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

| duty.
Then he had seen Road Car horse
come to grief as she tried to get a footing
in Fleet Street. and though full of SYM
patty for her distress. vet since she be-
lonSed to the opposition line he mad
didacttcaliy pronounced her an old
crock, in which he was, of course. quite
wrong. But to Charlie there Were never
more than two decent horses on the
street, and those We're the two his father
happened to he driving at the time.
Then their own attempt at resumption
of progress under Ludgate Hill Bridge
was attended with such scrabb.ing and
snorting that the whole place echoed
again And Charles anguished eyes
were glued SO tightly to the bObbinS
heads and plunsing shoulders and strain
| ing Hanks in front of him that he did
not see little man who had crept up
the stairs and slid into the seat beside
| him. The little mans face was shining
in a way that shamed the sun, and he
compressed himself into half his usual
space in order to give him more room
But even that had effect on the lit
tie man, who wrigSled -e0nyulstvoly TIL
the horses had recovered themselves. and
ii was just when they were passing the big
butter shop that he laid "A hard little
brown hand ON Charles Clesercsts Shout
der and said. with choke:
Master Charle5-Sir Charles, I mean
yOn are wanted at home.
''Halloa, BobaiOng, Is that your said
been addressing his own conductor. But
ii is more than possible that the sudden
use of the ttle-which told all Boba-
longs story-caused a momentary aber-
ration. and SO paved the way for the ac-
cident. For just then that extremely
stupid van issued from Old Bailey and
made an exhibition of itself By shedding
its mind wheel in the very middle OF I'd
gate Hill. thereby blocking the traffic for
a full half-hoar. and exciting profanity
enough to have thawcd the rcadways
within the three-Taile radius and to have
brought out blush on the dome of st.
Paul S.
Cieserest saw the crowd and the po-
licemen as in a mist. and gave his num-
Der one in dream. and 1t was not till
they were safely al the swim again under
lee OF the big church that he woke up
ana said to Old Bob:
rs that so, Bob? I'm sorry to hear Il.
Where's Geoft ?''
BROKE his neck out hunting. five
months ago, Master -, L mean, Sir
Charles.
Poor old chap! I'M sorry"
You'll come back with me at once.
Sir Charles asked Bob anNiousiy.
Miss Mary she's Pining badly for YOU.
Poor little girl This is my boy Bob
along. said Charles. as they came to q
momentary stand in the backwater by
the Bank. And BObalong, who somehow
had not thought of that possibility, meta
phorically speaking. went down on his
knees TO Charlie. and was very near to
falling on his neck and kissing him,
whereby he would have lost favor III that
young mans eyes.
This is a very dear old friend of mine.
Charlie" said his father.
And Charlie stretched out his hand in
its little black woollen glove and said.
How do. sir and old Bobalong was put
to it to keep from making a ridicul Jus
exhibition Of himself.
Yes. I'll come when I've finished the
days work, said Charles. wv here shall
1 meet you. Bob?'
Il amt a-going to let you out o my
sight again. Sir Charles. until / see YOU
a-drving through the gates at CieSergst."
said the little man. laughing delightedly.
over four months I've been looking for
You, and findings is keopings, Sir
Charles"
I'm not run away said Charles. II
shall lie glad to see the old place again
If I'm wanted there" and then he was
silent and his face was very grave, and
he narrowly escaped another collision as
the thought Of the dear one who had
borne the yoke with hisn ard who ought !
to have shared this enlargement came |
upon him in a surge Of sorrow.
At Liverpool Street Bob Long slipped I
off for five minutes and ran as fast as his I
legs could carry him to the telegraph Of !
flee. and hurried back beaming. bur full /
Of anxiety lest the bus should have &C. {
parted without him. But the bus was /
there all right. Its driver was In so 4
brown a study that the conductor had /
already rung the bell three times TO init |
mate that he was ready If the gent lemAn I
with the ribbons was, and he was now !
coming up ON deck to see what was the {
matter and bury policeman was shout !
ing at him 10 know If he was going 10 [
stop there all day. and Charlie was be ]
ginning to tug at his arm. But Charles I
Clcserest's thoughts were floating be
tween the great houSe In Blanlkshire and I
the quiet. green mound in Christchuch- !
yard. and all that this news meant to him I
and all that ii might haze meant. And /
the sad thoughts OVerbore the glad !
thoughts. and he would have given Il all |
for the clasp OF Margaret SaanoK's hand
and the deep. deep lock OF her loving
brown eyes.