Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-04-03
Continued from First Page.

standing" -
"What do you mean Dunstan p asked
Mrs. Kirke, in alarm.
"Wife, mean that | shall leave the
mill to- morrow, for the end has come
am only poor, old, blind man, too
helpless TO earn the price OF loaf OF
bread, and it is but fair that / should
give up the place. ! can not pay the
squire even the interest on the mort
gage, therefore we must leave, and leave
at once. Everything | have belongs to
the squire. l shall not have. more than
fifty pounds ready money after we pay
Doctor Thorne and orr bill at the shop
in Blackburn"
"But where are we to go, if we leave
the old mill?" asked the trembling
woman at his side.
''To my Cousin Ruth's She will
board us until Dolly gets situation"
make your mind easy regarding
Dolly, Dunstan. She will be provided
for without looking for situation"
"What do you mean, Mercy?"
"That Dolly will marry Captain
Green; he's wonderfully fond OF her,
He is a good sort OF man, but sort Of
queer in his head" said Mrs. Krke.
"Well, Pm glad to know that Dolly
will have home of her own when ]
have not shelter to offer her." replied
the miller, with sigh. "She'sa good
lass, Mercy, and deserves to be happy"
enc better girl to be found IN the
county than Dolly Dutton,' answered
Mrs. Kirke, warmly.
"Mercy, am going over to the mill
as soon as Joe comes. want to walk
around the place / have loved and ten
ded SO well, /" said the miller, sadly.
Here is Joe, Dunstan. l hear his
step in the Kitchen" exclaimed Mrs.
Kirke, eagerly.
"Lead me to him, wife"
Mrs. Kirke took her husband by the
hand and guided him into the kitchen.
"Joe, your master wants you to take
him over to the mill. Be careful of
him."
eyes, missus, / will. Come, master,
put on your cloak, for the night is
chilly"
The faithful servant enveloped the
miller in his cloak, and taking his hand
led him away.
"Thank Heaven, he is gone" cried
the excited woman, clasping her hands
together. ~ wonder If that was my
child at the window. MY own darling
girl come back to me. Poor child, she
may be helpless, homeless; and hungry
tonight. can not endure the thought
that she is wanderer No, no, she
shall not perish if | can save her. l
will go to Master Rodney, he will help
me; he will save Hazel, and break the
iron OF her fathers will"
AS she said this, Mrs Kirke threw
her shawl around her shoulders and
started for Rodney Hall.
She walked rapidly over the familiar
road, looking neither to the right nor
the left, so eager was she to obtain the
squire's aid in her search for Hazel.
With the unerring instincts of moth
ers heart she had felt her child's pres
ence though she had not seen her at the
window that evening.
Suddenly Mrs. Kirke paused in her
rapid walk, for ragged forlorn lad
stood before her. His face was pale
and he looked as if he had endured
great hardships. This forlorn individ.
ual stopped in front Of Mrs. Kirke say
ing:
ooh, missus, is that you?"
"Why, Met, Met! Is it you?" ex.
claimed Mrs. Kirke, laying her hand
on his shoulder. whats the good
word, lad?" Speak, speak, lad" she
added, with sudden intensity to the boy
She dreaded while she was eager tc
hear the news which she felt sure that
Met had brought of her darling child.
The ragged figure staggered forward
and fell at her feet, catching her skirt
and pressing it to her lips. Mrs. Kirke's
white lips moved, but she was unable tx
utter Hazels name. She pressed hel
hands over her eyes, withdrew then
and stood gazing at the we'll know
face and form before her. Her tongue
seemed paralyzed; she clasped her trem
bling hands together awaiting Met
answer.
"Iwant her, missus, where is she p
asked Met, eagerly.
With supreme effort, Mrs. Kirk
tried to control herself, and to be Il
calm as possible as she said: al
"WhoW sa ga
"Hazel, missus; why have trampeC
miles to find her."
"My God!" walled the wretchet
mother, as she staggered back and Eel
against tree to which she chung.
Her heart was too full of agony for
moment to allow her to speak. Sh
seemed like woman turned suddenl
to stone.
"Where can she be then ?" said Met
wondering.
Mrs. Kirke did not answer the DO
but leaning her head against the ire
she gave way to her feeling and burs
into loud sobs.
whats the matter, missus; is Haze
dead ?"
mo, no" murmured the unhapp
mother, II feel sure she is alive, but sh
is not with us, Met. She is with he
husband, l suppose"
mo, no; she has left him." exclain
ed the boy.
''Left him? Why?" anxiously aske
Mrs. Krke.
II don't know, don't know" RI
= piled Met, shaking his head sadly, as
the problem of Hazers disappearance
was too hard for him to solve.