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

You had been dreaming of him, that's what
II was. You've got nothing else in your mind
Gay or night, but that there boy"
1T was not dream; l am quite positive il
was himself; couldn't mistake his voice." per-
sisted Mrs. Hill. He has come away from the
cottage, for sure. Perhaps that Luke Macin-
tosn might have got teasing him."
Knowing what Hill knew, he could safely
have stood out that the boy could not have come
away from It; bat he said no more. Rolling
himself round, he prepared to 60 to sleep again,
resentful at having been woke up.
Hill oversleptl himself in the morning; possibly
through the interruption to his rest. When he
went out il was broad daylight David Gsrth,s
being locked UP half an hour m ore or less went
for nothing with Hill, and he staid to load the
truck with some Of the remainder of his goods.
Send Dayy home at once, Hill" called ont
the wife, a. he began to wheel 1t away. I'U
give him his breakfast and let him start Of to
the train" - = y
For, with the daylight, and the sight of the
door-key, Mrs Hill could only reverse her opin-
ion, and conclude unwillingly that II might
have been q dream Hill showed her the kew,
telling her that he had locked the door s.for
safety Therefore, it appeared To be an i'm
possibility that David could have got out
The first thing Hill saw when he and his truck
approached the cottage, was young Jim Bailey,
mounted ON the roof and hammering away at
the sky-light with his freezing hands. jim, a
regular sailor for climbing, had climbed a tree
and thence swung himself on to the tiles Hill
treated him to some hard words, and ordered
him to come down and get a licking. Down
reach.
~ can't make David hear, said Jim. GIVE
got to go to Timberdale, and want him to 90
along with me-"
"That's no reason why you should get atop o.
my roof roared Hin. "You look out for
sweet hiding, young Jim. The first tine / get
hold on you, you shall have il kindly So look
out"
"He sleeps uncommon hard,v said Jim.
" One nd think the cold had froze him. I've
letter n INV laro dol
get there"
Hill condescended to abate his anger so far as
to inform Jim Bailey that David could not 20 to
Timberdsle; adding that he was going off by
train to see his grandmother at Worcester Or
dering Jim to take himself OFF, he unlocked the
door and entered the cottage.
Jim Bailey chose to stay. He was tall, thin
obstinate fellow of eleven, and meant to wait
and speak to David. Given to follow his own
way, whenever he could, in spite Of his father
and mother, it occurred 10 him that PERHAPS
David might be persuaded to take Timberdaie
frst and the train after.
He amused himself amid the dead leaves while
ne waited. But IL seemed that David took a
long while dressing himself. The truck stood at
the door; Jim stamped and whistled; SHE'D few
stones at the topmost article, which was Mrs.
Hiii's potato-saucepan Presently Hill came
out and began to unload; beginning with the
saucepan. ..-.
Where's Davy?" demanded Jim, from
Now, if you don't get Off about your bust
ness III make You co." was Hills answer, keen
ing his back turned to the boy. "You haven't
got nothing to stop for here."
I'm stopping to speak to Davy."
Davy was away out o. here afore daylight
t ana TOOK the first train to Worcester. He's
Young boys are not clever reasoners; but GER
tam odds and ends of contradictions passed
through ,Jims disappointed mind. For one
thlng, he had seen Hill unlock the door.
don't think he's gone out yet. 1 see his
boots"
:" What boots?" asked Hill, putting a band
boX inside the door.
Davys- see 'em through the sky-light:
they stood near the tail of the Mattress
r., mem was pair O. my boots rs carried
believe? He won't be home for some days
neither, FOR his grandmother's safe to keep him."
jim Barley went slowly off on his way to Tim
oerdalei there was nothing to stay for, Davy be-
ing gone. Happening TO turn round, he caught
Hill looking after him, and saw his face for the
INST time 1t had turned as white as death. The
contrast was very remarkable, from its being
"Well, 1 never!" cried Jim, hating i'm sur
prise. mMayhap the coldhave took him! Serve
When Hin had got all the things inside, he
looked himself in, probably not to be disturbed
while he arranged them. Mrs. Hill had been
waiting breakfast ever SO long, when she heard
the truck coming back.
" Whatever's become of Dayid?" she began
q expected him home at once"
4" David has started for Worcester" said Hill.
, " Started for Worcester! Without his break
Z" Now don't you worry yourself about petty
things returned Hill, crustily. IS You wanted
h m to go, and he's gone. He won't starve: let
him alone for that" .- -.--r
The notion assumed by Airs. Hill was, that her
husband had started the boy of from the cottage
direct to the train. She felt thoroughly vexed
:. He had got all his old clothes on, Hill. I'd
for any money You might have let the child
come home for bit of breakfast-and to dress
himself. There was not 50 much as a brush and
comb at the place to brush his hair tidy"
There's no pleasing YOU" growled HILL
+" asst night you were Almost in tantrum o.
crying, cause Davy couldn't be lot 20 over to see
your mother; and, now that he is gone, that don't
Mrs. Hill dropped the subject-there could be
no remedy-and gave her husband his reakfast
In silence. Hin seemed to eat nothing, and
looked very pale; at moments CHASTITY.
. Don't you feel well?' she asked.
"Well?-Pm well enough What should all
the cold? It's-as sharp frost as
ever 1 was out IN" .-.
Drink this she Sid, pouring him ont
another cup of hot tea. a. 1t is cold and Pm
sorry we've got it for our moving What time
shall We get in to-day, Hill?"
90 Not at ALL"
"Not at all" repeated the wife in surprise.
g No, not at all % was Hills surly cOnfrma-
ton. What, with you disabled, and Davy o.
be. I've got to be Off to my work too, pretty
quick, or the Squirrel II be about me. We shan't
get in till Tomorrow" y
Z" But nearly all our things are in," she re-
monstrated. There's as eo)d as nothing left
here" u
. L tell ye we don't 60 in afore Tomorrow"
said Hill, giving the table a thump. Cant
you be satisfied with that?" 4
He went OF to his work. Mrs. Hill accepting
the change as inevitable, resigned herself to it, l
and borrowed a saucepan to cook the potatoes
for dinner. She might have spared herself the /
trouble; since her husband did not come in for
any. He bought penny loaf and some cheese,
and made his dinner of it inside our yellow barn,
Molly giving him some beer. He had done il
before when very busy; but the work he was
about that day was in no such hurry, and he
might have left it If he would.
"Who is to sleep in the house to-night?" his
wife asked him when he got home to tea.
- shall ," said Hin. 6" won't be beholden to
nobody"
"Mrs. Hill, remembering the experience of
the past night, quaked a little at finding she
should have to sleep in the old place, devoutly
PRAYING there might be no recurrence Of the
dream that had put her into such mortal terror.
She and Davy were just alike-frightened at
their own shadows in the dark. When Hill was
safe of. she scattered into bed, and kept her
he ad under the clothes.
Hill came back betimes in the morning; and
they moved i'm at once; old Coney's man, who
happened to be cut with the dog-cart, Offering
to drive Mrs. Hill. Though her ankle was better
and the distance short, she could hardly have
walked. Instead of finding the hOuse in order