Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-03-28


turns and runs around to the Hall.
"How pretty your little homo
looks" said Miss Evelyn through her
tears. cit seems sweet to see it
again. But don't get out, Sophronia,
don't! Come with us to the Hall. I
| cannot bear to go alone. We need
some one = but - but who are
| those?"
I looked out of the window across
Miss Elizabeth's black draperies, and
saw, to my infinite establishment, my
lowerback apparently in very inter-
| esting conversation with my lower
| front.
"They-they-are some boarders
-I-have taken" stammered. Miss
| Elizabeth stretched out her hand
and took mine within it. 'My poor
| Sophronia Has it come to that?
| My poor Sophronia!" AS the car
rage passed I saw my lower-back
look towards it, then turn suddenly
and run around the house and disap-
| pear. Miss Dacres leaned back in
my rocker and closed her eyes.
care they friends ?" asked Miss
Evelyn, with some interest.
"Nol Never saw each other be-
fore this morning to my certain
knowledge. They are utter stran-
gers to each other" said T. "He
hated the idea Of her being there,
and she is Disguised with the thought
of his coming. I hoped to get rid
of her to-day, but now I suppose
I'll have to keep her until to-mor-
| row."
"Why"
And now 1 began to show some
emotion on my part, as I told my
kind friends in what an unpleasant
| predicament had been placed.
"And you were going for a lock-
smith when we turned you back.
Poor little Sophronia! You must go
| back in the carriage!"
We drove on past my home, past
the farmland next it, by the MILL
| "Marchbank," and "The Larches,"
and then sudden turn brought us
in at the gate of Darlington Hail.
Miss Elizabeth looked out with
| streaming eyes.
ST often think what it would have
been to have brother Eugene back
| again." said she. Things might
| have been different then. He had
| good deal of control over David,
more than any of us had, though
| he was the youngest Of all.'
81 suppose you are certain about
his death?" said I.
Eyes, oh, yes. His wife, you know,
| died long before he did. What I
| worry about most is the child. 1t
| was girl. I have never been able
to discover any trace of her. Our
| lawyers, Smither and Blake, think
| they have certain proof of her death
also, but can't bear to believe that
| she. is dead
How old would she have been had
she ived?"
Don't say had she lived Sophro-
MIA. Say how old is she now?' I
will never believe that little Amar-
anthe is dead until I have better
proof than I have to-day"
"Amaranthe!" I said, slowly.
eyes, why not Amaranthe? Why
not? Why, Sophronia? You remem-
Der our little Amaranthe, surely?"
"Of course I remember her; I have
| heard the name lately, that is ALL"
[ had noticed a constable at the
| gate as we turned in at the grounds of
| Darlington Hall, but though he
| looked scrutinizingly at us, he did
not attempt to stop the carriage,
| which was, or had been, the Squire's
| own, sent by DIR. Williams for the
| ladies. Their deep mourning also
| saved them from closer inspection,
and then too, I was with them, and
John Sommers had known me from
child. He was our annual, peren-
NAL, ever-verna1 constable, and as
| such knew every man, woman and
child in the village and for miles
around. AS we approached the
house, we saw that there was another
| man in plain blue clothes standing
by one of the great pillars Of the
| old colonial porch, and before the
carriage stopped DR.. Williams came
hurriedly out of the house, bare
headed and properly solemn. He
Z VIM WI AAeISoS SOoA' LIZ e1AAN
the man in blue clothes helped the
ladies' from the carriage.
THANK you, jennings" said the
doctor. ''Thank you" So this was
the great detective, Bob jennings!
He looked slight and simple enough,
though I knew later that he was
about 3S years of age at this time.
Wont you come in with us, So
phronia?" asked Miss Elizabeth.
IF you really need me,' I said,
but | have SO much to occupy
me-"
eve do not need Mrs. Brathwaite,"
said DR.. Williams, kindly.
Every well, then, Sophronia. Good
by, my dear. Come up when you can.
We shall see you tomorrow, shall we
not?"
ooh, yes," I cried.
Take Mrs. Brathwaite back to the
village, john" said Miss Elizabeth to
the old coachman, whom she had
I'm Oxur bor ssaxl xx,b or