The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-14

pay.
"Take Robbie into the library
Nellie, while Jane tides up th
nursery" commanded Mrs. Hath
away; "and be sure you don't lie
HIM get into mischief -
Nellie obeyed. Robbie was
restless little fellow, and for som,
minutes he kept her close at hi
heels; but, at last, she got hin
quoted over a picture book; anc
then she drew a small scrap of pa
per from the pocket of her dress
and began to examine it closely
"Charles Goldthwaite, Esq, At
torney-at-law, Grafton" were all
the legible words the bit of news
paper contained. For weeks Mel
lie had carried it in her pocket.
81 wonder where Grafton is, and
If Charles Goldthwaite knows
anything of Mama's friend?" she
thought wistfully out into the fall.
ing twilight.
Crash and a loud scream from
Master Robbie. Nellie turned
round. The little fellow had
climbed in a chair, and pulled
down his mothers pet Dresden
vase, and shivered it to pieces.
"Oh! My buttons! See what
Rob's done! Won't you catch it,
Nell?" cried Rosabel,. putting he1
head in at the door; "I'm going
straight to tell Mama,
In two minutes Mrs. Halfway
appeared.
"You wicked, idle, disobedien,
GIRL" she Cried. pale with anger
didn't I charge you to keep Rob,
bic out of mischief? Take that,
and that, and that; and I wish
you'd take yourself out of my
house; you're not worth youl
salt" She struck the child saw
agely, as she spoke, blow afte,
blow. Then, gathering up the
fragments of the vase, she flounced
out of the room
Nellie had not uttered one word
but her dark eyes were filled with
tears, her lips quivered, her little
heart throbbed, almost to bursting
Poor, motherless child. There
was no one to. take her part. She
lifted Robbie in her arms, and car
ried him to the nursery; then, ia
king her shawl and hood from tn,
rack, she put them on, and stol'
silently from the house.
81 will not stay another hour, )
she said. 81 must try and fine
poor Mama's friend -
Away she went across the yard
a little, homeless bird, seeking
shelter from the storm. On an(
on, past the village church, pas
her mothers grave, white with thu
winter snow; over the fields, anl
down to the station, where tht
lights were twinkling in the dark
ness. The train was en- the poin+
of moving out.
"Please, sir, will this train takt
me to Grafton?" she inquired.
"Grafton? Not quite! That
some miles Oh ahead from tn,
next station. All aboard?"
The train was moving. Nellie
went in with the rest. When tht
fare was collected, she took he,
little purse from her pocket, ano
poured it's contents in the con
ductor's hand.
"I hope there's enough to pay
sir" she said, simply.
He gave her back some change
and smiled kindly at her, as h.
disappeared. And through tn,
wintry darkness, the train flew on
With her little face close to tn
glass, Nellie watched the fyinI
trees, as the slow hours went by.
At last, the train stopped at .
little way-side station.
Passengers for Grafton =
somebody shouted.
Some half-a-dozen persons go
out, and Nellie followed them
but they soon disappeared, alt
| she found herself standing, utter
1y alone, under the dim light o
the winter stars.
A sudden sense of desolation po
sessed her, and she began to cry
and to- regret the rash step she ha'
taken. While she stood thus, al
old man came along, with a Ian
tern in his hand. He stoppe'
short, at sight of the lonely, littl
figure,
Hello! what's this?"
"Please, sir, I want to 60 t
Grafton. Can you tell me th
way?" asked Nellie, plaintively
"Grafton? Why that's fu-
five miles off, you can't get the1