The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-05-07

washed her Dsnds of the whole ma.
ter.
Bat when the poor mao was 80 ia.
considerate as to die and leave Belin-
da with half dozen children just
when she needed bis help, Mrs Will
kin's opinion Of bis general slack
ness was verified.
TIE family were pour, Of course
She didn't believe in seeding ia maay
tniogs-self dependence was e duty
but she offered 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 saejeei, "and as for
bere being no thieves around here,
I've thought for some lime that the
meet went pretty tssi from our smoke
house" E
Don. COW. II EbeLb. I'm sure
no ones stole any said NJ. Wnkin.
with startled, d fasy look You
couldD't have coz led the hams eDd
everything"
"No, | don't Cd bat can miss
tbem for ali thar. hirmed Mrs. Will
kin. decidedly. pow there's more
go than we use.
Anyway ~ difference. /
ssaai Is'f 1si@ <ksr~'s pleEsr,
you see, morgrHHh @e- vant,n urged
Mr. Wilkin. urgsatlg, but rather in-
ccberen,ly Thea be caught up his
bat and started for the barn
Mrs WilkiH looked after bim With
q pityiag disapproval
When you've more than you want
yourself, leave it handy for somebody
to steal, Well, that's new com
mandment, | do declare ~
"Not so dreadful now neither,
Auat Liz'beih." interposed Tim,
steuly, 'csuse the Bible folks was
taught TO leave some Of their harvest
50 tbe poor could come aud get ii. l
read il NV self; only il wasn't called
stealing then, as was to be left ban
dier than all slowed away 10 sm ke-
houses"
Timothy !" began Mrs Wilkin.
But Timothy suddenly remembered
that the chickens were waiting for
their breakfast. aud chose to interpret
the exclamation as an admonition 10
that direction.
"Yes'm Fan goin' to feed 'em right
away he observed. seiziDg basket
Of corn and dartiog through the
door by which his uucle had depart
ed.
In truth it was not altogether easy
to mould Tin into the desired shape;
there was too mnch individuality
about him.
Encasing him in Mrs. Wilkins
code of manners was putting too
large boy into too small jacket
he was always bursting out az the el-
bow or tearing of the buttons Mrs.
Wilkin sighed at Ibis new evidence
of the number of things that needed
her attention bot England never ex-
peciee every man to do his duty more
strongly than Mrs Wilkin expected
to dc hers.
That evening the mysterious ligh hts
again in the store room Of
the mill.
She could plainly see them, for
jus. beyond her own back gate an
open field sloped directly aud steeply
down to the building
The road Afforded q public and
more circuitous mode Of reaching it,
but from the hill top the suspicious
store room was directly in range. |
Mrs. WiIkin determined to take
more thorough observation than the
kitchen window allowed, and thro n
ing shawl over her head she picked |
her way carefully down the icy path |
aud crossed the path to the gate. |
TIE snowy field lay white and glis-
tening in the moonlight, and, stand
ing in the shelter Of post, watched |
the door below.
Ba. before she discovered anyone
entering there she heard sounds in
another direc,ion-s,eps 10 the yard
behind her.
What if she should prove beyond |
ali doubt that her meat was stolen |
aud detect tie thief!
With that quick thought she turn
ed her head cautiously.
Yes, some one tried the smoke
house door and entered.
Breatblessly Mrs. Wilkin waited
until the figure re-sppsared passing |
along tie shade Of the house, aad |
then as 1t emerged into the clear /
she leaned eagerly forward |
TO catch fall sight Of il.
1t was easily recognized. Mr.
Wilkin. beyond sll question, stealing
meat from bis own stores,
The reyelation was astounding. In /
Der astonishment Mrs WiIkin incau-
tiously loosened her hold on the gate /
post, took step forward. and her
feet slipped upon the treaeherous
grousd.
She sat down violently. aud in ~
instant Was speeding down the bill!
toward her original point Of invesli-
CATION.