Middletown transcript., 1891-09-24
hen they knew it was Mr.. Green.

= 1 ~
Then they knew it was Mr.. Green.
Mrs. Lamb and the aunts pressed
: close to the window.
] No. we haven't" replied Mrs
Lamb. Why, what's the matter p
I" We can't find her anywheres.
Mother went over to Lawrence this
afternoon, and was down in the east
field hayin'. Mother, she got home
first, and Hannah Maria wasn't any
where about the house, an she'd kind
; of an idea she'd gone over to the Ben
! netts; she'd been talking about goin'
there to git tidy-pattern of the Ben.
!,nett girl; so she waited till I got
home just put the horse in again
an drove over there, but she's not
been there. don't know where she
is. Mothers most crazy"
Where is she ?" they cried, all to-
gether.
" Sittin' out in the road, in the bug
gy."
/ Mrs. Lamb and the aunts hurried
out. They and Mr.. Green stood be-
side the buggy, and Mrs. Green thrust
her anxious face out.
" Oh. where do you suppose she
is ?" she groaned
t 4 Now, de keep calm Mrs. Green"
said Mrs. Lamb, in an agitated voice.
We've got something to tell you.
| Mehitable was over there this after
noon."
"Oh, she wasn't, was she ?"
Yes, she was. She went about
four o'clock. and she stayed an hour
and half. Hannah Maria was all
right then. Now. I'll tell you what
we'll do, Mrs. Green you just get
right out of the buggy, and Mr..
Green will hitch the horse, and we'll
go in and ask Mehitable just how she
left Hannah Maria. Don't you
worry you keep calm, and we'll find
her."
Mrs. Green stepped tremblingly
from the buggy. She could scarcely
stand Mrs. Lamb took one arm and
Aunt Susy the other. MIR. Green
hitched the horse, and they all went
into the house, and upstairs to Me-
hitable's room. She was not asleep.
She stared at them in frightened
way, as they all filed into the room.
Mrs. Green rushed to the bed.
"Oh, Mehitable," she cried, when
did you last see my Hannah Maria ?"
Mehitable looked at her, and said
nothing.
"Tell Mrs. Green when you last
saw Hannah Maria" said Mrs. Lamb.
az guess twas bout five o'clock"
replied she in a quavering voice.
Sac got home at half.past five"
interposed Mehitable's mother.
Did she look all right" asked |
Mrs. Green.
Yes, ma'am."
Nobody came to the house when
you were there. did there9" asked
Mr.. Green.
No, SIR
Aunt Susy came forward. "Now,
look here, Mehitable," said she. 'Do
you know anything about what has
become of Hannah Maria? Answer
me, yes or no"
Mehitables eyes were like pale
moons her little face as white as the
pillow.
Yes, ma a'am."
"WelI, what has become of her ?"
Mehitable was silent.
"Oh," sobbed Mrs. Green, yeti
must tell me. Mehitable, you'll tell
Hannah Maria's mother what has be-
come Of her, won't you p
Mehitable's mother bent over her
and whispered, but Mehitable lay
there like little stone image.
"Oh, do make her tell! pleaded
Mrs. Green.
"Come now. tell, and I'll buy you
whole pound of candy" said Mr..
Green
NIehitable, you must tell" said
Aunt Susy.
Suddenly she began to cry. She
sobbed and sobbed her little body
shook convulsively. They all urged
her to tell, but she only shook her
head between the sobs.
Grandmother Lamb came into the
room. She had awakened from her
nap. .,
ed.
What ails Mehitable? Is she
sick p
Hannah Maria is lost, and Me-
hitable knows what has become OF
her, and she won't TELL" exclaimed
Aunt Susy.
Massy sakes!' Grandmother she
went up to the bed. "Tell grand
mother" she whispered, "an' she'll
give you pep'mint."
But Mehita5le shook her head, and
sobbed. /
They all pleaded and argued and
commanded, but they got no reply |
but that shake of the head, and sobs.
"The child will be sick if she
keeps on this way" said Grandmother
Lamb.
"She deserves to be sick!" said
Hannah Maria's mother in desper-
ate voice and Mehitable's mother
forgave her.
We may as we'll 60. down." said
Mr.. Green with groan. +" 1 can't
waste any more time here I've got TO
do something"
ooh, tbs night coming on, and my
goor child lost !" walled Hannah
Maria's mother.
Mehitable sobbed so that it was
pitiful in spite of her obstinacy.
"If that child don't have somethin'
to take, she'll be SICK" said her grand
mother. l dunno as there's any
need of her bein' sick if Hannah |
Maria is lost" And she forthwith
-..l r.