The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-07-26

Nurse smirked and raised her hands
in protest against the very idea Of such
a thing.
"Not even little bit of the gravy
wouldn't do for 'em, ma'am ?"
Nurse again raised her hands and said
simply, "go along" She was anxious
for her portion of the dinner.
Nurse was helped, and dinner was
getting along, when Tim, whose
| thoughts all ran In one channel,
asked again after the twins. Nurse knew
they were well, because they did not
cry, but she said she would go and sec.
She had been gone but second, when
she returned, (which of you have
moved the basket with the twins in 2"
she asked
Almost ere the words had quilted her
lips, Tim dropped his knife and fork,
and gazed from Mrs. Tomklns to the
children, and from the children TO Mrs.
Tomkins, with an expression of coun-
tenance that made the nurse rush to his
side and say, "Bless me, Mr.. Twinkle
ton you aren't i'll, arc you?"
"Basket, what basket?' gasped Tim.
"Why the clothe5-basket that stood
there by the clock. I put'em there be.
cause they fell asleep, and it being close
by the fire, knew they'd be all right"
L loud groan escaped TwinkIoton's
lips. Then, with his face Of an ashy
paleness, he gasped.
"Unhappy woman that basket con-
tanned the Chelmsford. washing, and Ds
gone OF 6y the ntid-day traja.
Mrs. Tomllins, without a word, sank
into chair.
"What-what's to be done ?" groaned
Twiul;lcton. "Why don't you speak,
Mrs. Tor1llina? Tell me, somebody,
what's to be done ?"
Tho children, open-mouthed, gazed
with surprise upon their elders; but in
answer to their parents inquiry rs to
what was t o be done, il was on the lips
of a least seven out Of ten, that perhaps
the best thing to be done, under the cir
cumstances, was to finish the goose and
take up the pudding.
The unhappy Tomkins gcoaned aloud;
then, swaying herself backward and for
ward in the rocking chair, began to
weep copiously.
The bereaved father was the first to
speak, and 1t was plain to see that he
was in most unhappy franc of mind,
and that his voice was husky and chok-
ed as his words came forth.
"Come, come," he said, "thi5 won't
do. 1 must 60 to the station, and see if
there's another train. If there amt, /
must hire trap, and go to Chelmsford.
Perhaps, however, when get there,
the children will have been smothered;
or suppose, Mrs. T0mkins, if they've
showed the clothes in a luggage van,
and heavy box or something's been
put atop of 'em, why, they'll be squash.
ed to pancakes ~
"Oh! don't, don't, DON'T talk like that,
Mr.. Twinkleton n'roared Mrs. Tomkins
in a paroXysm of emotion. "Oh, my
darling little preciouses ~
"Well, ma'am," exclaimed our hero,
II think it would be more proper to call
them n'y preciouses, you were so con-
foundedly careless with them, when you
had them in charge"
"Oh, ,Twinkleton, this is indeed cruel, !"
was all the hurse could say, as she work
cd herself TO and fro, and wept.
Poor Tom started off hastily, his
mind almost distracted. He othoughtonly
of his twins and their unhappy fate. He
looked not to the right, nor 10 the left
ho only rushed on for the station, and
he never found the distance 50 great be.
fore.
Each new imagining was moro horri-
bic than the last, and seemed to give
fresh impetus to his heels; for instead
OF decreasing in pace as he approached
the railway station, his footsteps grew
more rapid.
"That's the man I'd swear to him.
said loud voice in TWinkleton's car.
Involuntarily he turned, and ere his
scattered senses recalled a knowledge Of
who had spoken, sturdy constable had
seized him securely by the collar, and,
drawing his staff, had whispered to the
startled Tim that if he didn't go quietly
to the station, "it'd be the worse for
him."
"That's the man he came in Just as l
was closing the doors ,and.wlshed partic.
ularly to have tho basket booked by that
train.n
"Oh, you're the clerk at the station !"
cried Tim, ioyously, recognizing the
surly tones Of the man who had been in
a hurry to get home to his dinner, and,
owing to the Chelmsford clothes basket,
hadn't succeeded yet in accomplished
his wish. "And the blessed twins-are
they all right-are they safe ? where are
they?"
The tall policeman gave the hand that
grasped Tins collar such a peculiar
twist that the poor little tailor was near.
ly whirled off his feet.
81 caution you not to speak; cos what
you say may be taken down in evidence
agin yer"
"Oh, you wretch ndthey were dear
little twins too!n
These words were evidently spoken
by a female voice; and turning his head
as far round Is the constablc's knucklcs
would allow, Tim wa astonishod to SEQ
that a numerous but not 4olec, party OF
hooJins boy.aad dirty mcnand women
were following him with.monacing gos.
turcs.
| Poor Tim. lie had counted upon such
Il pleasant New YEARS., ana he bal been
30 happy. Such blow
"Whaps the charge against me?" in
quired Tim, in a husky voice as soon a.
he could speak.
"Oh, you know wellenough, dcssay
why, abandoning O. hinfants IN course
and a good job for you it's no wOrse,'
replied his custodian.
The rough words of the constable