The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-02
The FHoreysuckle Arbour
BY EDITH c. KENYON,
A1lthor Of "A Gsirl i'm a Trhousarld,'' g The
Hand Of His Brother Z a Queen Of
Mime Days" Loves Golden
Thread" &c.


fact or fancy made a click as II the
door were closing.
Leaning on her elbow, Dorothy lis
tened. No sound was to be heard in
the house. or outside where the dogs
might have been expected to bark al
any stranger.
Was 1t all a dream Dorothy knew
not, but feeling nervous. arose, struck
a light, and after n glance Mt her
precious boy and the silver backed
brushes-one-ti time Jacks present--on
the drcssing-table. which surely bur-
glar would have appropriated, she went
to the door and locked 1t. Another
careful look round the room into the
wardrobe. and under the bed, con-
WINGED her that no one was hidden
there, upon which, putting out her
light. she approached the window, and
looked out into the garden.
No one was to be seen. The moon
light shone upon the rose trees, flower
borders, and tho pretty arbor, which
was now half smothered with honey
sucklc.
The. shadow OF the honeysuckle hid
the seat within. or she might have seen
man sitting there. with his head
bowed over his claHped hands
AS 1t was, Dorothy told herself she
must have been still dreaming when
it seemed to her she awoke and saw
the tramp In her room. and so, getting
into bed, she sfell at last into an uneasy
slumber.
Please. MN, hope you'Il forgive
me-" Jane said, when she brought her
mistress carly cup of tea. ~ forgot
to fasten the front door last night,
and WAS quite startled this morning
to find 1t only on the LATCH
TT was very wrong of you-very!"
snapped her mistress. I'm future I
shall have to see to the fastenings of
the doors myself"
Honest Jane went away, with the
tears in her eyes, and Dorothy lay
thinking over the circumstances until
Donnie came to the bedside on his
little bare feet. begging for drink
OF mummy's tea.
Later on, when Dorothy discovered
that nothing had been stolen from tho
house. upstairs or down, she deter
mined to tell no one of her dream, lest
they should imagine her fancful or
regretful for the husband whom she
had lost so strangely
The tramp did not show himself in
the village again. He seemed to have
left the place
One day in September Dorothy tool.
her little boy out nuttlng in wood
about q mile from home. at the other
side OF the river
Donnieswas Very happy, as they gath
cred the pretty half-brown nuts from
the laden trees, and then sat down on
bank to enjoy picnic lunch.
Merrily he chatted and laughed, and
swiftly the time passed until his moth
er declared they must go home, as their
baskets were full and IL was growing
late.
The sun was setting as, leaving the
wood, they strolied across the fields. to
return home a shorter way by q foot
bridge over the river.
However. when they came to the
recent storm had carried away. the
handrail belonging to 1t.
| "oh. DEAR i don't know whether we,
can cross without rail- Dorothy said.
doubtfully. The bridge is not very
wide. am afraid to venture"
I'm not" Donnie cried. II dare
cross! Just see me. mummy And
before she could stop him he had had
set off across the little bridge.
/ His head was clear, though he was
SO tired. and all would have gone we'll
had not the same storm which carried
away the hand-rail worked grievous
havoc with the bridge. 1t only need
ed Donnie's light weight to make 1t
1 slip from It's foundations. and, together
with the boy, fall down into the river.
Poor Dorothy! She could not swim,
/ but she ran to the waters edge a
little lower down, and. Selling hold
of the bough of an oyerhanging will
llow-tree with one hand. leant over the
water with outstretched arm.
In vain. The little black speck rep
PRESENTING Donnie swept by far out OF
fher reach
/ A piercing cry broke from the moth
er's lips, and then, to her relief. q
Imam previously unseen, a little further
down the riverside, took a header into
1.-The water and swan out galiantiy for
1.-The child.
1 20. God!" cried the mother, falling
4 on her knees, help that man 10 save
my boy! Oh. help him"
Springing up, she ran along the river
side in the direction in which the
boy was borne.
She could see tho swimmer reach
black speck in the water and clutch
hold of 1t. "A moment later he was
swimming back against the stream W1th
oven strokes.
"you have saved him! Thank God!'
! porothv cried. with great feeling.
she had come down from her oedi
room where Donnie lay in a warm PED
recovering rapidly from the effects
Iot his accident, to thank his rescuer'
Who having been provided with dry
clothes of jacks. was, waiting to hear
of the boys complete recovery.
I 1t had startled Dorothy to observe. as
The carried tho boy home. that he was a
black bearded man like the tramp who.
HAD so frightened her; but he was not
shabby dressed. for he wore the tweed
suit and soft hat Of country gentle
Imam. Moreover, he was gentleman,
and now that he was clad In Jacks
Iclothes he looked rather like him,
though he had not Jacks slight stoop,
land was not clean shaven
ST should like to Gsee me l' ~ 90 "a e.
.tonce more If you don't mind.'he saio'
lin tones which startled her,
Come upstairs" As she led the II y way va !
iher foot stumbled. ana IN IAol,sn'
lhis hand was put out to support her.
she trembled slightly, and grew pale
as she went on. 49,,
| - ~, flus n ed face to each OtncTEs