Richland beacon., 1881-11-12


just as you decide, Mr.. Clcnncr, e.
course" | sail, rising. II | take the
O'Clock express l shall be there by DAY
light tomorrow mm ming"
"Yes and that is altogether the l','
plan. He vii. not remain long in MY
one place just st present, depend uloi,
i, and what you have to do must tc
done at once"
All through that long night journey |
muscd 10 myself upon the task that lay
before me- The l.ouse to which | was
directed WIS in homidst of woods, alout
half mile beyond the village q,
Drownyile-thr residence Of Mrs. Mat
tcson, the mother OF the nudaciou, for
er. If help was needed was fully au-
thorizo q to call for il upon the cOnstab-
/ ularv authorities of Drownyillc, but !
J expected to need none.
The rosy dawn was jus. flushing e.,
eastern sky when | alightcd stiff, weary
! and jaded, from the train, at the little
way station of Drownvile.
.Can You direct me TO Mrs. Matte
sons place?" | asked of the sleepy
statlon-master. who WAS yawning behind
the little aperture of the ticket office.
Mattcson-Mrs. Mattcson; i doA't
know her, but gue,. likely | can tell
YOU where she lives. Just You follow
the main street Of the village ont about
half a mile, and yell come to a palcd O.
woods with bars at the fence. GO
through them bars little further o.,
an! veil see a little waller house, lust
the lat place in the world where yon'd
expect to see house. That's where
Mrs. Nattcson lives
Ithauked'my informant, and set ont
on brisk wsIA, carrying my travelling
bag. Ii was quite a distance ere
emerged from the suburbs OF the "lnaiu
street" into "a quiet and secluded road,
or, rather, lane. The patch q woods,
with the hars, AMI the little yIilel
house a cream -colorcd cottage, liter
ally overgrown with honcy-suckies-
rewarded my search, and Is | knocked
Il The door clock somewhere inside
struck I.
4 decent looking, elderly woman il
widows weeds came to the door.
lis Mr. M.tte,on in? Air. Prrlc,',
"No," she answered quickly, with
rs I imagined, rather q confused look
did not believe her, ami asi"l quietly
when d. you expect him home?"
mot ut present.
/ Apparently she expected me to g
, away. but, instead. stepped in.
Mother asked a soft voice at th
head of the stars, "who is ii -
And then Tor the first time | he am
- aware that some one had been wa'chln
, our co!loquy !.um me mead OF lie stsl.
+ ii young girl, dressed, like the mother
q IN deep black, with very brilliant eyes
and protu,ion Of ict-bark i.rgi;ts.
T. "Some one TO see Your brother.
d, She came half way down the stairs
1 pushing back her curis with one hand
AID looking ut pe with wunlrous eye
Even then her beauty struck me rs
o ctooI gazing at her.
Terry is not at home" she sai'
! hnrricl,y. He has gone away. VI
n do not know when he viii return.
if Evidently this mother and dauGht'
: were in the secret oi Mattcson', yll,ain1
and were doing their best to screen I'm
from It's Consequences. Ny heart blc
d for both of them, but II was no time
.e indulge in sentiment'1ity. Speaking
/ briefly rs could | told them II wa IL
il duty to compel them to remain whel
:. they were while | searched the house.
ld Mrs. Ma.teson sat down pale AL
he trembling; her daughter coiorcd high
ne Mother she said, "why do "
~ stand bv AMI listen to such SANDER
er It is false Let this mln search q
~ house if ne Will my brother is as inn
he cent as L am y
- No opposition was offered to Il
il. search. 1t was entirely fruitless, ho
he ever-there was nowhere any trace
Tia the flown bird Nevertheless l &C
.a cluled to remain there quietly for a ii
90 or two, To see what II little waiting mig
no. bring forth.
-, The same afternoon Clara Mates
came IN, As sat by the piazza windo
40 keeping quiet watch on all the 81
.od roundings.
nat "Mr. Meredith" she said, soft
- "mother thinks Ihave been rude To- "
,ch She saws it was not your fault, person
mn ". that YOU were sent here-on such
rlv mistake, and perhaps she is right.
am very sorry if have hurt your f.
,n. ings."
,ad The pretty, penitent way In VIII
she spoke quite won my heart, anC
few questions on my part seemed to
lock the hidden recesses OF her co
J.nce. She talked AZ first shyly,
sou aftrlwar1 with more assurance. ot
,m | self her absent brother and her mott