Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-30

Il
- not yet all returned to their respec-
vsss&sy Among those who had fingered
on the ground to pack up and "clar
away was Aunt Charlotte Laws, who, seat
ed in the stern of Uncle Jake's boat, was
slowly drifting down the stream, huge mar
ket basket on her lap and heavier burder
on her heart, for in passing by one OF tn
cabins above, she had heard the sad tidings
that had already spread all along the shore.
Il knowed su'thin' was gwine to happen,
groaned Aunt Charlotte. 81 didn't dream
OBJ dem po' chiluns ma two times runnin
for muffin. Drowned! bofe of my po' young
missies drowned! To think dat wild all de
be lowed to kill demselves like dey was no
more count dan two kittens! Boat turned
bottom up, dey say"
"Boat!'' ,growled Uncle Jake. "Call dat ar
ole tub boat? / wouldn't trust brood OBJ
ducks in it-seams open in de bottom big as
my finger"
Hush. Jake Laws! Don't say nomo', My
heart jes'' rizzes right up in my froat when l
think thinks OBJ it Poi Miss TrF SO bright an
Miss Tess. de very pictur' OBJ her ,po' ma!
Some folk II have to answer TO de Judgment
Seat for dis. 'Twont' be you or me. allus
had my own 'piniion OBJ dat ar Chloe Green
'Bress de lam! what's dat?" interrupted
Uncle Jake, suddenly pausing on his oars.
"Eh?. exclaimed Aunt Charlotte, sharply
Don't you hyar nuffin'?' asked the old
man, his knees beginning to shake with SUI
perstitious fear-"nuffn like singin' up in de
arr"
Aunt Charlotte threw back the old straw ha
she had tied over her ears, and listened
They were passing the Knoll, and from the
starllt heights above them came voice, clear
and sweet, as if it sounded from the skies-a
voice that sang the old hymn dear to Aunt
Charlotte's heart.
"Whar is it?' said the old woman in a
trembling voice. "Whar does it come from %
Oar" answered Uncle Jake, pointing to the
shore-''dar at de ha'nted spring. It's de
sperrits, honey--de sperrts dat'ss a-callin'. We
best clar out der way"
"Cl-ar out whar yo' please" said Aunt
Charlotte, suddenly rising in her might and
sending the ,doughnuts and gingernuts rolling
out of her big basket in every direction, as
she grasped the oars from her trembling COM
panon's hands-"cPar out whar yo please I'm
gwine to dat ar shore. Dat Miss Trix Tai
bot slngin,, an, ssperrit or no sperrit, I'm
Leaving Aunt Charlotte to carry out her
worthy purpose, we will now return to the
manor house.
Aunt Prue was, as all her friends declared
a remarkable woman" She had been ere
markable" all her life She had never scream
even shlvered at a thunder-clap in her young
est and tenderest years.
Indeed, it was very difficult to imagin
Aunt Prue as ever having been either youn
vi cue was Oue OF Vneif very wise
people who seem to have been born grown-up
Her nerves and backbone had always beer
equal to every occasion, and they were equal
to the occasion tonight.
1t had been a night of sadness and confu
sion at Moss Manor, for poor grandma had
tainted away at the first whisper of her dar
lings' danger, and had lain in a strange. heavy
stupor ever since. Nam Chloe and Lie were
going about, half dazed with sorrow Uncle
Eph sat In the big chimney-coner of the kitch
en-, without the spirit to light his pipe, while
even good Doctor Jeffres, who had been
hastily summoned to the old madam's side,
had rubbed his nose, and wiped his spectacles,
and lost his voice so often in speaking of his
naughty little pets that he looked like one of
his own small patients when struggling with a
severe whooping cough or cold.
1t was nearly midnight when he left grand
mas sofa in the library and beckoned Aunt
Prue to the porch. The moon had risen, and
grandma's garden was bathed in silvery LIGHT.
But everything seemed strangely sad and still
The tall box hedges and clipped frs threw
heavy shadows upon the grass-grown walks:
the roguish blackbirds were asleep in The
cherry tree; even the frolicsome roses seemed
to have dropped their pretty heads and to be
weeping tears of dew.
81 can't sand it," said the doctor, clearing
his throat 'The old lady is recovering con
seriousness. L wouldn't be at her side when
she wakes and asks for those children NOT for
ten thousand dollars down. What are Won 90. oo.
ing to tell her, Miss Talbot?" o.
"Tell her' repeated Aunt Prue, who look-
ed taller and sitter than ever in the moon.
light. ''What can / tell her but the truth -
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