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

till Hill arrived. After this, it wouldn't have
been over kind to leave her to herself: she
looked 80 weak and little.
I've never liked the thought of moving here
from the first, she went on; land then there
came the accident to nv foot. Some people
but do. They come oftener than IS thought
fpr, too, only 90 few take notice OF them. wish
Davy vas backi can't bear to be in this house
J david is ct Worcester, 30 Hin savs.p
he went yesterday morning, sir, expected
q letter from him to-day; and it is very curious
that none has come. Davy knew how anxious
was about mother; and he never fails to write
are going crooked and cross just now. got a
fright the night before last, Master johnny, and
I've not got quite rid of il yet" B
"What was that?" j asked her. sfh
She stared into the fire for minute or two
before she answered me. There was no OTHER
light in the room; sat back against the wall
beside the window-whose shutters were still
open.
You might not care to hear il, sir"
should, If it's worth telling"
Turning from the fire, she looked straight at
me while she told it-told it from the beginning
to the end, exactly as I've written 1t above
.. Hill stood to it that it was dream, Master
Johnny; but the more think Oft the less be-
lieve it could have been one. III had only
waking, why, of course, It might have been a
dream; but when heard it the second time il
was after woke. heard it as plain as L hear
my own voice now; and palmer, too.
but what else, except dream do YOU fancy
II could have been?"
"Well, sir, that's what is puzzling me. Bat
ior hliI's convincing me, Davy could not have
Macintosh in for safety, should have said il
was the boy himself, calling me from outside.
lt sounded to be in the room, close to me: but
t me fright was in might have deceived me in
was one of the most awful distress had evar
heard. "Mother!" it WV
A loud rapping at the window interrupted the
climax. am not ashamedto say that it startled
me, coming so Unexpectedly Mrs. Hill screamed
out shrill scream, and darted forward to catch
,,. Let me 60 Somebody wants to be let in. 1
Master Johnny, | beg your pardon" she
than to come frightening me like this"
opened the door, and Miss Timmens walked
In; not Hill. The knocking had not been in
tended to frighten anybody, she said, but as a
greeting to Mrs. Hiil-seen in front of her
through the glass
You know you always were one of the
quaking ones, Nanny" she said. /" I've Just
got back from Worcester, and thought you'd
IKE to hear that mothers better"
And 1t s well you are back, Miss Timmens,
! put In. {" The school has been in chronic re-
b 6eillon; Strangers going by have taken it for
"That Maria Lease is just good for nothing
offered to take my place knew she'd not be Of
much use. Yes, sir, it was the thought Of the
school that brought me back so soon."
Hill. Z" am so thankful. If she had died and
not able to get over to her, L should never
have forgiven myself How's David?',
Miss Timmens looking round the room, and not
noticing the question about David.
straight! and only moved in the morning!
and me with this ankle! About David?" added
n. i Wa xaI <y.atI
In his old clothes! 1t was Hills fault. Have
you brought me letter from him?"
How could bring you letter from him?''
returned Miss luminous. "a letter from
WHEREOF
1t was minute or two before the calculation
came, LOT ooth were at cross purposes. David
Garth had not been at Worcester at all, so tar as
mothers.
To see Mrs. Hill sink back into her chair at
TINS information, and let her hands fall on her
lap, and gaze helplessly from her frightened
eyes, was only to be expected. Miss Timmens
kept asking what it all meant, and where David
was, but she could get no answer. So told her
What mother Hill Just told me-about Hills
sending him Oft to Worcester. She stared like
anything. :
boy have gone to-"
:" see it ALL" spoke the mother then, in a
whisper. "Davy did find his wav out of this
house; and it was his voice heard, and not a
dream knew it. knew IL at the time"
The words would have sounded mysterious,
rather, To any one given to mystery. Miss Tim.
mems was not. She was long, thin female,
with chronic spots Of redness on her nose and
one cheek, and as practical as could be. De-
handing what Mrs. Hill meant by mot
dream, I" she stood warming her boots at the fire
" While she was beng enlightened.
+" The boy Is keeping away for fear Of Hills
tanning him. spoke Miss Timmens, summing
81 should, if could see how he got out of the
cottage here, after Hill had locked him in it,"
Luke Macintosh put him out at this win
dow," said Miss Timmens, decisively. " Hill
couldn't lock up that. They'd open the shut
tiers, and Luke would pop him out to get rid of
the Z, boy, no doubt. Mr.. Luke ought to be pun
did not contradict her. OF course 1t might
have been so; but knowing Luke, didn't think
he'd care to be left in the house alone. Unless
Luke sent away David, that he might be Off him
self. Amidst a good deal of mist, this view
seemed the most probable.
"Where is David?" bemoaned Mrs. Hill,
/" Now, don't you worry yourself, Nanny, - in
terrupted strong minded Miss Timmens. 90 I'll
see to David; and bring him home, too"
The cough of Hill was heard outside. Miss
had been in dead rage at the
and consequently hated Hill like
poison-hastened to depart. We went away to-
gether, passing Hill by the dried brook. He
looked stealthily at us, and answered back a
surly good night to me.
"1,m sure don't know where am to look
for the boy first" began Miss Timmens, as we
went along. Poor fellow! he is keeping away
out Of fear. 1t would not surprise me If Macin-
tosh is taking care OF him. The mans not ILL
-.
81 don't understand why Hill should have
told his mother David was gone to Worcester"
David never went to Worcester, rely upon
that, Master Ludlow, /" was her decisive answer.
" He is well known at Shrub Hill Station, and
i could not have failed 10 hear of it, for one Of
the pOrters lodges in mothers house; besides,
David would have come down to us at once.
Good night, sir. dare say he will turn up be-
fore Tomorrow"
She went on toward the school house, I, the
other way to Crabb Cottage. Mrs. Todhetley
and the Squire we're talking together by the
blaze Of fire, waiting until old Thomas came to
say dinner was ready.
"Where have you been lingering this cold
evening, Johnny" began the Squire. "Don't
yOu get trying the ponds, sir; the ice is not of
more than wafer thickness"
Kneeling down on the rug between them, to
hold my hands to the warmth, told where /
had been, and what l had heard. Mrs. Tod.
hetley, who seemed to have been born with
sympathy for children, went into a lamentation
over-it was what she said-that poor little gen
tie lamb, David.
Macintosh is about somewhere" spoke the
Squire, ringing the bell. 1--WE will soon hear
whether he knows what has become Of the boy"
Thomas was ordered to find Macintosh and
send him I'm. He came presently, shy and
sheepish. as usual, Standing lust inside the