Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-24
OVER THR BORDER
b. WALTER BEsANT.
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER ".
DRUsIILA'S STORY.

l WAS born in Chespside, almost beneath |
the bells OF Bow, on October 5, in the year
of grace 1853, being the fifth and youngest
child Of Solomon Hetheripgton and Pru-
dence, his wife. My father was citizen
aud glover, a member of the Honorable
Company of GlOvers, his ambition being
always TO be elected, before becoming lord
mayor, master of his company. Thee
ambitions are laudable in q city merchant,
yet, alas, they are not always attained,
aud in my unhappy fathers case they
we're very far from being reached, as you
shall presently hear.
There is, am told, some quality in the
London air which causeth the city, IN
spite of much that is foolish as regards
cleanliness, to be 3 healthy place, and IA
vorable TO children. So that, for my own
part, though was brought up in the very
center and heart of the city, with no green
fields to run in, nor any gardens saving
those belonging TO the Diapers company,
/, as well as my brothers and sisters, was
healthy and well faring child up to the
age of 8, when I, with all my brothers and
sisters, was afflicted with that scourge o!
mankind, small pOx. This dreadful dts-
ease, to the unspeaksble grief of my par
snts, killed their four eldest children, and
spared none but myself, the youngest, and
a girl. recovered 30 far that, although l
was weakly and ailiDg for long time, 1
was not marked by single spot OF any OF
@, those ugly pits, which aometimes ruin
many womnn's beauty and thereby rob
her Of that choicest blessing, the love OF
husband. Sd different, however, was l
from the stOut and hearty girl before the
smallpox, that my parents were advised
that the best chance 10 save my lite--thls
being for the time their chief and only
hops-was to send me into the country,
there to live in fresh, pure air, runniUg IN
the sun, and fed on oatmeal pOrridge,
good milk, fat bacon, and new laid eggs.
Then my father bethought him of his
own mother who lived far away indeed
ON London, namely, st Warkworth, IN
Northumberland. Aud he proposed to my
mother that they should take this long
iOurnsy, carrying me with them, and
leave me for q while in charge of my
grandmother; which being done, and my
health showing signs of amendment, they
were constrained to 90 back to their OWE
business, leaving me in good hands, yet
with sOrroWful hearts, because they were
going home without me. And for SIX or
seven years saw them no more.
No girl to be sure, had kinder treat
ment or a more indulgeut goyerness than
myself MY grandmother, Dame Hether-
ipgton-though not lady by birth, but
only a farmers daughter-lived in the
house which stands outside the town, be-
yond the bridge and the trees.
Ny grandmother wasa wise woman, and
reflected that, az | was sent away IRON
London in order to recover my health and
grow strong, was allowed and encouraged
60 run about in the open air as much as
possible, so that, as this part Of England lie
quite safe, and there are here few gypsles
(who mostly stay on the other side OF Che
Viot) nor any robbers on the rosd-nor,
indeed, any road at all to signify very
soon grew to know the whole country
within the reach of hearty girls feet.
There is plenty to see, though this part
Of Northumberland is Hat, while the rest
il wild and mountainous. There are the
ruins of the old castle, about which 1t Is
ALWAYS pleasant for child to run and
climb, or for grown person 10 mediate on
the vanity of earthly things, seeing that
this pile of ruins was once great and
stately castle, and this greensward was
once hidden beneath the feet of fierce SOL
disrs, who now are dust and ashes IN
the grave yard. From the castle one looks
down upon the Coquet, which would ever
continue in my eyes the sweetest OF rivers,
even were TO see the far famed Tiber, or
the silver Thames, or the great Gsnges, or
the mysterious Nile, or even the sacred
Jordan.
Higher up the river was Norwich Mill,
where Ralph Empleton lived with his
uncle.
Beyond the town, half mile out to sea, |
lies the little island of Coquet. Ralph |
once rowed me across the narrow channel,
and We explored the desert island and
thought Of Robinson Crusoe which he had
read and told me. But this was before
the time when we took to pretending at
ghosts.
In those days, which seem to have been
so happy, and dare say were, Ralph was
free, and could come and 90 rs pleased
him best, save that he went every morning
10 the vicar, who taught him Latin and
Greek, and sometimes remembered-but
in kindly mOderation-the advice OF
Solomon. The reason of this freedom was
that his uncle, with whom he lived, loved
the lad greatly, and intended great things
for him, even designing that he should be-
come q great scholar and 20 to Cambridge.
For once there was 8 member Of his family
who took to learning and rose from being
a poor scholar in that university, which
has ever been q kindly nurse or foster
mother of poor scholars, to be a doctor of
divinity. And a sad change was to happen
al the mill.
Everybody was our friend in those days,
from Mr.. Cuthbert. Carnaby justice of the
peace, and the vicar, down to Sailor Nan
and her ledger, Dan Gedge, the Strong
Man. Every body had q kind word for
Ralph, and nobody told me then how
wicked it was to run about with boy OF
such unnatural deprayity. This, as you
will see was TO come. He was tall boy :
for his years, and he was six years older
than myself, which proves how good ma
tured he must have been, for few boys OF
IL or Is care for the companionship OF
girl of 8 or 10. As for his face, il has al
gays been the dearest face in the world to
me, and always will be, so that | know
not whether other people would call 1t q
handsome face. HIS eyes were esger, as II
which was the cass-he always wanted
10 be up and doing They were blue eyes, l
because he was Northumberland lad, Q
yet not soft and dreamy eyes, as 10 too 4
often the case with the people Of the north. q
His face was oval and his features regular. q
He carried his head thrown bsck, and
walked erect with both hands ready, a. if
there was generally hght to be expected, g
and it was well to be prepared. To be T
sure, Ralph was one of those who love q
and do not sulk IL they are beaten, '
but bide bit and then on again.
When Ralph was nearly Is, q great and