The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-07
CHAPTER Y.
A SECOND WELLINGTON

WH1Tl1NGION-
The summer and the autumn passed
but no sign or letter came from Ralph
The people in the town ceased. after the
manner of mankind. to think of the boy.
He was gone and forgotten. yet there
were two or three of Us who spoke and
thought of him continually First. there
was the fugleman, who found his life dull
without the boy TO talk with He prom
ised to make collection of birds eggs in
the spring as present for him when he
should return Then there was the old
woman. Sailor Nan. who kept his memory
green Lastly there were my grand
mother and myself We knew not. how
ever. where he was or anything about
him. nor could we guess what he was do
ing or whittier he had gone
Twice in the year. namely at Christmas
or the New Year. and at midsummer.
had letters from my parents, to which |
duly replied Ii was in May when Ralph
ran away. so that they had three letters
from me that year When my Christmas
letters arrived there was mention of our
boy but SO strange tale that we could
not understand what to believe or what
the thing might mean
The letter told US that Ralph reached
London safely in four or FIVE weeks after
leaving US having walked all the way
save for such trifing lifts and helps as
might be had for nothing on the road, he
found out my fathers shop be gave him
the letter. he slept in the house. and was
Hospitality entertained In the morning
be was taken by my father to the East
midas company's great house in Cornhill
and left there by him to talk with gen
tleman about the obtaining of a post in
their service that the conversation fin
ished. being dismissed by the gentleman
with whom he bad taken counsel Ralph
left the office Then be disappeared and
was seen no more Nor TO the inquiries
made was there any answer given or any
news of him ascertained SO wicked is
this unhappy town wrote my mother.
that men are capable of numbering even
an innocent lad from the country for the
sake of the silver buckles or the very
coat upon his back Yet there are other
ways in which he may have been drawn
away He loved not the thought of city
life. he may have taken the recruiting
sergeants shilling. or he may have been
pressed for sailor and sent to sea. or.
which heaven forbid be may have been
decoyed into bad company. and now be in
the company of rogues Whatever the
cause he hath disappeared and made no
sign. Yet he seemed good and honest
lad "
So perplexed were We with the strange
and unintelligible intelligence that after
turning il about in talk for week, il was
resolved that we would consult Mr. Car
naby in the matter 1t would perhaps
have been better if we had kept the thing
to ourselves For this gentleman, though
he kindly considered the case. could d.
nothing TO remove the dreadful doubi
under which We lay. except that he II,
commended US to patience and resigna
ton virtues of which Heaven knows W.
women who stay al home must needs con
| tlnua1ly practice We should. say. har.
done better had we held our tongues. b..
cause MIR Carnaby told the barber. wiz
told the townsfolk one by one and then
was whispered about that Ralph ha
| joined the gypsies- according to some. o
| been pressed and sent to sea. according /
| others or had enlisted according I,
| others. with wild stories told in addition
born of imagination. idle or malignant. a.
that he had joined company of common
rogues and robbers or-but | scorn to re
peat these things Everybody. however
al this juncture. remembered the wicked
things said Of the boy by his cousin A.
for Mathew himself. overioyed at the wei
| come news. which he received open
mouthed. so TO speak. he went about call
| ing all his acquaintance to witness thai
he had long since prophesied ruin and dis
aster to the boy. which, indeed. to the
fullest extent, Lad so depraved as TO
| horsewhip his own guardian, richly de
served As for coming back. he said that
was not likely and. indeed. impossible
because he was already knocked on III;
| nead-Mathew was quite convinced OF
thls-in some midnight brawl. or at leas;
fallen so low that he would never dare 4,
N~- - eA---oAAS DCIi1Dic people these
things we could not believe. vet they sank
into our hearts and made US uneasy Fo,
where could the boy be- and why did b.
not send us one letter. at least. to tell n.
what he had done. and how he had Jared.
-Child- said my grandmother. 1T
certain that Mathew does not wish b;
cousin to return He bears malice in b;
heart against the boy. and he remember
that should he never get back the nail
VIII be his own Already he began
give himself the airs of the master. an,
TO talk of selling field here and a 6e,
there and of improving the property.
if all was his
DE will come back said the fuple
man Brave hearts and lusty legs d.,
not get killed Maybe he hath enlisted
Then he may have gone a-soldiering !.
America or somewhere in the world. AM
~ asHps viii fst Premolien corporal