The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-20


soon after milking-time; but this will
be spoken of farther on in the story.
Mr.. St. Clair walked far up the bank
of the stream, and when he came back,
the miller told him that his bag of meal
had been put into his cart. He went
out, and seeing q cart with bag OF
meal lying at the bottom, he steppedln
and drove around to the station.
Now this cart which Mr.. st. Clair
took belonged to a man who came from
Cherry Valley. Here, you see, was
mistake. But MIR. St. Clair not only
took the wrong cart, he took the wrong
little girl, as will now be told. He
drove in haste to the station, knowing
he had staid too long walking up the
bank of the stream. On the platform
of the station sat rolly-poly, chubby
checked little girl, with a carpet-bag
and heavy bundle. He asked her,
" Are you waiting for some one to come
for youP'' " Yes, sir" she answered.
" All right" said Mr.. st. Clair; and he
helped her into the cart. hope you
understand that this very feshy child
was not Evelyn Odell. She was Maggie
Brien. Maggie Brien lived with her
grandmother, not far from the station.
Her mother did the cooking in family
two miles away, and she had promised
to send that day for Maggie to come
and make her visit, and Maggie was
sitting on the platform waiting for the
man to take her.
Mr.. st. Clair took her, and drove
from the station, thinking to go to Aunt
Debby's and get Moses, and set off for
Gilead; but while he was gazing up at
the sky, the horse-which you will re-
member was not Mr.. Stimpcett's horse
turned into road which led to his
own masters house at Cherry Valley.
MIR. St Clair had now the wrong horse
and cart, the wrong meal, the wrong
girl and the wrong road. Presently the
horse trotted up to the door of farm
house and stopped. Three heads of
three young maidens popped out Of
three chamber windows, and bare
armed woman, wiping her hands on her
apron, rushed to the door. "Where is
my hlsbandP" she cried. " Is he hurtf
Is he killed. Tell me the truth al
oncer'
/" assure you, madam" answered
Mr.. St. Clair. mildly, {" that l have moi
seen your husband"
"Why, then, have you come with
his horse and cartP" she asked.
"This horse and cart, madam" sale
Mr.. st. Clair, still mildly, "belongs to
Mr.. Stimpcett, of Gilead."
"Do you think l don't know oul
horse and cart?" cried the woman, il
an angry tone. Besides, here's my
husbands name on the bag-I. Eli
son."
81 must have taken the wrong
horse and cart,'' said Mr.. St. Clair
81 will go back at once and find Mr.
Ellison"
1.-The quicker the BETTER" said the
woman, as he turned the horse.
Just after Mr.. St. Clair had passed
from the Cherry Valley road into the
mill road, a man came out of wooC
path and sprang at the horse, crying
''Stop thiefp'
Where is the thiefP' asked Mr.. St
Clair, looking all around.
"You are the thief - cried the
man. "You have stolen my horse and
cart"
Maggie Brien began to cry.
Are you MIR. l. EllisonP" asked Mr.
St. Clair.
"Yes, 1 am" said the man, an
grily.
Mr.. st. Clair explained his mistake
and gave up the horse and cart to Mr..
l. Ellison. He then took Maggie
carpet-bag and heavy bundle, anG
walked all the way to Aunt Debby's.
By the time they reached Aunt Deb
by's it was nearly dark, and as fol
Moses, he was already travelling home
in his fathers cart. 1t happened in this
way: Aunt Debby heard that Mr.. St
Clair had been seen driving off, anC
knew he must have taken the wrong
horse and cart, for Mr.. Stimpcett's wa;
still standing near the mill. Therefore
as Moses had already waited until after
supper, she let him take his father
horse and cart and drive home behind
man with an OK team who was going
by roundabout way to Gilead.
Now as soon as Moses had driven off
Aunt Debby locked her doors and went
to an evening meeting, so that when
MIR. St. Clair came there on foot, with
Maggy Brien and her bag and bundle
to find Moses, he found no one. He
questioned some boys standing by 8
fence, and they told him that Moses
had gone home in his fathers cart be.
hind an OK team. Maggie Brien began
to cry again. "Don't cry, DEAR" said
Mr.. st. Clair. "Pll hire buggy"
He hired from the stable buggy, 8
fast horse and driver, away they
started for Gilead, and reached Mr..
Stimpcett's house at about half past
eight o'clock in the evening. Moses
had not arrived.
Mr.. st. Clair found Mrs. Stimpcett
with her bonnet and shawl on, walking
the floor, sobbing and signing and
wringing her hands. Grandma, also
crying, was wrapping a bottle of the
Sudden Remedy in a piece of newspa-
per.
40, how is Mosesp" cried Mrs
Stimpcett. " Wall it have to be taker
Off"
sis not Moses here?' asked Mr.. ST
Clair, in mild voice.
"Herer' cried Mrs. Stimpcett. "HoV
can he be here, when he has broken his
leQp | am going to him "a soon "a Mr.