The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-07-15

readin' all kinds o. books with larnin's in
'em That set his mind a wanderin,, and then
somehow Harry was changed like, and
didn't care for our old-fashioned ways; he
wanted to go to the big city, and at last one
day he went"
Did he run away, uncle, asked, "run
away and leave you ?"
g Yes, ne nan away, Davy, leavin' me an
mother-mother who loved him, and who
used to pray for him every night until my
heart would get to bleedin' He ran away,
Davyi He didn't come to us like the little
man that he used to be, but he stole away
one night, it was Just before harvestin' time,
and then, but he never writ to us-neyer
writ to mother I"
The old man touched his eyes with hii
apron, and drew hard on his pipe.
All this was years ago, but have not for.
gotten the deep impression it made on me
his sad worn face, which seemed so much
more troubled than ever before, and the
nervous twitching of his hands, all of which
scarcely realized then. I can see it all
now; we two sitting there in the old door
way, the sun setting back of the hills, and
the long shadows streaking the road that
fell away from the shop into the valley be-
low.
Don't tell me any more," said, " if it
makes you feel SO bad. Listen There are
the cows over ut the deacon's; they are
coming in for the MILLING
He paused, and then went into the shop.
He raked the GOALS at the forge, and cover
ed them up for the night. fancy that he
did SO that might not discover his agita-
ton.
He never writ to u.s." he presently re-
sumed, but Joe Wheeler did, and when
that letter came which told us how Harry
our little Harry-had been put in Jail for n
crime, it broke poor mother down. But We
never knew what came of him. Thar WAS
nothin' we could do; we We're far away"
o uncle, and you have never seen him
since that time ?" asked, feeling great
lump in my throat.
I" See him, DavyP See himp The world
is wide, and the years have been long, but,
Davy--"
He turned away from the forge, and came
near TO me.
"Davy, seed q face last night out on
he road thar that KEEP me awake till the
light came in my winder this mornin'. ]
seed face that's bin CROWN and a CROWN
on me, it t'want a ghost, Davy, but it was
him my Harryl"
1t was dusk when 1 left Uncle Stanton
that evening. helped him close up the
blacksmith shop, and walked with him
down the road to Joe Wheeler's old
house, where Uncle Stanton boarded, and
when started back again to my own hum
BILE home remember that was so full of
thought that mother, who waited me anx-
iously, said:
Dayy, didn't hear your happy whistle
as you came along what makes you so late,
child ?"
How well remember next day with ia
drizzling rain, and the wet leaves of the big
maple tree which were tossing against my
little window when awokeI 1 had slept
very late, and while / made my hasty dress
ing mother called me. Deacon Greene's
rusty top buggy was standing at the door
when went down, and the good old man
was telling piece of news that had aroused
the Center to an excitement which is not
forgotten 70 this very day.
Uncle Stanton was dead
1--WE don't know how it was, Dayy," he
,aid, turning to me. "Most likely IL was
his heart that did it. You see--well, il
,ouldn't have been an hour before candle.
light when Marthy Wheeler heard noise
in Uncle Stanton's room, but afore she
could get her dxin's on and get her old
bones up the stairs it was all over. Uncle
Stanton was ON the floor, gone beyond help.
The window was open, and the little box he
used to keep his money in was gone"
And this is all that ever came OF it. Moth.
ing was ever discovered nothing was learn.
ed of the thief. But somehow or other,
when think of that summer evening" when
Uncle Stanton told me of face he saw,
there comes over me a shudder--a suls,ic.
ion Well, won't write what / think.
Could it be2