The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-31
BOBALONG

veneer Of concern everything a thick sub
stratum of compassionate superiority in
his face, and ask. NO news vet Mr.
Long, and the little man would shake
ms head and say. No news yet, Mr..
Brown: but wen lind him all right and
would look as if he really believed II. At
which the stationmaster would shake his
head doubtfully an" stand gazing after
the little man with nothing but compass
sion ~ his face as he pressed sturdily
along the way TO the village
Beyond the village he would turn in at
a pair of great iron gates, and a little.
bright-faced woman. who was always
waiting in the doorway OF the trim stone
ludge, would greet him with a cheerful:
well. Bob, my man, here yOn are, and
glad ! an TO see you. I'm always think
ing OF you being run over in them Lon
don streets. No news YETI
NO news yet. Lisbeth." the little man
would say. You all right2'
Right as triNet. my man. Only anX-
iOus about yuu-and him. Do you really
think there's any hope OF finding him,
Bob
I'm not going to give it up vet, LIS
both. l0ndon's a mighty big place, you
know. Let's have some tea. l haven't
tasted anything as good as your tea and
crumpets since ] saw you last. There $
no one in London can do EN- equal TO you,
old girl
And tea was always Just ready and the
crunpcts done To a turn. and over them
Bob ted his wife all the disappointing
And his wife would listen with her eyes
and mouth 80 very wide open that Bob
always got the lions share Of the crum-
pets. which was just exactly what the
astutc Old lady intended.
And after tea Bob would stroll up the
darHeuug avenue among the frs and
rhOdod' ndrOus till II opened out in great
sweep before mighty grey stone house
which lay with closed eyes waiting for
one TO come and awaken IL. and hs. for
whom il lay waiting was lost ia the wiids
OF LONDON or elsewhere. And Bob Long
In spite Of his hopeful looks and words.
began to have a fear deep down in his
little heart of gold that he was lost for
ever
So. now and again. when no one was
about he would heaye a rnournful sigh as
h. Eazcd at the beautiful Old house. and
then h would 90 round TO the stables and
rattlD the boys up, just to keep his hand
IN and To feel his own grip. For there
never WAS 81 fault he could find. since the
boys were all of his own up-bringing. and
every sui about Cleserest loved horse
next to himself, unless someone else hap
p"nod I" stray in between.
Ana whenever he went to the stables
there came tripping out from the big
house, as soon rs she heard he was there.
Il dainty little lady wearing
and at sight of her old Bob's
hat came off and his heart was sore as he
stood bare-headed before her. and to her
anXions No news, Bobalong@,, he always
r. 'il'f- 'isttiiiFs MI yet 4sIlsS Adfy.
but it's a mighty big place London. and
II takes "A lot o working through. Moth
ing nom the lawyers. i suppose. miss?'
Nothing, BobalonR. They sc been adj
ysrtIsinG FOR six months, and it's all done
no good. IA beginning to be afraid he's
dead. BVhalong.''
Not a bit Of it, missy. Master Charles
amt the kind Co go and die like that just
when ygc want him 81 bad. %
He felt himself that Il was rather weak
as an argument. ana Mary Cleserest only
shook her head as though it did not car
~ absolute conviction to either heart or
mind.
You're going back. Bobaioug?" she
would ask. wistfuly.
why. of course. missy. I'm going TO
go ON looking Till / find him. the old
man would Say, so stIrdily that Mary
always felt a trfie comforted in spite Of
herself She said to herself that she was
afraid IL was hopeless and that her broth
81 was dead, but in any case she wasn't
going la be beaten in hopefulness by Old
Bobalong.
IL was three years since her brother
Charles fell la love with Margaret San
noS, her goHcrnesS and very dear friend
And when Sir Godfrey in due course
caught them at il. and expressed his feel
ing 10 the verge of apuPlexy. Charles re-
piled in the Cleserest spirit, and was
promptly given his choice between home
and sweetheart, and without a moments
hesitation chose the latter. And so at
much sh, tter notice than she could Ia
disappeared from Cleserest and not one
single word had she heard of them since
For the furious old gentleman. forgetting
his gentlemaniiness In his fury. tore up
every letter that appeared in the mail
bag Ia either Charles or Margaret's writ