The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-06-06
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE.
by CHARLES READE.

lone women.
Que day they received considerable
sum of money. bequeatlied to them hy q
relative, and that set the simple souls all
In fiu.ter
They hada friend in the village, the
blacksnill's wife; so they went and told
her their fears. She admitted that theirs
was a lonesome place. and she would not
live there for one without q man. Her
discourse sent them home downright
miserable.
The blaeksmith's wife told her hiis-
band all about It when lie came IN from
dinner "1fhe fool-,' said he, how is
anybody to know they have got the brass
In the house p
WELL said his wife, they make M
secret Of tito me; but younee'l not 20 ID
tell II TO all the Town, poor souls 7
\ .NotI.' said tile man; but they will pub
lish il, never fear. Leave women folks
alone fur making their own trouble with
| their tongues
There the subject dropped, as man and
wife have other things 10 talk about
besides lieir nriglIbors.
The old woman at tile toil.bar. what
with their avn fears. aud their Jnb's COM
:ortrr, began 10 shiver with apprehen-
sion AS night came on. However. al sun
set The carrier passed through the gate,
aud at sight of liis frirndly face they
frightened ~. They told him their care
begged him 10 sleep Ia the house that
night. 'why. how can 2 sai,lile. TN
due at--ButI viii leave yon my dog.
The dog was powerful nIastiir
The women looked a. paeli other ex-
pressiveiy. He won't hurt Us, will he -
sighed one uf them. faintly. MOI he
said the carrier. cl,eerfully. Then be
called The dug into the house. told them
To lock The door. and wen. away whist
ling.
The women were lefl contemplating the
dog with that tender soiicilude which ap.
prehrnsiln Is sure 10 excite. AT iirst he
seemed staggered ut this ofi.Iand brn,
ceeding of hls master; il confused him;
then lie snufieI 1t the dool; then, as The
wheels retreaied, he began to see plainly
he was an abandoned dog lie delivered
"a fearful bowl. aud ilrw at the door,
scratching and larking furiously.
The old wnmen, iie,i tile apartment,
aud we're next seen at an upper window
screaming 10 the carrier. Come back.
come back, joint He Is tearing the
house ,lownu
'Drat the varmlntr said john, and
came back. On fhe road he thought
what was hest To- do. The good natured
fellow tonk his great cnat olt of the cart,
and laid ii down on the fItnr. Tie mas
iIF Instantly laid himself on Il. Now
said John. strrnly, let as have no mere
nonsense: ynu take charge nf that till |
come hack, and don't let nobody steal
that there. nor yet wives brass. There.
now, said lie, kindly, toihe woman. J
shall he hack this way hrrakfasi Time, aud
lac won't bildgc ill then
'Aud he won't hurt us. john.
'I.ord. 10. Dless y1ur heart. lie y ~
sensible ~ any Christian; only. Lor,isakc,
woman. ,lou't ye go to take the coat fr"m
him, or you'll be wanting a new gown
yourself. and may bea pe,,icoat aud all.
lie retired, aud the oil women kept at a
respectful distance from their ps,ircior.
He never noiesied them; and indeed,
when they spoke cnjoIingly 10 him, he
even waggcd his tail Ia a dubious way
but slill ~ they moved about. be sqnin'
ted at them cut of his LlUrl-sliot eye in a
way that CHECKED all desire on their parts
10 lry on the carriers coat.
Thus protected. they went to bed earlier
than usual but theS dill not uudFssr, they
were too much afraid % everything,
especially their protector Tile night
wore on. aud presently their sharpene,I
senses let them know that the dog was
getting restless; he snuiicd, and then lie
Vrowled, and then he gotup aud paitcd
ahout, mulirring 20 himself. Stfaightway
with furniture they barricsled tile door
thmagh which their protector m,iri pas
10 devour them.
But by aud by. listening acnirly, they
heanl seraling aud a grallng ontsid,
the window of tile room where the dog
was. and ho continued growling low
rnls wsr enough. They Slipped out ai ~,
back ,lnDr. aud let their mOnry % save
their lives. They got inic The village
Il was pitch dark, and all the houses
,dnck but two. Oue was the public house
casting a triangular glenm across the
rad long way oil, aud the oil,er wa
the Observation-Disclosures. Iierewas aplec'
Of fortune for the terrified women. They
burst into their frIrnd's house. 'oh
Jane. tie thieves are come aud Thea
Told l,et In q Few wufjs what had hap
pcned.
LAT said she: how tisnoTsome sen arc
| - ,...... ~. ,.as onlv UfuwIiuu III sOnl