National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-01-12

! anu IoUl tHc CliiH'' - WIS i"""'"-'
wi h an expression OF countenance thar
made the nurse rush 10 his SHE and say,
- Bless G Mr., Twiuklefon you aIcn't
i'll, are you &"
Basket! what basket y gas2ed Tim.
"Why the clotle,-basket tLat stood
ihere bv the clock. Put 'em there be-
csus, they fell asleep, and it being close by
the fire, knew they'd he all righ'.'
A loud eroan escaped Twinke'on's IpS.
Then, with his face OF an ashy tuleness, he
easncd.
"Unharpv woman! Tint b~-ket con-
rained ~. Chelmsford Washing, and 3Fs
gone of by Tie mid-dGV train!'
Mrs. Tomkins, without a wo d, sank
into chair.
What-what's to be done y groancd
Twmkleton. "Why don't You speak, Mrs
Tomkns Tell me, somebody, what's to
be done y
The children. opcn-mouthcd. gized with
surprise upon their cldrls, but in answer
to their parents inquiry "a to what wa
70 BE- done, It was on the los OF at least
seven ont of ten, that Icrhaps the best
thing to he done, under TIE circumstances
was 10 finish the govse aud take up the
pud ing.
The unhappy Toukns groanei aloud !,
then. swaying herself backward aud to7-
ward N the rocking chair, began TO weep
copionsly.
The bcteavcd faith was the first -
peak and II was plain 10 see that he was
IN most unhappy fame Of mind ard thai
his voice was husky and choked as his
word. came forth.
"Com.. come he said "thi' won't d..
| mu 9, To the station and see il there's
another train. II there amt, | must hire
trap. and 60 10 Chelmsford Perhaps,
however, when | get there. the children
VII have been smorhercd or suppose,
Mr.. Tomkins. il they've slowed the c'othe,
in n luggage van, and heavy box or some
things be II put TOP of 'em, wig, they'll
be squashed TO pancakes"
"0h cont DON'T noN'r talk Ike that,
Mr. Twinketon :" reared Mrs. Tomkins
in parnxysm OF ,mo;lon. 'Oh, my
darling little pre- ionSe> ~
Wei. laa'am,' exclaimed our hero, i
think it would be more proper To call them
B,y piecionscs, YOU were 50 coAtoundedly
reles- with them, when you mad them IN
charec."
'Oh. Twinkleton, tins is indeed cruel"
was all the nurse could say. as she worked
herself to and frc. and wept
Poor T m started of hastily, h's mind
almost distracted. lle thought only ot
his twins and their unhappy fate. lie
ooked not 10 the right. nor to the leit-hc
Jrly rushed on foi sAe station and lie
never found the di>t,rce 20 great le ore.
Each new Imagining was more horrible
than tie last, and ,eemed to give fresh
INN, tu. to hi, hee. Tor instead OF decreas =
ing in pace a he appro lched the railway
station, his footsteps grew more rapid.
That's the iran I'd swear to him."
said loud voice in Twinketon', err.
lnvolultalily he turned, an ere hi
catered senses rec. led a knowl,dge OF
who had spoken, t r,ly constaoe had
.eized him securely hv the collar and,
.rawing his staff had whispered TO the
,taItIed TIN that # he didn't 90 quietly 10
the station. ltd be the worse Dr him
That's tie man; he came in Isl as
was closing I c doors, and wished part'c-
ularlc to haze the basket booked by that
train.n
son. you're tie clerk at tie station I"
cried Tim, JOY uslv. recognizing the suily
one, Of the man who had heen in hurry
TO get home TO his Iinncr, and, owing 10
the Clelm ford cIothcs basket. hadn't
.ucccedcd We. in accomplishing b, wish.
" And the blessed twins are they all
'ight-are they safe where are they I"
Ire tai policeman gave the hand that
.raspcd Tins collar such n peculiar twist
that the poor little tailor was nearly wh'rl
I'd Oft his icet.
" caution you not spcat COS what
YOU say may be taken down in evidence
lgin yer."
oh, YOU wretch and they were dear
little TWINS too"
These words were evidently spoken by
cma e voice; and turning his head as tar
round as the constable's knuckleS would
lllow, Tim wa, a,tonIsbcd 10 see that
numel Gus hnt not select party OF bootln9
boys and dirty men and women were iol-
lowing him with menacne gestures
Poor T IN. He had counted upon such
a p ca, ant New Years, and he Lad been so
happy. Such a bow.
What's the charge against me = in
quitcd Tim, in husky voice rs soon as
ne could sLcak.
"Oh yon know well enough, l dessay
why, abandoning - hinionts in course; and
good job for you lt'sno worst" replied
bis cou>todlan
The rough words ofthc constable made
Tim happy. He ieit now that the twins
We're s9ie and his own Inconvenience was
OF NJ conscq rencc. How gratified he was
when he ent, red the constabie's office and
ound the basket there and IN It the twins,
smiling eloIious'y. as If they had not been
the innocent cause OF all the trouble,
nepu not saw. More q all11eu sun was