1
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1920
THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH."
(Continued from Puge 11.1
:
" you will she answered eagerly."
"
How bright the darkened face How adorned with light, the listening
head!
swans," observed the toy-merchant, with a shrug." Poor devil?"
Having delivered himself of which remark, with inhalte contempt, old
Gröff and Tackleton withdrew,
Bertha remained where he had left her, tost in meditation. The gaiety had vanished tria her downeast face, and it was very sad. Three or four times she shook her head, as it be wailing some remembrance or some "This is the day on which finless; but her sorrowful reflections what's-her-sme, the spoiled chile, found no vent in words. Peerybingle's wile, pass her regular visit to you makes her fantastic pic ric here; ain't it" said Tackleton, with a strong expression at distaste "This is
for the whole concern.
"Yes," replied Bertha. the day."
"I thought so." said Tackleton. I should like to join the party.”
It was not unit Caleb had been
occupied some time, in joking a team of horses to a wagon by the summary process of railing the bar ness to the vital parts of their bodies, that she drew near, to his working swool, and sitting down beside him, said
"Father. I am lonely in the dark. "Do you hear that. father: cried I want my eyes-my patient, willing the blind girl, in an ecstasy
"Yes, yes, I hear it," marmured Caleb, with the fixed look of a sleep- walker: "but I don't believe it. It's one of my lies, I've po doubt.”*/
You see, I-I want to bring the Peerybingles little more into com- pany with May Fielding." said Tackles ton. I am going to be married to May,"
eyes.
Here they re," said Caleb Always ready. They are more yours than mine. Bertha, any hour in the four and-rwerty. What shall your eyes do for you, dear?”
THE CHINA MAIL.
warming pressure which he under stood too well.
He coughed a moment, hammered for a moment, and then fell back upon the song about the sparkling bowl; his infallible resource in all such dil ficulties.
"Our friend, father; our benefis I am never tired, you know, ol ror. hearing about him. Now, was 1 ever" she said hastily.
"Of course not," answered Caleb, ** and with reason,
M
him off, and mum bim out a tip-top baby challenging the world, he was unexpectedly extinguished in a than nel cap, and hustled off to bed; where he simmered (so to speak) berween two blankers for the best part of an bour. From this state of inaction he was then recalled, shining very much and roaring violently, to partake of well! I would rather say, if you'll permk me to speak generally-ol a sligh repast. Alter which, he went Mrs. Peerybingle to sleep again.
Ah! With how ntuch reason" took advantage of this interval, to cried the blind girl, with such fer-make herself as susirt in a small way ency, that Caleb, though his motives as ever you saw anybody in all your life; and, during the same short truce, were so pare, could not ends Miss Slowboy insinuated herself into meer her lace; but dropped his eyes, as it she could have read in them his innocent deceit.
Then tell me again about him, said "Berita. Many tent, kind, and tender. true, I am sure it is. The manly heart that tries to cloak all favours with a show of roughness and unwill ingness, beats in its every look and
dear father,
This monosyllable was addressed to the horse, who didn't mind it at all.
13
- "I am sorry for it, John," said know the names of places about other people were so full of wonder Dot, in a great büstle, “but I really here; and he seemed quite pleased.about their parcels, and other people could not think of going to Bertha's Why, then I shall be returning home were so full of inexhaustible direc I would not do it, John,,on any acto-night your way," he says, when I tons about their parcels, and John had count without the veal-and-ham pie thought you'd be coming in an exactly such a lively interest in all the par- and things, and the bottles of beer. Lopposite direction. That's capital! I cels, that it was as good as a play. may trouble you lor another lift per- Likewise, there were articles 10 carry, Way!"
haps, but I engage not to fall so which required to be considered and He was sound discussed, and in reference to the sound asleep again." asleep. sure-ly-Dot! what are you adjustment and disposition of which, councils had to be bolden by the car- thinking of? **
"Thinking of, John? I was rier and the senders; at which Baret nsually assisted, in short fits of the **Oh. That's all right:" said the closest attention, and long fins of tear- "I was afraid, from ing round and round the assembled the look of your face, shat I had gone ages and barking himself boarse. rambling on so long. as to set you Of all these Little incidents, Dot WIS thinking abeat sunething else. I was the amused and open-eyed spectatress very near it, I'll be bound
"Oh, No way. John:" said Mrs. Peerybingle. Please!"
"I'll be time enough to do that,"listening to you." returned John, when 1 begin to
The bas-honest carrier. leave things behind me. ket's here, sale enough."
"What a hard-hearted morster you must be John not to have said so spencer of a fashion so surprising once, and saved me such a turn: and ingenious, that it had no connect declare I wouldn't go to Berth's on with herself, or anything else if without the seal-and-ham pie and
a shrunken.
things, and the bottles of beer, for the universe; but was dog's-eared, independent last, pursuany money. Regularly once a fort regard to anybody. By this time, the ried. John, have we made our line baby, being all alive again, was in picnic there. If anything was to go rested, by the united efforts of Mrs. wrong, with it, I should almost think Peersbingle and Miss Slowboy, with 1 cream-coloured mantle for its body, and a sort of nankeen raised-pie lor its head; and so, in course of time, they all three go down to the door, where the old horse had already taken more than the full value of his day's toll out of the Turnpike Trust. by tearing up the roed with his in-
Trom her chair in the cart; and as
times again? His lace is beneving its lonely course without the least night ever since we have been mari for everybody on the read had some and envyings among the younger men.
glance.
Honest and
And makes it noble," added Caleb, in his quiet desperation. "No"And makes it noble!" cried the blind girl. He is older than May,
Lock round the room, father." **At right." said Caleb. sooner, said than done, Bertha.**
Tell me about it."
It's much the same as usual,” **Married?" cried the blind girl, Į starting from him.
said Caleb. Homely, but very "She's such a con-lounded idiot," | snug. The gay colours on the walls; muttered Tackleton, that · I was the bright flowers on the plates and
father."
Ye-es" said Calch reluctantly, He's a linke older than May. But that don't signity."
"Oh, father, yes: To be his par-
patient autographs; and whence Boxer might be dinily seen in the remote perspective. standing looking back,
orders.
And this delighted
#1
Doc making no reply, they jogged she sat there, looking on-a charm- en, for some tinle time, in silence. ing linke portal framed to admiration Burit was not easy to remain silent by the tilt-there was no lack of nudg very long in John Recrybingle's cirt.gs and gangings and whisperings thing to say and though it might only promise you. be.How the your and indeed it on the carrier beyond measures: for was very offen nothing else, still, to be was proud to have his title wife give that back again in the right spith admired, knowing that she didn't mind were never to be lucky again." It was a kind thought in the first of cordiality, required, not merely a t-that, if anything, she rather liked instance," said the sartier. "And I nod and a smile, but as wholesome it perhaps.
an action of the lungs withal, as a The trip was a little toggy, to be tonoor you for it. little woman.”
parliamentary speech. sure, in the January weather; and was "My dear John," replied Dot, fur-long-winded
raw and coli. But who cared for ing very red." don't talk about hon-Sometimes passengers of foot or
Not Doc, decidedly, horseback, plodded on a little way such trifles? curing me. Good gracious
By the bre, observed the car-beside the cart, for the express pur- Not Tilly Slowboy, for she deered Ipose of having a chat; and there was sitting in a cart, on any terms, to be ries. That old gentleman
Again so visibly, and instantly em- a great deal to be said on both sides.
the highest point of human joys; the of earthly Then Boxer gave occasion to more crowning dreamstance bassed.
"He's an odd, fish," said the car- good-natured recognitions of, and by, hopes. Not the baby, I'll be sworn; before them. "I can't make him tians could have done Everybody or more sound asleep, though its
afraid she'd never comprehend me") dishes; the shining wood, where there ent companion in infirmity and 25; and tempsing him to come on without rier, looking.straight along the road) the cavier, than half a dozen Chris. E for it's not in baby nature to be war11-
Ah," Berths: Married! Church, parson, clerk, beadle, glass coach, beils, breakfast, bride-cake, favours, marrow-bones, cleavers and all thei rest of the tomfoolery. A wedding, you know; a wedding. Don't you know what s wedding ist"
"I know." replied the blind girl, in a gentle tone." understand?"
"Do you?" muttered Tackleton. It's more than I expected. Well: On that account I want to join the party and to bring May and her mother. I send in a little some- thing or other. before the afternoon. A cold leg of muzon, or some com- Fortable trife of that sort. expect me?"
are beams or panels; the general GI the cheerfulness and neatness brilding, make it very pretty."
Cheerful and neat it was, wherever Bertha's hands could busy themselves But nowhere else were cheerfulness
to be his gentle mase in sickness, and his constant triend in sufering and sorrow; to know no weiriness in working for his sake: to watch him, tend him, sit beside his bed and talk to him awake, and pray for him
As to the chair, or anything of that kind for helping Mrs. Peerybingle into the car, you know very little of John, I Batter myself, if you think 'That was necessary. Before you
knew him, all along the road espec ally the lowls and pigs, who, when they saw him approaching with his body all on one side, and his cars pricked up inquisitively. and that
capacity is great in both respects, than that blessed young Peerybingle was, all the way.
You couldn't see very far in the fog. of course; but you could see x
and teamess possible, in the off crazy asleep; what privileges these won could have seen him ilt her from the | eyes attracted to her face by the great knob of a rail making the most of it great deal, oh, a great deal: t
shed which Caleb's fancy so trans- formed.
You have your working-dress on. and are not so gallant as when you wear the handsome coat?" said Ber- tha, rouching him.
No. quite so gallant," answered Caleb. "Pretty brisk though.”
"Father," said the blind girl, draw. You'lling close to his side, and stealing one arm round his neck. "tell me some- thing about May. She is very fair?"
"Yes," she answered. She had drooped her head, and turned away; and so stood, with her hands crossed, musing.
"I don't think you will," muttered Tackleton, looking at her: "for you seem to have forgotten all about it already. Caleb:*
She is indeed." said Caleb. And
be: What opportunities for proving all her truth and her devotion to him! Would she do all this, dear father?”
No doubt of it." said Caleb. I love her, father: I can lave her from my soul" exclaimed the blind girl And saying so, she laid her poor blind face on Caleb's shoulder, and so wept and wept, that he was almost sorry to have brought that tearful happiness upon her.
in the meantime, there had been pretty sharp commotion at John she was indeed. It was quite a rare Peerybingle's: for tinle Mrs. Peery thing to Caleb, not to have to drabingle naturally couldn't think of going anywhere without the baby: and on his invention..
to get the baby under weigh took Not that there was much, of time.
the baby, speaking of it as a thing of
ground, there she was in her place. fresh and rosy, saying: "John: can you? Thick of Tilly!"
How
+
out. I don't believe there's any harm in him."
"None ali. I'm-I'm sure there's none at al.”
"Yes" said the carrier, with his
"I am sell in the air, immediately withdrew astonishing how much you may see, carnestness of her manner. glad you feel so certain of it, because into remote back settlements, without in a thicker log than that, if you will it's a confirmation to me. It's cur- waiting for the honour of a nearer only take the rouble to look for it. He had "business Why. even to sit watching for the It might be allowed to mention ious that he should have taken it into ecquaintance. a young lady's legs, on any terms. his head to ask leave to go on lodg everywhere going down all the turnfairy-rings in the fields, and for the I would observe of Miss Slowboy's ing with as: ain't it? Things come ings, looking into all the wells, bolt-patches of hoar-frost still lingering in' ing in and out of all the cottages, the shade, near hedges and by trees. that there was a fatality about them about so strangely."
h was a pleasant pecupation- make“ "So very strangely." she rejoined. deshing into the midst of all which rendered them singularly liable
dame-schools, fluttering
the mention of the unexpected shapes all to be graded; and that she never in a low voice, scarcely audible. effected the smallest ascent or de- "However, he's a good-natured old pigeons, magnifying the tails of an in which the trees themselves came scent, without recording the circum-gentleman," said John.." and pays as the cats, and trotting into the public Starting out of the 'mist, and glided The hedges were & regular customer. into it again. stance upon them with a notch, as a gentleman. and I think his word houses like Robinson Crusoe marked the days is to be relied upon. like a gentle- Wherever he went, somebody or tangled and bars, and waved a multi- man's. I had quite a long talk with other might have been heard to cry.tude of bligined garlands in the wind: upon his wooden calendar. this might be considered ungenteel. him this morning: he can hear me Holo: Here's Boxer!" and out but there was no discouragemem in better already, he says, as he gets came that somebody forthwith, ac this. It was agreeable to contem I'll think of it.
**Jotra: You've got the basket more used to my voice. He told me companied by at least two or three plate; for it made the fireside war- greener in expectancy. The river with the veal-and-ham pie and things. a great deal about himself, and I told other somebodies, to give John Peery in possession," and the summer
If you haven't, you must turn round rare le of questions he asked me. The packages and parcels for the gave him information about my hav-étrand cert were numerous; and there sgain, this very minute.
"You're a cice line article." re- ing twe beats, you know, in my busi- were many stoppages to take them in turned the carrier. to be talkingness: one day to the right from our and give them out, which were not about naming round, after keeping me house and back again; another day by any means the worst parts of the a full quarter of an hour behind my to the left from our house and back journey. Some people were so fall again for he's a stranger and don't of expectation about their parcels, and
But 49
"Her hair is dark" said Bertha persively, "driker that mine. Her stice is sweet and musical. I know, "i may venture to say I'm here. I have often loved to hear it. Her weight and measure; but there was and the bottles of beer?" said Dot. him a good deal about myself, and a bingle and his pretty wile, good-day-looked chilly; bat it was, in motion.
I suppose." thought Caleb. "Sir
"Take care she don't forget what I've been saying to her."
shape
"There's not a doll's in all the room to equal it," said Caleb. "And her eyes——**
"She never forgets." returned Caleb. "It's one of the fear things, He stopped for Bertha had drawn she ain't clever in."
closer round his neck, md. from the arm that clang about him, came a
"Every man thinks his own geese
KNIGHT
a vast deal to do about and about it. and it all had to be done by easy stages. For instance; when the baby was got, by hook and by crook, to a certain poing of dressing and you might have rationally supposed that another touch or
two would finish time.
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I
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dined. Never mind.
(Continued on Page 15 Freeze the sooner when the frost sel
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