Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-19

it was not meant for me to see-but II you
say nothing about it, no harm will be
done. That's all that's all. And now
am going to see If the children are ready
that are TO go by the mail-car."
-" But will go with you, Meenie.'
Then the girl seemed to recollect herself.
and she glanced round at the interior of
the cottage, and at the little girl, with a
curious kind of look.
NO, no, not this morning, Maggie, she
said. You have plenty to do Good.
kissed her, and patted her on the
shoulder and left, seeming anxious to get
away and be by herself.
Maggie remained there in considerable
astonlshment. What had happened?
children? and why good by-when Meenie
would be coming along the road in less
than an hour. ms soon as the mail-car had
left And all about the reading Of some
thing contained in that folded sheet OF
paper. However. the little girl wisely re-
solved that, whatever was in that letter,
she would not seek to know it, nor
would she speak of it to any one, since
Meenie seemed SO anxious on that point
and so she set about her domestic duties
again looking forward to the end of these,
and the resumption Of her knitting of her
brothers Jersey.
Well, the winters day went by, and
they had done good work on the hill. AS
the dusk of the afternoon began to creep
over the heavens, they set out for
the lower e5 slopes on On. their way Hy
lads We're with the white creatures
slung over their backs on sticks
But The dusk WAS not the worst part Of
this descent; the wind was now driving
over heavy clouds from the north, and
again and again they would be completely
enveloped, and unable to see anywhere
more than yard from their feet In these
circumstances Ronald took the lead the
doctor coming next, and following, in
deed, more by sound than by sight the
lads bringing up the wake in solitary
file, with their heavy loads humping on
their backs. Ii was ghostly kind of pro
cession, though now and again the close
veil around them would be rent in twain
and they would have "A glimpse of some
thing afar oh-perhaps spur of Ben
| Loyal or the dark waters of Loeb Medic
studded with its small islands. Long be
fore they had reached Inver Mudal black
! night had fallen but now they were on
easier ground, and at last the firm footing
! of tho road echoed to their measured
| tramp, as the invisible company marched
on and down to the warmth and welcome
| lights of the inn.
The doctor, feeling himself something
! of a truant, did not stay, but went on to
his cottage, but the Others entered the
| inn; and rs Ronald forthwith presented
hares, the landlord was right willing to
call for ale for the heaters, who had had n
| hard d lys work. Nor was Ronald in a
| hurry to get home: for he had heard that
| Maggie was awaiting him In the kitchen,
and so he and Mr.. Murray had a pipe and
a chat together as was their custom. Then
| he ent for his sister
We'll, Maggie lass" said he rs they
set out through the dark, did you see all
the BARNS safely off this morning'"
:" No. Ronald" she said; "Meenie did
! home
And did ye find Harry sufficient COM
pany for ye? But ] suppose Miss Doug
las came and stayed with We for a while"
No. Ronald" said the little girl, in a
tone OF some surprise; " she has not been
near the house the whole day, since the
few minutes In the morning"
oh said he, lightly, She may have
been busy. now her father is come home.
And we maun try and get on wi your les
sons as well as ye can, lass without both
erng Miss Douglas too much; she Gamma
! always spend so much time with ye."
The little girl was silent She was
| thinking of that strange occurrence in the
! morning of which she was not to speak,
and in vague kind of way she could not
but associate that with Neenic's absence
all that day, and also with the unusual
to- Of her good by" But vet. II there
We're any trouble ii would speedily pas
away Ronald would put everything
right Nouo Is could Withstand him
that was the first aud last article OF her
no ded cheerfully enough to stir NJ
the reats, and to cook their joint supper
in "A manner really skillful for one Of hen