Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-16

Of society"
~ don't see as the mill folks have
done any mischief yet, 'Lizbeth."
"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 lighted
up two or three nights every week, said
Mrs. Wilkin, triumphantly. 1--WE
watched the twinkling through the shut
tiers, tight as they're shut, and seen folks
slippin in through the door, too. It's
time it was looked after, and Ill do my
duty, if nobody else does. There may be
a gang of thieves or counterteiters start
ing for all We know"
A suppressed giggle made Tim sud-
denly cough and put down his coifee-cup.
Timothy" exclaimed his aunt severe
ly, .'if you can't drink coffee without
doin' 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.
Bringing up Tim in the way he should
20 was one of Mrs. Wilkins strong
points. He was the son Of her niece !;
and Belinda had married in opposition to
her aunt's advice Mrs. Wilkin protested
and then washed her hands of the whole
matter.
But when the poor man was so incon-
siderate as to die and leave Belinda with
half-a-d 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-self-
dependence was du,y-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 subject. land as for there being
no thieves round here, I've thought for
some time that meat went pretty fast
from our smoke-house.
"Don',-now Liz'beih, 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. | don't count, but can miss EN-
for all that" affirmed Mrs. Wilkin, de-
cidedly. II know there's more so than
we use"
Anyway, it's no difference wouldn't,
Liz beth-there's plenty, you sec, more
than we want" advised Mr.. Wilkin, ur-
gently. but rather incohercntly. Then
he caught up his hat and started for the
barn.
Mrs. Wilkin looked after him with
pitying disapproval.
when you've more than you want
yourself, leave it handy for somebody to
steal. Well, that's new commandment,
| do declare" she said.
Not so dreadful new, either, Aunt
Liz beth" interposed Tim, stoutly;
cause the Bible folks are 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. Wilkin. But
Tim suddenly remembered that the chick
ems were waiting for breakfast, and chose
to interpret the exclamation as an admo-
ni,ion in that direction.
"Ycs'm, I'm goin' 10 feed EN- right
away he observed. seizing basket OF
corn, and darting through the door by
which his uncle had departed.
In truth it was not altogether easy to
mould Tim TO the desired shape; there
was too much individuality about him.
Encasing him in Mrs. Wilkins code Of
manners was putting too large a boy into
too small jacket; he was always burst
ing out at the elbows, or tearing OH the
buttons. Mrs. Wilkin sighed at this new
evidence of the number OF. things in the
world that needed her attention: but
England never expected every man to do
his duty more strongly than Mrs. Wilkin
expected to do hers.
That evening the mysterious lights ap-
peared again in the store room of the
mill. She could plainly see them, for
Just beyond her own back gate an open
held sloped directly and steeply down to
the building. The road afforded a public
and more circuitous mode of reaching 1t,
but from the hilltop the suspicious store
room was directly in range. Mrs. Will
kin determined to take more thorough
observation than the kitchen window al
lowed. and throwing a 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 the shelterins shadow OF a post she
watched the door below.
Before she discovered any one entering
there she heard sounds in another direc-
tion-steps in the yard behind her. What
if she should prove beyond all doubt that
her meat was stolen and detect the thief
With that quick thought she turned heI
head cautiously, Yes. some ono tried
the smoke-house door and entered
Breathlessly Mrs. Wilkin waited until
the figure reappeared, passing along in
the shade of the house, and as it emerged
into the clear moonlight, she leaned
eagerly forward to catch full sight of it
1t was eagerly recognized. Mr.. Wilkin
beyond all question; stealing meat from
his own stores.
The revelation was astounding. In
her astonishmenr she incautiously looseo