The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-13

precious few left to take any care of the
good of society"
"I don't see that the mill folks have
done any mischief yet. Liz BETH"
OF course you don't see, and no
oody else sees; but know there's some
thing goin' on, when the lower part of
the mill-that old empty store-room
back where it can't be seen from the
Streets lighted up two or three nights
every week." said Mrs. Wilkin, tri-
umphantly. "Pve watched the twinkle
through the shutters, tight as they're
shut, and seen folks slippin' in through
the door too. It's time it was looked
after, and I'll do my duty, if nobody
else does. They may be a gang of
thieves or rcounterfeiters starting for all
we know"
A suppressed giggle made Tim sud-
denly cough and put down his coffee
cup.
"Timothyr' exclaimed his aunt, Sc
verely, If you can't drink coffee with
out doin' it SO fast that you choke your
self, you'll have to 60 without it I'll
do my best to bring you up right, what
ever comes of it"
Bringing up Tim in the way he should
go was one of Mrs. wilkins strong
points. He was the son of her niece;
and Belinda had married in opposition
to her aunt's advice. Mrs. Wilkln pro-
tested and then washed her hands of
the whole matter. But when the poor
man was SO inconsiderate as to die and
leave Belinda with half a dozen chill
dren Just when she needed his help,
Mrs. Wilkins opinion of his general
slackness" was verified. Tho family
were poor, of course. She didn't be-
lieve in sending in many things-self-
dependence was a duty-but she Of
fered to take Tim.
Having the boy to raise makes me
more careful about the morals of the
whole place." she said, returning to
her original subject; "and as for there
being no thieves round here, I've
thought for some time that the meat
went pretty fast from our smoke
| house"
| "Don't-now,'L Liz beth; I-rm sure
no ones stole any," said Mr.. Wilkin,
with a startled, uneasy look. you
You couldn't have counted the hams
and everything"
"No, 1 don't count, but 1 can miss
'em for all that" affirmed Mrs. Wilkin
decidedly. IL know there's more 60
than we use."
Anyway, it's no difference. I
wouldn't, 'Liz'beth-there's plenty,
you see; more than we want" advised
Mr.. Wilkin. urgently but rather inco-
herently. Then he caught up his hat
and darted for the barn. ~.
Mrs. Wilkin looked after him with
plying disapproval.
"When you've more than you want
/ yourself, leave it handy for somebody
to steal! Well, that's a new command
ment, do declarer' she said.
"Not so dreadful new, neither, Aunt
Liz beth," interposed Tim stoutly.
"'Cause the Bible folks were told to be
| sure and leave some of their harvest so
the poor could come and get it read
it myself; only it wasn't called stealing
then, and was to be left handler than
all slowed away in smoke-houses."
"Timethyr began Mrs. Wilkin. But
/ Tim suddenly remembered that the
chickens were waiting for their break
fast, and chose to interpret the excla-
nation as an admonition in that direc-
ton.
"Yes'm, I'm goin' to feed 'em right
away" he observed, seizing basket
of corn and darting through the door
by which his uncle had departed.
| In truth it was not altogether easy to
mold Tim into the desired shape; there
was too much individuality about him.
Encasing him in Mrs. wilkins code of
manners was putting too large boy
into too small q jacket; he was always
the buttons Mrs. Wllkin sighed at this
evidence of the number of things in the
world that needed her attention; but
England never expected every man to
do his duty more strongly than Mrs.
Wilkin expected to do hers.
| That evening the mysterious lights
appeared again in the store-room of
the mill. She could plainly see them,
for just beyond her own back gate an
open field slopcd directly and steeply
down to the building. The road afford
ed public and more circuitous mode
of reaching it, but from the hill top the
suspicious stsre-room was directly in
range. Mrs. Wilkin determined to take
a more thorough observation than the
kitchen window allowed, and, throwing
q shawl over her head, she picked her
way carefully down the icy steps and
crossed the yard to the gate. The
snowy field lay white and glistening in
the moonlight, and, standing in the
sheltering shadow of post, she watched
the door below.
But before she discovered any one
entering there she heard sounds in
another direction-steps in the yard be-
hind her. What If she should prove
beyond all doubt that her meat was
stolen and detect the thief? With that
quick thought she turned her head eau
tiously. Yes, some one tried the smoke
house door and entered. Breathlessly
Mrs Wilkin waited until the figure re-
appeared, passed along in the shade of
the house. and then, as it emerged into
the clear moonlight, she leaned eager
ly forward 10 catch a full sight of it. 1t
was easily recognized. Mr.. Wilkin,
beyond all question. stealing from his
own stores!
The revelation was astonishing. In
her astonishment Mrs. Wilkin incau-
tiously loosened her hold on the gate
post, took q step forward, and her feet
slipped upon the treacherous ground.
She sat down violently, and in an in
slant was speeding rapidly down the
hill toward her original point of inves-
tigation. For once the path of duty
was smooth before her-entirely too
smooth, and icy. She could not check
or guide her progress, her feet struck
with force against the mysterious door,
pushed it open, and she slid into hall.
Thieves, gamblers or whoever they
were, she must not be discovered by
them flashed through Mrs. Wilkins
mind-more an instinct of self-preser-
vation than a thought-and springing
to her feet, she slipped behind some
boxes piled near her. The noise at
tracted attention, and in a moment the
store-room door was opened and boy
looked out.
"Guess it's only the door blew open;
don't catch good" he retorted.
"Lock it then, James, and bring in
the key" said voice from within; and
to Mrs. Wilkins CONSERVATION the Or