Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-02-04

enough" snapped Mrs. W1lk1n. just
look at this boorhood-peaceable,
orderly place two years ago; and now
there is a mill started and all sorts of
vagabonds brought here to work In it.
If I'd had my way they wouldn't have
come; and now they are here somebody
ought to keep a sharp watch on 'em.
But that's the trouble; there's so many
mild, easy folks that want to sit still an
do the knitting work of life that there's
precious few left to take care of the good
of society"
CT don't see as the mill folks have
done any mischief yet, 'Liz'beth. F"
''Of course you don't see, and nobody
else sees; but / know there's something
going on when the lower part of the mill
that old empty store room back there,
it can't be seen from the streets light
ed up two or three nights every week, J"
said Mrs. Wilkin, triumphantly Give
watched the twinkling through the shut
tiers, tight as they're shut, and seen folks
slippin' through the door, too. It's time
it was looked after, and I'll do my duty,
If nobody else does. There may be a
for all we know"
A suppressed giggle made Tim sud-
denly cough and put down his coffee cup.
"Timothy," exclaimed his aunt severe
ly, ''if you don't drink coffee without
dom it so fast that you choke yourself,
you'll have to go without it. I'll do my
best to bring you up right, whatever
comes of it.
Bring up Tim in the way he should go
was one of Mrs. Wilkins strong points.
He was the son of her niece, and Belinda
was married in opposition to her aunts
advice. Mrs. Wilkin protested and then
washed her hands of the whole affair.
But when the poor man was SO lncon-
siderate as to die and leave Belinda with
half dozen children just when she need
ed his help, Mrs. Wilkins opinion of his
general "slackness " was verified. The
family were poor, of course. She didn't
believe in sending in many things-sef-
dependence was duty-but she offered
to take Tim.
"Having the boy to raise makes one
more careful about the morals of the
place." she said, returning to her origi-
nal subject, "and as for there being no
thieves round here, I've thought for some
time that meat went pretty fast from our
smoke-house.
"Don't now, 'Liz'beth, I'm sure
no ones stole any," said Mr.. Wilkin with
a startled, uneasy look. You couldn't
have counted the hams and everything"
"No, I don't count, but / can miss
'em for all that" affirmed Mrs. Wilkin,
decidedly. CT know there's more go
than we use.
''Anyway, it's no difference; I
wouldn't, Liz beth-there's plenty, you
see, more than we want" advised Mr.
Wikin, urgently, but rather incoherent-
ly. Then he caught up his hat and
started for the barn.
Mrs. Wilkin looked at him with plying
disapproval.
yourself leave it handy for somebody to
steal; well, that's new commandment,
[ do DECLARE" she said.
"Not so dreadful new, either, Aunt
'Lizbeth," interposed Tim, stoutly,
"'cause the Bible folks was told to 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"
"Timothy," began Mrs. Williams.
But Tim suddenly remembered that the
chickens were waiting for their break
fast, and chose to interpret the exclama-
ton as an admonition in that direction.
eyes, I'm going to feed 'em right
away" he observed, Selling 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 jacket; he was always burst
ing out at the elbows or tearing off the
buttons: Mrs. Wilkin sighed at this
the world that needed her attention; but
England never expected every man to 90
his duty more strongly than Mrs Wilkin
expected to do hers.
That evening the mysterious lights APP
peared again in the store-room of the
mill. She could plainly see them, for
just beyond her own back gate an open
field sloped directly and steeply down to
the building. The road afforded pub
lie and more circuitious mode of reach
ing it, but from the hilltop the sus-
picious store-room was directly in range.
Mrs. Willzin determined to take more
thorough observation than the kitchen
window allowed, and throwing shawl
over her head she picked her way care
fully 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
a post she watched the door below.
But before she discovered any one en-
tering there she heard sounds in another
direction-steps in the yard behind her.
What if she should prove beyond all
doubt that her meat was stolen and de-
tect the thief? With that quick thought
she turned her head cautiously. Yes,
some one tried the smoke-house door and
entered Breathlessly Mrs. Wilkin wait
ed until the figure reappeared, passing
along in the shade of the house and then