Year: 1869




and the uncertainty which possessed
ber as to whether it was her own or
not She knew no more about n. B
| than did, and it was plain she was
greatly puzzled about the letters, which
made mo rather lose heart in my search
She took 70 sitting almost all day long
at one little square OF glass which looked
along the Ladford road, where she
could see every traveller that came by
without being seen herself; and the
baby would be on her knee, or her foot
on the rocker Of his cradle | knew
well who she was looking for When
night clme on, and she could watch
the road no longer, she would fasten
her eyes upon the baby's face, as if she
| was trying to satisfy herself that it'was
her lost child, bat always there would
creep over her own face a look Of
troubled uncertainty Scarcely an
evening passed but had to tell her.
like telling child the same old story
over and over again, the whole account
of the New Years Eve, and how | had
heard an infants cry just as the bells
began to ring the New Year in, and
how the surly stranger had said, Curse
you"


| Then the tears would glisten in the
dimness Of her eyes and roll down her
white cheeks, and she would murmur
to herEelf, Cruel cruel"


There was one thing noticeable in
Nelly, that whenever Dr. Romaine'S
carriage came in sight along the Lad
ford road, she fed like a scared child,
and fastened herself into our bedcham-
Der until she was sure he was gone by,
when Slle would come out. trembling
and shiyering, aud take up her old post
by the square Of glass. listening pain
fully for his return, He bade me keep
avery keen eye upon any letters which
might come to her, or Which she might
write; for it was necessary to save her,
if possible, in spite Of herself, from the
consequences of her sin, and this we
could only do by the discovery of what
had become of the child. But no letter
came for Nelly, aud though she wrote
many, she always tore them up and
threw the pieces into the fire, whereat
the baby iii her arms, wOnld laugh and
crow with delight. ..s. & ..s


1t was about nine o'clock .one night
towards the end of September. and |
had just flushed telling Nelly the story
Of the New Years Eve, when heard,
very long way off upon the Lultord
road Just the same sound of a llmping
horse, lame on one foot, as | heard it
when | was'kneeing upon my knees
watching the old year ont. My heart
seemed to stand still, and my flesh to
creep, but had strength to master
myself Nelly was not giving much
heed to any sound out of doors, and |
wondered that she could sit there so
quiet and unconscious when her secret
was coming out. For it was coming
tt felt sure Of that. | would not
let this man slip through my fingers.
got up before the sound came quite
near, and took the key out with me,
though the gate was not locked at that
time of the night, and closed the door
quietly behind me, By that time the
gig, with two gentlemen in it, stopping
before the gate, and waiting for me to
open it; but conld see little of either
of them, for they were both well
cloaked up, though the air was soft
and mild. ..aa


"Please. sir, what is your name" /
asked, trembling all over, but not with
fear.


"Whats that to your" said he who
was driving, in the surly tone l rec
objected SO well.


"I've a message" said I, "to a per-
son who will give me particularnam


you've no message for me-" he
said


What was l to doi Matthew Heigh-
way was away that evening. or almost
every other night in the week he would
have been within call of my voice.
Here was l., lone woman; and |
could not stop him by force, and was
very little likely to get anything out of
him by persuasion. The other gentle.
man neither SPOKE nor stirred; but
n. Is. il it was N. B., was lashing the
shafts with his whip, as if fimpstient TO
get on. Ipretended to tumble at the
lock, and then ran into the house for
lantern. As | came out again, he
spoke in his surly way.


"Curse you," said he, angrily; sis
this gate always lockedT


1t was not locked then, but / made n
pretence Of it, you see, to 60 round at
the back Of the gig with my lantern.
saw in an instant that the name was
there, painted in black letters on
dark-gIeen ground, but | could read it
distinctly enough, 8"Nicholas Brown,
Publican, LudfOrd.H Nicholas Brown.
IN. b.! Iplauted myself at the horses
head, and laid my hand upon the reins;
aud as did so, | saw Nelly sitting
quietly by the fire, with her chin rest
ing upon her thin hand, and her dim
eyes staring into the red flames, but
not a sigh or shivcr to tell that she
felt how near to her he was, who had
made our whole year year Of shame
and sorrow. .s.


"You are Nicholas Brown" ] said.


''You are a fool or mad woman, )"
he replied; "Open the gate, will your