Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-08-16

uil& dF6cS. a1u " fdtItST. HI tic SitcT
that was grandmamnla's.'
! "I am very glad, he said, his face
clearing up. 1T doesn't matter. now
that / am back safe and well, does ii,
| Pretty:''
But Doctor DinsmOre thought it did
matter, and though he said nothing, a
score of little fugitive things that had
been floating idly through his brain fell
suddenly into line, alrl took distinct
form, and stood up before him.
1t was great day in Brent. Every
body had On their holiday attire, and the
boats were all drawn up on the beach as
though it were Sunday. 1t had not been
| thought of before. but when little Josey
Davitt crept Into the chapel window and
rang the bell with long, loud. joyous
! peals, tears came into peoples eyes, and
they We're so glad somebody had thought
of il! Somebody went over to Saids-
down and borrowed the flag under
which the Sandsdown Home Guard
didu't fight, and mad festooned it across
the front of the little station, anG three
hours before it was time for the ears, the
bit of depot was so full that it ran over
a full quarter of mile in each direc-
! ton. People in the other trains looked
out wonderingly, surprised that there
| were SO many people in so small Il town.
But by-and-by. when the train came
roaring and painting in, and two men,
and little pale, girlish-ioOking woman,
stepped on the platform, there was an
instant hush, and then such a wild, glad
cheer came crashing through the
dreamy autumn silence. And as the
train moved off, the crowd closed in
around those three, and ciasping hands,
and fearful eyes, and little broken ejac-
lilations testified to their heartfelt well
| come of one whom they had so long be-
| licved dead. 1t was no shame to his
manhood that Walter Hargrave leaned
on Luke V;1rney's shoulder and wept.
And they were scarcely less pleased to
see Doctor Dinsmore, who it was ru-
mored had left his own sick bed to go
| to his wife, who had been taken sudden
ly ill in New York. And save three
persons, no one in Brent ever knew any
more about it.
4 A little pang of disappointment min
gled with Lena's pleasure; Mollie-her
good, faithful Mollie-had not come to
meet her. There were scores of kind,
tender faces that smiled on her as she
looked through the crowd, but no Mol
lie! Hugh was there, he had been the
first one to grasp her hand, and then he
had suddenly disappeared; but a little
afterwards she discovered him in an an
gle of the building, knitting his shaggy
brows quite savagely, and winking very
fast as he drew his coatsleeve hastily
across his eyes.
At last every man, woman and child
had been shaken hands with, and Doc
tor DinsmOre took his wife in his arms
and put her in his buggy. which Luke
had brought-or rather 'sCharley,'' who
whinnied his delight at ohcefnor seeing
. his master-and the whole party took
. up its line of march for the doctors
!. mansion, three small Davitts marching
! in advance with the Landsdown "battle
. flag"
When they were at their own door
, Doctor Dinsmore took Lena i'm his arms
and carried her into the hall. The in
stant he seG her down, somebody else
! caught her and carried her into the lit
tie sitting-room, kissing her eXtraya-
, gantly at every breath, and laughing
|, and crying, and calculating "my bios
soln!'' my darling!' ''my pet"' all at
the same time.
: go Mollie," Lena said, as soon as she
could get her breath from this exhaust
! ing demonstration, 81 thought you were
not coming to welcome me-" her brown
eyes growing misty with tears. ''And
Q Mollie, could hot blame you, for you
:, knew"
"Hush.'' Mollie said, peremptorily
"You are never to say a word of that to
mel will not hear it, And then, as
if tos punish her for having said it at all,
- she went through another series of dem
onstrations precisely like the other, from
. which Lena emerged with faint rose-red
= cheeks, aud a crushed bonnet.
. LcIfa was so anxious that her father
: should be friends with Mrs. Hafgrave
+ that, to please her, lie went up there in
. the dusk of the evening. The house was
= very still, and the pOnderous bras;
+ knocker reverberated through it with !;
~ strange, hollow sound. He was just
;, thinking the house was empty, when
!, the door opened, and a woman peeret
= through the dusk at his face.
ISIS It Walter sHargrave?" she asked
a hesitatingly.
" sit tis.'
= "Come in them" stepping back fol
!, lhim to enter. 81 am glad you hav,
- Eeome, was waiting for yeu.''
" "Waiting for nae?'
eyes | have something to give vol
y something she left you," taking nj
I the light and going to a little escritoire
=, and taking q key from her bosom and be
"a ginning to turn it in the lock.
Il ''Isn't Mrs. Hargrave at home?'' h
! asked, in wonder.
=, 'sShe is not here. She said she hat
disposed of her house to some one wh'
80 had better right to it, and she has gon
- South. / don't know what she meant
| never asked Mrs. Hargrave questions,
:, the woman said, in her grave, impertul
~ ~ bable manner. 81 was to stay here I'm
- til you came, and give you this, "tbrine
~ ing forward a package carefully wrap
= ped in white paper and bearing his al
I dress, written in an irregular unstead
ra hand.
~ He took the package, strange pre-
10 monition of its contents flashing throug
=, l-his mind.
~ y, "Will you please take the keys, sir
- Twas her orders.''
M "Who are you, madam go looking CT
nr riously at her she put on her shaw
~ | with the utmost composure.
~ "I am Susan Bristow, SIR" she al
swered, quietly, and without moving
muscle. 'r was Mrs. Hargrave's SCI
or want. l have been here now thre
weeks, waiting for You to o'come."
.o "Rut where are you gOing-why 4
s,,' you leave to-night?'' he persisted.
90 "My duty is done, why should stay
int And folding her shawl across her breas
"a she opened the door and went out
~ ~, steadily and noiselessly as if she hi
90 ~ been the goddess of fate herself.
%, With a strange feeling of awe, Walt
'e' Hargiave closed and locked the door
and went back to Lena and the docto
bo who were feeling--though in a dlffiere
~ manner--quite anxious as to the resi-
ri nj OF his visit. They both looked eager
~ in his face, and both saw that sometiil
tha affected him strangely.
a ano '.What is it, father?' Lena erie
- "why, how white and strange "
i ,, look ~
a.. y, "Mrs. Hargrave was not there, n
T. dear,'' hessaiti aud then lie told her
nv, ~ his interview with the woman, al
,ot drew the package from his breast, 81
'at broke the seals that held it with trel
rn. ,., ling fingers, Lena and her husband loo
ttha ing OH almost as excited as himse
First paper, fresh and white, a
, bearing evidence of having been recei
,oi, ly written upon, caught his eye.
,.on was woman's hand--the same
};uJ penned the address. Then an envelo
H. and a squarely-folded sheet of paper
nc the paper stained and yellow--tied
,ate gether with Il piece of pink tape.
~ + unfolded the woman's letter first, d
har this was what he read:
her "WALTER HARGRAvE:-I sit down
this late day to try to undo little Of