The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-02-13

ahN AAAAAig - FfNif y -
didu'i believe 10 sending in many ihIags
--selfdependenee Vas s duiy-bu abe
offered 10 take Tin.
Having the boz 10 raise mAkes me
more careful nbout the morals Of the
whole place. she said, returning TO Der
original subject; and IS for there being
thieves 'round here, I've thought for some
time that the meat went pretty fast from
our smoke-bouse
Den',--now, 'Lif'be,b, lin sure no
ones stole any, said Mr.. Wilkin, with .
startled uneasy look You --you couldn't
have counted the hams and everything.
No, | don't count, but can miss 'em
for all that, affirmed Mrs. Wilkis decid.
odly. know there's more 60 than we
use.
Anyway, it's no difference wouldn't
liz E'belb there's plenty. you see, moie
than We want, advised Mr. Wilkin ur.
gently, but rather incoberenuy Then be
caught up bis hAt aud started for the
barn
Mrs. wilkin looked afer him with
plying disapprovAl.
When you've more Than you want
yourself leave II handy Tor somebody to
slesll Well, that's new commandment,
DO declared
Not so very new, neither, Aunt Liz.
beth, iulerposed Tim, stoatly. Cause
the Bible folks was told TO be sure and
leave some Of their harvest so the poor
could come aud get Il. read IL myself;
only il wasn't called stealing then, and
was to be left haudier than all slowed
away In smoke-bouses.
timothy began Mrs. wilkIn. But
Tim suddenly remembered that the
chickens were waiting for their breakfast
aud chose 10 interpret the exclamation as
au admonitiou in that direction.
Yes'm, Pun goin' to feed 'em right
away, be observed, seizing a basket OF
corn, aud darting through the door by
which bis uncle bad departed.
In truth II 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 q boy into
too small jacket; be was always burst
ing out at the elbows or tearing off the
buttons. Mrs. Wilkin sighed at this uew
evidence of the bGmber Of things in the
world that needed her attention; but
England never expected every man TO do
bis duty more strongly than Mrs. Wilkin
eXpe tied TO do hers.
That evening the mysterious lights sp-
peat ed again in the store-room of the mill
She could plainly see them, for just be-
yond her own back gate an open field
sloped directly aud steeply down to The
building. The road afforded public aud
more circuitous mode Of reaching II, but
from the hilI.top the suspicious storeroom
was directly in range. Mrs. WiIkiu de.
termined TO take more thorough obser
yation than the kitchen window allowed
and, throwing 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 lbe
shelteripg shadow Of post, che watched
the door below.
But before she discovered any one en-
tering there she bead sounds in another
direction-steps in the yard behind her.
What II she should prove beyond all
doubt that her meat was stolen and de.
tect the thief? With that quick thought
she turned her bea 1 cautiously. Yes,
some one tried The smoke-hosse door aud
entered Breatbessy Mrs, Wjlkin wait
ed until the figure reappedred, passed
along in the shade of the house, aud then
as il emerged into the cieaI moonlight,
sne icaled eagerly forward TO catch a full
sight oi IL. Il was easily recognized !.
Mr.. Wikin, beyond all question, stealing
meat from his own s;ores!
The revelation was astounding. IN her
aslousbineng Mr-. Wiikiu incautiously
loosened her hold on he gate post, took a
step forward, aud er teel slipped upon
the treacherous ground. She S,t down
violently, and 10 au iu.tant was speeding
rapidly down the bill toward her origi-
nal point oi investigation. For once the
path of duty was smooth betrv her : eu-
trel, too smooth aud icy She cuuld not
check or guide her progress; her feet
struck with lorce against the mysterious
door, pushed il open, aud she slid into a
hall.
Thieyes, gambIers, or whoever they
we're she must not be discovered by them
flashed through Mrs. wilkins mind
more au instinct OF seif.preservAlion than
though spriugiDg to her feet, she
/ slipped behind some boxes piled near
her. The noise attracted attention, and
| in mament the stote-room door was
opened aud a boy looked oat.
Guess It's only the door blew open
don't catch good, be reported.
Lock IL then, james, and bring In the
key, said a voice from within; aud to
Mrs. wilkins CONSERVATION The order
was obeyed, aud sbe was a prisoner.
The boy lett the other door slightly sjsr
as be re.eniered a gleam Of light shone
/ into the bail, aud there were sounds from
2 the room beyoud--a scratching Of pens
aud womsb. voice 1t sounded wonder.
fully like that Of The little knitting wo
man, directing and encouraging.
Well done, Susan.
Now don't be dlsheartened, win. u
course while you work 10 the mill, and
4 ran only atady Al night Won cant pel