The Globe-republican., 1889-10-23

Bobby" she said, lifting the boy up
from the couch. IL was angry with
you. but poor Timothy did not feel it.
dear; he won't suffer any thing much
longer" DR.. Meredith cast q swift
glance at the sofa, upon his return. then
said:
go away, youngsters. Go down 70
Jane. We can't do with you here"
They trooped away slowly. Bobby
still sobbing.
The twilight had gone. the fire shone
up bravely; outside the wind howled on,
as it had howled all day. and blew the
cookies into crevices and holes about
the yellow steps.
Light and rest" murmured the old
man; sunshine; there's no cold river.
as folks say. Where's the basket? he
added. suddenly rousing.
Done with" said Gilbert Rowell.
putting his warm, white hand, that had
never worked in its life, gently upon
the brown. horny one. growing cold in
death. You won't have to carry it
any more"
That's well, that's we'll; it was very
heavy. very heavy"
Gilbert failed to suppress sudden
sob which caught his breath. COnse-
quently being much ashamed. he
glanced up at Lorrie, hoping she had
not heard it. and he thought she had
not done 20
REST and sunshine" muttered the
old voice again, and Timothy had gone
away from the shrieking wind. the
heavy basket, and the scramble for life;
and down Church-lane the well-known
monotonous cry would never be heard
any more.
= =
1t was the close of a perfect day, so
hot and calm the soft ripples on the
shore scarcely moved the pebbles, the
red and white sails on the blue water
hung helpless and slack. All day Gil
bert Rowell had basked in the sunshine
of Miss Maria HoldswOrth's society. as
we'll as in the sunshine of the summers
day. Now they were out on the shining
water of the bay in white boat
Maria was considered a beauty; she
knew it, and thought Mr. Rowell knew
it also.
His wide. old house was somewhere
in that green haze which betokened the
shore. Its clustered chimneys were
discernable even from the boat Miss
Maria liked that house. and thought if
ever she became its mistress. how
easily the wild desolation of quaint
flower gardens and scented orchards
could be swept away to make lawns
and respectable strawberries. This
thought WAS lingering in her head just
then, making little frOwn flicker over
her eyebrows as she glanced at the
handsome sunbrowned face before her.
and she wondered what was in his mind.
Gilbert was straining his eyes shore
ward. trying. if the truth was told. to
make out the red tiled cottage clinging
half way up the cliff, where eight souls
(and bodies) were slowed away every
night in such an incredibly small
amount of space. Lorrie Hindle had
brought out her six brothers and old
Jane for a holiday of two months by
the sea, and had taken this little hut.
squeezing her charges in with much
continuance anyhow. Four always
rushed out very early in the morning.
waving bathing towels like banners,
down to the shore.
But Mr.. Rowell could not see the cot
tage now. and with sigh he turned
his attention to the beautiful Maria
sgain. How swan-like she looked, he
thought, as he helped her out of the
boat little while after, and walked
with her along the smooth sand to the
narrow track leading up the cliff.
There was fantastic hotel up yonder,
fortunately out OF sight of the village
It had been built few summers before
by an enterprising stranger. Maria and
her mother had come to stay short
time at this unbeautiful structure.
Gilberts heart beat loudly as they
wandered past the red-tiled cottage.
not because the soft hand of Maria
rested ON his arm. but on account of
childish voices coming through tiny
windows up there under the caves, and
Lorrie's clear tones answering:
"Yes. dears, it is sure to be fine to-
morrow"
Another one." shouted somebody,
and Gilbert distinctly heard a resound-
ing kiss in the warm air, followed by a
boys noisy laughter.
As he said Good night half an
hour later to the reluctant Maria. hot
blush surged over his face. He could
not tell the reason why she looked up
at him half questioningly with her
hand in his. but Gilbert appeared to be
occupied with his own thoughts. and
went off down the path again. instead
of up towards his own home. when he
left her.
He soon reached the cottage again.
Lorrie was outside now, leaning on the
rugged garden wall. gazing over the
glory-fooded sea; her wide hat was on