Year: 1869




clock had finished striking, and the
bells were ringing merrily, but I felt
sure that there was sound like the
voice of little child. The stranger
had put his hat again, and drawn it
low down over his face and he was
pulling the horses mouth with the bit,
but. l was too wonder struck with the
cry / had heard to throw the gate open.


"What was that p / said.


Course youy he criedj "can't you
let me get on 7"


/ flung the gate wide open at that.
1t was not pleasant thing to hear a
curse first of aflin the New Yearwhile
the church bells were ringing and be
was a surly, iIl-natured fellow who
could say it, whoever he might be. l
hearkened to him driving away fuii-
ousTy, and then / listened again if /
could hear the feeble cry which had
made me anger him. Istood, it might
be about ten minutes, straining my ear
to catch the faintest sound; but
there was nothing except the merry
jingling Of the bells, and the tossing Of
the naked boughs of the trees, and the
whistling of the wind through The top
Of the Scotch frs at the back Of the
house. When l returned to the kitchen,
having left the gate open, for | deter
mined to let any more travellers go
through Scot free for the rest of the
night, felt terribly lonesome
again. There was no need to be
disquieted because the surly traveller
cursed me. courses come home to
roost," And yet it was a bad begin
ming for the New Year 1t was a
snarling voice too hard harsh,
croaking voice, which was used to
speak in curses Why could MT Mat
thew Highway have been the first to
speak to me, as he had been the last in
the Old Year.


l could not 60 to sleep all night
After three o'clock several wagons and
carriages went through the toll-gate
Scot free, as | said, and ! could not
help reckoning up the money was
throwing away, and yet for the life of
me, dare not go outside to lock the
gate. Still, | had not been frightened,
you understand. Rather, l had been
disheartened, and thrown back upon my
own self, by the snarling answer | got
to my good wishes for the stranger
Butthere l lay, wide awake, wondering
if father would find out how foolish l
was which he was bound to do,unless
all the conveyances went through again
on their way back before he returned.


I6 was we'll on in the morning, and
father had not come in, when mes
senger brought me word that Nelly had
never gone home at all, but, instead of
that, was i'll in bed, and l must 60 to
her at once course you :l'sthe stranger
had said, instead OF wishing me happy
New Year; and here it was beginning
already. ] felt troubled and perplexed
but there was nc. time to lose. sent
lad down to the village for a cousin
ofours TO come and mind the gate ,ahd
then started on the road to Ludford,
pretty sure of lift from the first con-
veyance that passed me, so we'll were
we known all through the country.
Before long / was overtaken by our
own doctor, DR. RomaiHe, on his way
home to Ludford, and be would run in
and see Nelly at once. Hwas a lucky
chance, and my spirits rose again, for
if anybody could set Nelly to rights
quickly, it was our own doctor, who
had known her all her life, and who
had been the means of placing her in
her present situation. He would have
me ride with him, and told him about
the surly stranger, and how | had left
the gate open, and lost FIVE shillings
and e-halfpenuy, and I was
afraid father could not help but hear OF
it and we both laughed heartily at my
foOlishness. sr-


Nelly's house was a pretty little cot
tage, built against the school where she
taught, and ran up the garden walk,
and in at the door leisurely followed by
the doctor. Ann Lane, young girl
who was one of Nelly's pupil teachers,
and who lived in the school-house with
her, was sitting idly by the kitchen fire;
so | turned straight round to the door
of Nelly's bedroom, which was opposite
the kitchen, the three rooms Of tie little
cottage being on the ground floor.


"Nelly, darling" | said, STOPPING
over her, and kissing her white cheek,
"Ive brought DR.. Romano with me-"


ooh! no, nol,, she cried, trying to
lift herself up, "not DR.. Romaine. ]
don't want any doctor, There's nothing
the matter with me-"


"What does Nelly say y said Dr.
Romaine, and l turned and saw him
standing in the doorway smiling but
the smile passed away all in an instant,
and the gravestlook / had ever seen
was upon bis face. .Is


F'Hannhh," he said. "my good girl,
you go to the kitchen fire till l come to
you"


l suppose it was near upon quarter
of an hour before the Doctor came to
me, and his kind face looked so troubled
and distressed that my heart leaped
into my mouth, and l stood up by my
chair, but could not speak word to
him, for the thought struck me like
lightning that our pretty, clever little
Nelly must be going to die, Whatever