Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-07-11

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90. " g.. j. s....5 ,.....t !. ,
"Of course" was the answer ':Might
inquire what at?' .rA re-" 81!
"You know I can do most any thing
Dick" "-..
"yenny, ch,ld,,'' said my companion,
> looking down upon me benignantly, aud
stopping short in his walk (Dlck always
awed me when he assumed this elder
brother aspecD 81. Jenny, child, it's a
hard-driven sort OF a world you've put
your tiny self into-a place where it's a
very bard matter to get footing, and
where. if your food slips, you're sure to
be carried out into deep water" Dicks
face darkcned as he looked at the tide Of
people. Whatevcr's a fellow to do?"
Winding up hls.discourse thus abruptly,
my friend pulled his hat down over his
eyes, and glowered from under it like a
highwayman
I listened to this talk of Dicks, hu-
inflated and i'll at ease. Was I, then, a
mere aimless waif--a mere hit of drift
wood adoat in this human torrent2 even
aunt Margery's chafng and chiding were
better than this nothingness. began to
feel very weary A remembrance OF my
quiet room and Of. the blosoming apple
bough that hung over the window came
to me vision-li like.
Dick, said I, abruptly I'm going
back."s" ':st- .-.'
"All right, little one, patting me pat
ronizingly on the shoulder: I" the very
best thing you can do"
"Not to stay, Dick" said I, vexed at
the alacrity with which he accepted the
proposition. "No; I've an idea in nv
head"
"Look so," responded Dick, septenti-
ously. :.,4~
"Dick, listen to me"-authoritatively
II shall sleep at Nurse Catterby:s to-
night, and if you meet me there, I'll
have something to help you" :,
my darling" cried Dick: but I re-
PEELED this later exhibition of affection.
"Put me in the cars, my friend: I'm
hungry, you know, but there's no time 20
/ lose" 49,. .>-,... .-..
In my feminine fertility of resource I
fell myself infinitely superior to this
helpless, good hearted lump of a Dick,
and 1 nodded my head to him gayly at
parting, without a thought of failure:
In my room at Aunt Marge-y's there
hung a grand old fashioned tlme-keeper
with gold coin attached to its heavy
chain, and big seal wherein glowed a
ruby. 5ecret]ylI regarded this as my
own, for it had once been my mothers.
an heirloom of the family the source of
endless disputes, as I had heard between
the grasping elder sister and, the younger.
! My mother was of high spirit, and fin
ally, in a fit of utter weariness and vexa-
tion, flung the watch, with'all it glitter
ing appendages, al her sisters feet.
Aunt :Margery had never returned it
that was not her way-.but it had never
been wound up since that day, and long
| after my mothers death it. hung silent
and shining in the room tievo'ed to my
nse-perbaps a superstitious offering to
the yexed spirit of the departed. I had
determined to go back without being
seen, ifpossible, and get this watch, ap-
propriating it, as I felt sure my mother
would approve, to aid myself and my
friend in our sore need.
The ride seemed long one; the road
wound about in q manner l hau nevcr
observed before, with a persistent dodg-
ing at the end, that gave me ample time
for revolving ways and means for carry!
ing out my scheme, till finally the moon
shone out on the last evolution; and leav7
ing the cars trudged on. afoot until the
sentinel pop!ars guarding. Aunt Margery's
gate with their long black shadows came
in view. .'-' 49,. - ...s' - .;
1t was with beating heart, notwith-
standing my bravery, that took the KEY
OF the side door from my pocket, and en-
tered the familiar domicile at night fall
:. like Shadow. 49, q:
1t was easy enough to obtain access to
the inner part Of thc house from here, for
most Of the doors were carelessly latchcd
and | was not likely to meet any servant
at this time in the evening. remem Der.
a certain "ide window-sill in the hall.
cropping toward which I sat down to rest
myself, with curiously scared. and
hunted feeling, which had not entered in
tony calculations when I planned this
audacious expeditions. Then, removing
my shoes, I slipped softly through the
long deserted -passageway to my own
rooom. The door opened with a treach-
erous creak, that seemed bent to- betray
me. 1T appeared an age before was
taiily within. -, -.-., T., =, :. :.
F.. tbs was my own pretty, pleasant little
room, the shelter where had so often
betaken myself from Aunt .Marge1ys
rasping voice and incessant fault finding
where had dreamed day dreams and
revelled in nightly visions: 3, This, cher:
ished>and familiar*little nook had chill:
! ed to me in one days. absence, :, 49,. .
1 # had given possession. to a horde of
! shad0ws that mOckipg and ,gcsticulating,
fitted to and fro in the uncertain .light.
Perhaps the breeze blown, branch cs of the
elm outside played me this trick but it,
confused me strangely, and,rendered my
sealch for tie watch long one,' till it
seemed as if some tricksomes elf bad
tilnched it to" distress me. At length,
however, my hand touched and grasped
the treasure; the heavy chain glided with
fsnaky GOODNESS through my fingers, and
l thrilled from head: to foot with a new
and strange sensation. For at that very
moment I heard the door shut with q
snap" This n0isein itself was not start-
j ling; no one was hkely to hearit save
myself; butsitsAnnounced that l was trap
ped, prisoner, shared in my own net :;
forstke door closed with spring. and
had left the kew on the outside . !. =
4 X put my two hands to my head and:
thought desperately for momentf
] There:was 70 possible esress now except
through Aunt - pMargery' y's5~room,. with
l whicFmine was connected. by "a narrow
] passage. How could IT., hope 10 pass
through without waking a4her2 ~s For Just
1: one instant l felt like despair. ~ How WAS
I t1 help Dick nowSsa It ,must, be- done
4 hSSNkcSer. hSS,Nk | gathered up my courage; I
q reaeMbered the indignities ! .had borne;
a the needs of mysfriend, xsthssaebsob bate
a rightthlness of what ! vas = dMng, IIdSnd,
i strong in my resolution, ,glided across the
i hMi- silently, slowly, lest tthe ghost Of a
| foot- ten Z aM should rouse @ the .yigi1ant Sleep