The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-15

sne rctufHfu, (WHICH VI you nave nOVeu
the basket with the twins in ~ she asked
Almost ere the words had quilted her
! lips, Tim dropped his knife and fork, and
glzed from Mrs TOmkins to the children,
and from the children 10 Mrs Tomkins,
will an expression Of cUuntenance that
made the nurse rush to his side and say,
" Bless 7c, Mr., TwiuklelQn' you aren't
III, arc you 2n
Basket! what basket 7" gas7ed Tim
"Why the clutlcs-basket that stood
there by the clock. ! put 'em there be-
crust they fell asleep, aud it being close by
the fire, knew they'd be all right
A loud groan escaped Twinkleton's lips.
Then, with his face oil an a'hy paleness, he
gnsped
"Unhappy woman! that basket con-
tanned the Chelmsford washing, and itS
gone of BY he midday traia!'
Mrs, Tgmkins, without a wo.d, sank
into chair,
What-what's to be donel" groanrd
Twinkleton, "Why don'tyou speak, Mrs
Tomklns Tell me, somebody, what's to
be done n
The children, opch.mouthcd, glzed with
surprise upon their cldGs; but in answer
to their parents inquiry a, to what wa
to be done, it was on the liDs OF ut least
seven out Of ten, that Icrhaps the best
thing to be done, under tie circumstances,
was TO finish the govse aud take up the
pudding.
The unhappy Tomkins groared aloud
then, Swaylng herself backward aud for
ward in the rockingham, began TO weep
cOpiously.
The bcTeaved father was the first to
speak, and 1t was plain 10 see that he was
IN most unhappy frame Of mind, and that
his voice was husky and choked as bis
words came forth.
"Come, comp,n he said, "this won't d.,
mu,t % to the station. and see Il there's
another train. II there amt, mist hire
a tap, and go TO Chelmsford. Perhaps,
however, when | get there, the children
will have been smotherrd or suppose,
Mrs, Tomkins. II they've showed the CLOTHES
in a luggage van, and heavy box or some.
things BEEN put u top Of 'em, why, they'll
be sqnaSbed to pancakrsm
"0h don't, don't. DoS'T talk like that
- Twinkleton |" reared Mrs. Tolnkin',
in n paroxySm Of tmotion. "0h, my
darling little prc:iOuseS |"
"Well, ma'am," exclaimed our hero, 81
think it would be more proper to call them
My preri0usss, you wcrr 80 conioundedly
careless with them, when you had them IN
charec.n
"Oh, Twinketon, this is indeed cruel
was all the nurse could say, as she worked
herself to and fro, and wept.
Poor T IN started oil hastily, his mind
almost distracted. lie thought only oi
his twins and their unhappy fate, lie
looked not TO the right, nor to the lelt-hc
only rushed on for the station, and he
never lound the distance SO great before.
Each new imagining was more horrible
than the last, and seemed to give fresh
impetus TO his heels; Tor instead Of decreas
ing in pace rs be approached the railway
station, his footsteps grew more rapid.
"Thnt's the nan; I'd swear to him" +"
said n loud voice in Twinkleton's ear.
Involuntaiily he turned, anl ere his
scattered senses recalled a knowledge Of
who had spoken, a strriy constable had
seized him securely by the collar, and,
drawing bis staff, had whispered 10 the
startled Tim that il he didn't go quietly 10
the station. "it'd be the worse for him.
"That's the man; he came in Just as
was closing the doors, and WISHED partic-
ularlr to bare the basket booked by that
train.n ..
"0h, you're tile clerk at tie station ~
cried Tim, ioyouslv, rrcoenHng the suily
ones of the man who had hecn in hurry
to get home to his dinnrr, and, owing to
the Chelmsford clothrs.basktt, hadn't
succeeded yet in accomplishing bis wish,
"And the blessed twins-are they all
Figlt-are they safe where are they Z"
Tie tall policeman gave the hand that
graspcd Tins collar such peculiar twist
that the poor little tailor was nearly whlrl'
ed of bis feet.
al caution you not spcal: ; COS what
you say may be taken down in evidence
lgin yer"
"0h, you wretch and they were dear
little twins toom
These words were evidently spoken oy
lemaie voice ana turning hls hea1 as iai
louhh as thc constitutes EnucKies wouIN
allow, lltn was aston'shed 10 see toat
numerous nut not select party Oh hoo'lnG
0oys ana DIRTY men anu women were io''
Poor Tn. lie had counted upon such
a pleasant New Years, and be had been SO
happy. SCeh o bow.
"Whnts tue charge against me III
CURED Iim' IN husky voice as soon as
he could speak.