Daily globe., 1879-03-23
DISAPPEARED.


breath, ,and stopped, so tradition sale, when his
heart ceased to beat.
Not that David was a matchmaker. It was
difficult to tell what he was. His father called
him a universal genius" and We all know
what that means. 1t meant in this particular
case, that David could do anything he under
took, but that he was inclined to undertake so
many things that it seemed little likely he
would ever settle down upon any one in such
a way as to make it of any particular use.
With Willie and Boyd there had been no
trouble. They had sowed and reaped, fed the
pigs and tended the cattle on their fathers
farm, in the good old way, till they came of
age, and then he had set them up with snug
little farms of their own.
He would have been glad to do the same
for David, but though he loved every creature
on the place like brother, they might all
have starved while he was hunting the woods
for mossess and minerals and little he rocked
of seed time and harvest when lying under
shady tree reading the "Arabian Nights" or
book of foreign travels. Both were equally
real to him, and both filed his head with
visions little in accord with the everyday life
of a farmer,
Then nothing would do but he must go
abroad and see some of the wonderful things
OF which he had read, and once his father
allowed him to take a sea voyage, in the hope
that it would cure him of his fancies. But
unfortunately it did not; it only made him
worse.
Being, however, dutitul son in the main
he kept his wishes to himself. and plodded
about on the farm as best he might, varying
the scene by making toys for his little brothers,
or for the neighbors' children.
These toys were almost always ships, or
Latterly he had discovered that he could take
watch to pieces and put it together again,
and now half the chronometers in the neigh
borhood We're under his care.
"Why don't you set up the business and
make money hy it," said his father, catching
at anything that looked like a reasonable
means of earning livelihood.
II like to do it, father" said he; II don't
want to be paid for amusing myself" And
this brings us to the beginning of our story
again.
II can't finish it without piece of copper
Tlre, and piece Of copper wire can't be had
short of Oldport. How vexatious!"
"Well, it's an i'll wind that blows nobody
good" said his father. Seeing you have got
to 60 to town, you might just call at the bank
and get package for me. thought I should
haye to 60 myself, but I hate to spare the
time"
cpl attend to it, father"
And suppose you call at the milliner's
and get me yard of ribbon to finish trim
ming my bonnet. I must haYe it before Sun
day. Miss Battles will know which it is"
said David's sister Faith, who, with pretty
Jessie Wynne, was sitting on the porch she'll
ing beans.
"Certainly, SIS" said the goodhumored
youth And what shall bring you, Jes.
sie?'
"Nothing-but yourself" said Jessie, and
blushed lest she should seem to have said
more than she intended.
Plucking rose which was nodding it's
head knowingly at the group, David flung it
into Jessies lap, saying
"Keep that till I come"
Then he strobe away, and his tall, slender
figure was soon lost behind the row of pop
lars that skirted the lane.
Hasn't David got back yet?" asked Mr.
Golden, as he took his seat at the supper
table that night.
"No," said his wife. The girls have been to
the foot Of the lane two or three times to meet
him. but he wasn't in sight. do hope he
won't be out after dark with all the money"
81 most wish hadn't sent him for it." said
Mr.. Golden. ':But then he wouldn't let anv-
body know he bad it; he's bright enough for
that" "Somebody might have been watching
him unbeknown," suggested Mrs. Golden.
Now don't you go to worrying about
David" said Faith. He's like cat-he al
ways lights on his feet l do wish he'd bring
put it on for me, Je.s."
"Tim@ enough for that before Sunday, !"
said Jessie, with a lightness which belied her
heart.
By-and-by the kitchen clock struck nine,
and sprlnging to her feet, Jessie exclaimed,
ooh, my! didn't think it was so late! Mother
will begin to think am lost, too"
"Tll go with you, if you'll accept an old
mans company instead Of a young one's,"
said Mr.. Golden.
"lt's such beautiful night guess I'll 20,
too," said Faith. perhaps we shall meet
David on the way"
But although more than once they thought
n aH thn fnr i've
it proved to be only the swaying shadow of a
poplar
"He means to show me that was too for
ward in saying what did," said Jessie to her
self, when she bade her friends good mi chit;
'but when he does come, I'll show him that |
rose, I've a good mind to throw it away,''
snatching it from her belt. But perhaps he
has good excuse; and, anyhow, the rose
isn't to blame, poor thing"
II wish knew where that boy was" said
Mrs Golden, taking last look out into the
night as her husband went to bar the front
door preparatory to go ,ng to bed
~ can tell you where he is" said Faith, con-
fdently; "he's staying with Tom Penhallow
1t isn't the 1irst time, by good deal"
II know he and Tom are great cronies,'
said Mrs. Golden. "It's singular, too, for they
~ wish they were more like in some thing y
said Mr.. Golden.
81 hope you don't mean to say that Toms
superior to our David! Why, he can't shake
a stick at him!"
II mean to say that wish D avid had some
OF Toms prudence, and his careful, saving
ways"
"'rhey say he's dreadful mean critter," re.
marked Mrs. Golden.
"He's steady ard Industrious and knows
how to stick to one thing, and that's what
you can't say of our David, more's the pity"
oirtf h11t l, ,iv,cr ho1 !
Faith, "a"d that's how to tend that little
grocery of his"
"JusI so," said Mrs. Golden. 1.-THE idea Of
comparing Tom Penhallow with our Davidp'
This brief dis ussion had so diverted the
minds Of 1h Golden Ii family q, that they went
quietly to bed and slept till morning; but
when the morning was we'll on its way toward
the noon, and still the wanderer had not re.
turned, their anxiety was renewed.
IF it wasn't for the money, I shouldn't
think so strage of it," SAID Mr.. Golden.
"Law, he's forgotten all about the money,
and gone off sni pe-shooting with Tom," said
the invincible Faith.
But this view of the case, however satisfac-
tory to Faith, was not reassuring to her faith
er, suggesting as it did the idea of his preci.
GUS package having gone to feed the snipes.
II guess pll harness up Dobbin and go
down to Oldport." said he.
His first call was at Tom Penhallow's shop
where small boy informed him that "Tom
had gone off somewhere, he didn't know
where"
This seemed to confirm the snipe-shootine Q
theory, so he drove at a leisurely pace to the
Widow Penhallow's; but there he heard news
which plunged him into The deepest anxiety
David had not passed the night there, nor
had he been at the house at all. More than
that, she felt q ute sure her son had not seen
him, as he sad nothing of it when he came
home from the shop, which was at the usual
time. and he had started early in the morn.
ing for Boston to purchase goods.
With heavy heart Mr. Golden went to tho