Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-08-23
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CHATTER xxx.

CHATTER xxx.
But after he is gone Della comes to the
conclusion that she has been very selfish.
Why should she let this man. on whom
she has not the slightest claim, run about
After her business, while she sits Idle In
tie hotel?
There is a cawing Of rocks to be heard
from the Close, near at hand: and, lured
by the sound, and the reports she has
heard of the beauty of the grand old ca.
thedral, Della turns her feet after awhile
in that direction, and. passing under the
arch of 81. Crispin, finds herself In one Of
those solemn. peaceful Enclosures that
surround most Of the ancient ecclesias-
teal edifices in England. It seems as
though in a moment she has passed out
Of the working world into q city Of the
dead and she sits down on q hat tomb
stone, almost awe-struck by the thought
and the feeling it brings with II Not
everyone, though, Is OF the same opinion
on entering the Cathedral Close. Two
stone slab close to her, while q third Il
making the welkin ring with his melan-
choly bowls.
What are " cryin' for. Bnlr' demands
one Of his companions at last, impatient
y.
Mothers it meT'
"Why forY'
"'Cause stoned an old beggar on Mar
tyrs' Worthy Road"
What beggsr
An old thief with q pack. tried tc
hustle is pack, and e growled at me. &C
1t i'm with q stone; and then one Of
them wimmin IL a black gound and Q
white cap come out of Frushwood Farm
and blackguarded me, and I tried to 1t
'er; and she TUX old Of me and led me
'ome to mother and got 'er to wallop me.
And amt she done it neitherr continues
the boy, and laments anew.
Della is listening to the recital with all
her ears.
Whats the good of lifting a beggar for
nothin'T demands one Of the young phi
losophers engaging in ring-taw.
"'Twarn't for Iothin'. l wanted a bit
Of the leather off Is pack to cover my ball.
So just give grab at 1t, and the old fel
ler come arter ms; so l threw stones at
adds. with nth .stt and i nts.f.esioa. j. a.
tA,s.t' rs. es'ne to Long Branch y, &
~ eusit
Della trewbles al ovef Af he d6ht.
"Come here, boy!' she says to-the blub
bering urchin; II want to speak to you
The child appears very shy Of coming
within the range of her hand. Perhaps
he anticipates another euff; but the sighi
of q shilling has q wonderful effect ir
clearing up his doubts and allaying his
fears.
BE that for me 2" he asks, cautiously.
aft shalI he YOURS II you will answer me
. few questions"
At this wonderful announcement all
three lads stay their occupations and
gather round her.
What was this old beggar like and
where did you see him"
"He were a little un, all crumped up
like, with white air and big pack on is
back; and I seed i'm on the Martyrs
Worthy Road 'alf an hour agone."
IF l give you this shilling will you take
me to him" says Della eagerly.
We'll all take you to i'm. num-" cry
the boys simultaneously. as. forgetful OF
tears and whippings and ring-taw, the!
prepare to form themselves into q guare
of honor for the lady who has shilling'
with which to reward their services.
Della tears a leaf from her pocketbool
and writes on it: Follow me to Brush
wood Farm, on the Martyrs Worthy
Road" then rising. she leaves It at tn,
George Inn loor for Mr.. LIE Mesurier, ant
prepares &c follow her young guide'
wherever they may lead her.
She has found the old clerk again Sht
feels sure and certain that she has found
him.
The Martyrs Worthy Road appears tc
be q long way off to Della, dragged there
hurriedly as she Is by her impetuous lit.
tie outriders.
'.This is the shortest cut, num-.
II don't care which way l so so tha
you take me there as quickly as posi-
ble," says Della In her turn.
On the road she makes the whipped
boy repeat, again and again, his descrip
ton of the old beggar.
"And who was the woman who tool
you to her mother?" she asks presently.
shes q beast, that's what she is, re
plies the urchin determinedly.
II know 'er," says one Of the others;
she's staying with Farmer Coombes al
Martyrs Worthy. She's what they calls
a sister"
I'D like to sister 'er," interpolates the
injured boy.
But what became Of the old man when
the sister took you home" says Della.
..Oh. she took i'm into the farmhouse
fus,, and she's there with him now.
"Only show me the house, and you shall
have your shilling and be of. What name
did you sayT
Farmer Coombes Of the Brushwooc
Farm"
Coombes-Coombes! Where has she
heard that name before? She has scarce
" time to ask herself the question befOrt
she Is there.
y is a large, spacious house, much add
ed to and improved by modern skill, tht
house Of a gentleman farmer rather tnaI
the every day, business-like residence sh'
had expected to see. But here. havnt
arrived at her journeys end, and tht
little lads being quite certain that ths
woman with the cap" took the "old beg
gar in there, she dismisses them WIN
shilling apiece. in the possession OF whicn
they run shouting back to the sweet-stuh
shop. At another time Della might have
felt timid Of intruding upon the privacy
Of strangers, but now she feels no repuE.
nance. no fear only the intensest desirs
to learn if her surmises are correct. She
walks straight up to the hall door OF shs
Erushwood Farm. and rings the bell. IL
is answered by a country maid.
..I HOG vour M rdon" commences DellA,