alone; low
means, telling of terror.
Drat the boy! This comes of his mothers
linz EAsalA Ilax-