The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-13


 to the prospective bride some astonishing things, for after 1t May did not seem to know whether she wanted to laugh or cry.
 Finally, as the day waned, there came a step on the threshold, and Dot, start ing up, cried out. Whose step is that?' 'Why, my step, of course,' answered John, entering, whose should 1t be?' But that other step," said Dot "Oh, he is not so much of a stranger-you have seen him beforehand he brought in the deaf old boarder whom he had brought along. to share their homely cheer. After tea they sat down to cards, and Tackleton, who went now and then from the home of Caleb to his counting house adjoining and built onto the old house where Caleb lived, came in sud denly and motioned that he wanted to speak with the carrier, who was playing -cribbage with the stately Mrs. Fielding. Wait a moment" said John, who was about to deal, tits a crisis" Tt is' replied Tackleton, "come with me-" John did not notice just then that both the
 
 from the room.
 John followed Tackleton into his office and the toy merchant said: Now, no violence, John, no violence. But just look-did I not say so?" He drew aside a little curtain over little window which looked into a gallery, and there, walking up and down and talking earn estly together, seen by the light of a candle which they had with them. were Dot and the Stranger, the latter no long CT old and deaf, but a young, strong, strapping fellow, bearing in his hand his disguises. q am sorry for this, John Perrybingle, truly sorry" said Tackel- ton, but 1t Is what have suspected. [" John clinched his strong hand as if he would have beaten down a lion-but un- closed 1t again and spread his open palm before the eyes of Tackleton-for he was tender of her even then-and so they passed out and John fell down upon desk weak as an infant.
 He was wrapped up to the chin and | busy with his hose and parcels outside when Dot came into the room to say goodby. She seemed so blithe and cheer full and she kissed Bertha and May How l could she venture to reveal her face to | them without blush? Iackleton watch ed her closely. Tilly Slowboy was walk ing up and down with the baby and crooning to it: Did the knowledge that 1t was to be it's wfes, then, wiring it's hearts; and did It's fathers deceive it from the cradle to the grave!' But this was evidenly reflex of what Miss Slowboy had overheard in the matter of Bertha's & love for Tackleton and had nothing to do with Dot and the Stranger. Now. then, give me the baby, cried Dot as she got into the wagon, goodness me, | where's John?" Hes going to walk by the horses head" said Tackleton with a malicious relish of the situation. Walk in this weather? Why, John, Johns muffled figure made an affirmative ges- ture and the false Stranger and the nurse being bundled in the party set off in quite different spirits, at least on the part of some of them, than those in which they had arrived at the toymaker's house some hours before
 When Dot and the baby and Tilly had gone to bed the carrier sat alone by his hearthstone and brooded. Now and then murderous thoughts came into his mind against which he fought strongly, some times fiercely, so that he might not give way to them. The only thing in all the world that seemed to be of cheer was the Cricket, which, even in this depth of agony, was a voice of hope to John. All night the carrier sat by his now desolate hearth. The cold. gray dawn found him there, and he aroused himself This was Tackleton's wedding day, he remembered; i; he had thought to have gone merrilyN to church with Dot, but such plans were at an end. It was their wedding day, too An, how little had he looked for such a close to such year! John went out and walked up and down before his own door He had not been long walking there when he saw Tackleton driving up in his chaise, the horse and the vehicle decor ated with wedding favors and Tackleton himself spruced up wonderfully for his marriage.
 "Just drove over to see what had hap pened, nothing rash on your part, hope" said Tackleton. 'No" said John 'nothing-as yet They entered the house, and found Tilly slowboy in a state of great agitation. She had knocked at the strangers door to call him to break fast, and had received no answer; had applied her eyes to the keyhole and had seen that the room was deserted Yes, the stranger had fled in the night Tackleton and John had a long talk to- gether in private; that is, John did most of the talking-which was not his usual way at all-and Tackleton interjected sneers until John warned him he had bet ter stop 1t. John told how much he loved his wife, and how he should al- ways love her; he said he realized, now, \ his crime in taking such "a young girl to be his wife, and his mistake in supposing that girl like Dot could really ever love man like himself. And much more to the same effect, the gist of which was that he loved Dot more than overland forgave her. And when he had finished there was Dot, who had entered. unob- served, standing beside him and crying out: "Oh, John, I have heard your noble words. I could not steal away, pretending was ignorant of what has effected me with such deep gratitude. But, dear John. do not say that 1t Is all over until the clock has struck again." '"No hand can make the clock that will strike for me again the hours that are gone-but let it be as you wish, Dot.'
 Tackleton was off mutterang that they were a lot of idiots Dot was crying tine