CHAPTER X.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2125, 20 February 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER X.

Miss Williams made no reply to this, but walked on in silence for the next few minutes by the old woman's side. By-and-bye they reached the voltage, and through the narrowest and dirtiest of its dark narrow alleys or streets, old Alsie guided their footsteps with the familiarity of home. 'It is but a poor place,' she said, ' but here for more than thirty years I and the good man lived together.' ' Has he been dead long ?' asked Miss Williams. ' Nigh sixteen years, hinny ; the poor lass ye've come out to see to-night is the daughter of our eldest lad.' 4 And he ?' 4 Where his father is,' said Ailsie, pointing solemnly to the sea. 4 They both went down together, and ne'er were washed ashore. But the Lord has them in his keeping there, safe as 'neath the sod. 4 And— and you lived on,' said Miss Williams, looking at Ailsie as if she wondered bow she had survived such overwhelming misfortunes. 4 There were five fatherless bairns left,' said the old woman almost sternly, * and a poor widow nigh her time. I was not like ye fine ladies, I had no time to wail.' 4 And you supported them ?' 4 1 had tramped the ro ads before and, I did then, and some of the gentry helped us till the last poor bairn was born ; then we just lived on together as best we could, till Willies wife wed again, and the three bit lasses bided on wi me. 1 4 Have you them all, now ?' 4 No, hinny ; the two elder ones are married and so wad poor Katie ha' been, too, but her lad was drowned last fall, when Mitchells herring boat went down, It was a luckless day, for she's never been the same lassie any more.' 4 Poor, poor girl !' said Miss Williams ; and with a sorrowful heart she entered their humble dwelling. 1 Ye've been long in coming, granny ;' said the fretful voice of an invalid from the bed. 4 Ay, Katie; but I've brought you something now.' 4 What is it?' said the girl, with feverish anxiety. 4 The bonny young lady ye wanted sac much to see,' said old Alsie, pushing Miss Williams forward. 'I am sorry you are so ill, Katie,' ibe said. 4 Ay, Miss,' answered Katie, shyly.

• You should have sent for me before,' said Miss Williams, gently. ' Gran'mother taid I hadn't,' replied the poor girl, quickly. 'Gran'mother said,' and her thin white face grew scarlet, ' that ladies didn't mind to be fashed \vi' the like o' us.' 'I've found it sac,' said old Altie, sorrowfully. 1 1 would have been glad to come,' said Miss Williams, taking Katie's hot hand, which was nervously clutching at the coverlet, ' and I hope I shall often see you now, Katie.' '.she hasn't long to bide,' said the grandmother. ' Oh, Alsie, don't say that,' said Miss Willams. 1 ' But I's so glad to go,' said the poor girl, turning away her head, and tears rising in her bright and sunken eyes Ts glad to leave the weary world.' ' Do you suffer much ?' 'At times —ay.' ' She's choked like,' said Alsie. • Well, Kate, we've all bitter troubles to bear, I think,' said Misa.Willianis, with a sigh. • Mine ha' been very saro,' answered the girl,* weeping. ' She never looked up again after poor Jimmy's death,' snid Aslie. • What— what— did I care for ought after that !' 1 You loved him so much, then V said Miss Williams. commiHeratingly. • Ay !' and she covered her face with her thin hands. • Wha was like him ?' 1 Don't cry, dear,' said Miss Williams kindly ; 'perhaps he is far happier now — perhaps he is in heaven. 1 • But how do I know that P' answered the poor girl sharply and angrily. ' Folks talk of meeting him in heaven — how do I know he is there ?' 1 But God is very good.' • Ay— {jmn'raothcr says sac— she that has lost husband and bairns, all out on yon cruel sea !' •Hinuy, it was His will,' replied Alaie, solemnly. 'I—lI — I cannot bow to it — my Jimmy that was sac handsome and sac young — ■urely He might have spared him. • Try a little of the jelly Mrs Manners sent you, Katie,' said Miss Williams, ' and do pot talk any more just now. She has sent you so many good things. ' She's very kind.' •See, I will lift you up.' And Miss Williams put her arm round Katie'n shrunken faded form, and gently raised her. ' I'm glad I've seeu you, said the poor girl, softly, after a few spoonfulls of jelly. ' Will you come to 6ee me again — before I go ?' •Often, I hope, Katie.' 1 And Mr George ?' she continued, wistfully. ' Dye ken, miss, I think he has a look o' my Jimmy in his handsome face.' ' I am sure he will come.' • Dye mind that day ye spoke to me of the links ? He was sitting at y'r feet. I ken'd,' continued the girl, with a gentle smile- ' I ken'd then he liked ye well.' • Oh, no, Katie.' ' Ah, but I ken bettor.' After this Miss Williams sat nearly an hour by the sick girl's bed ; and when at length she rose to go, a happier and more peaceful expression was on the dying face. • I'm sorely impatient at time?, she whispered, as Miss Williams bent over her to kiss her as she said good-bye ; • but the daya are sac long, and I lie her all alone.' ' Your grandmother is obliged to be out, you see.' •Ay, poor body. 'She's seventy-four, and has to tramp every day, wet or dry, nigh a dozen miles.' ' It is wonderful that she can.' ' The creels are sac very heavy,' said Katie, wearily ; ' c'en when I was well my back was just broke wi a full one.' • Ye niver war strong, hinny,' said the grandmother, returning into the room; for she had been engaged with come domestic duties outside while Miss Williams was talking to Katie. ' Now, my old back the Lord just fits for its burden.' And she laughed. • You're a good heart, Alsie,' said Miss Williams. ' Ay, Miks, but after yon child's gone I hope my journey will be nigh over. But are ye going? God in heaven bless ye for coming to see the poor bairn. I can see by the louk 0' her ye have done her good, and now I'll see ye safely hame.' 'Nonsense, Alsie, you are too old to come out again to-night. No one will touch me, and I'll run all the way. ' I brought ye out,' said Alsie, gravely, • and I'll see ye safely back. My legs are old, as ye say, but they'll carry me well enough to the end. It's not right for a young lass like yo to be out o' nights, when some fine gentlemen we ken of are abroad.' • But really, I am so sorry ' ' Say nae more about it, hinny, I'll be back to thee in a quarter of an hour,' she added, addressing her grandchild, ' Keep thy heart easy until then.' They went by the road, and old Alsie tramped on as sturdily as if she had not walked many a weary mile that day before, talking as she went with her usual resignation. 1 It's a long lane which knows no turning,' she said, ' I think I and the poor lassie have about come to the corner.' ' When they were nearly half way to the Vicarage, a sudden turn of the read brought them close behind Sir Hugh Manners, who was walking on smoking, and apparently lias just loft the links, and come on the highway on his road to the Hall. ' Let us walk slowly Alsie,' whispered Miss Williams. That is surely Sir Hugh.' ' Ay, it's him. Where has he left the poor lass, I wonder ?' said Alsie. They slackened their pace accordingly, but as ill-fortune would have it, Sir Hugh stopped to look at his watch in the moonlight, and turned partly round to get a better light, and in doing so caught sight ot them, and having recognised Miss Williams, he immediately advanced a few steps forward to meet him. ' What good luck has sent you here ?' he said. 'And where, if it is not an impertinent question, have you and Altie been ?' •We have been to see Alsie's grandchild, who is very ill, 'J said Miss Wiliams. Oh, some good work ! Well Alsie, I'll spare your old feet any further walking to-night*, I will see Miss Williams safely to the Vicarage.' ' I am in charge 0' the young lady, sir,' answered Alsie, stiffly. • Won't you trust me with her ?' asked Sir Hugh with a careless laugh. ' Tell her, Miss Williams, you can fully depend on me— that yon and I are old friends.' 4 £ do not wish to tell an untruth, Sir Hugh,' said Miss Williams, coldly. ' Are you aure it is one ?' sneered Sir Hugh. 'Yes.' 'Nothing is sure in this world— don't you know that !' ' I really know nothing about it. Good night. Sir Hugh. Alsie is quite able to take care of me, and I shall not trouble you to get any further out of your way.' •It is no trouble I assure you, Miss Williams ; and I will have the greatest pleasure in seeing you home.' • Well, we are nearly there now. Alsie, if you will go to the turning of the road I shall not take you further.' Bat the oW woman went; steadily on

with them to the very gate of the Vicarage, and then stopped. I You'll be safe now, I think, Miss, 1 she said. • Good night, and the Lord watch o'er ye. Good night, Master Hugh. I beg y'r pardon, Sir Hugh; but the name whiles slips on my tongue still.' ' Good night, old Alsie,' said Sir Hugh, laying his hand on the garden gate, but not opening it. • Don't go in for a few minute*,' he said, addressing Miss William!', the night is so fine.' I 1 would rather go in, Sir Hugh,' she answered: ' will you kindly open the gate?' 'If you wish it, of course,' said Sir Hugh, complying with her . request; 1 but why are you so reserved ?' ' I do not know what you mean.' 1 Well, I will gn no further,' aaid Sir Hugh, pausing in the middle of the avenue, ' unce you are co very bad tempered.' 'Good night, then, Sir Hugh,' said Miss Williams, and she walked on to the entrance alone. But tho jealous eyea of Adelaide Manners had seen her part with her companion; for, restless and unhappy, she was leaning against her bedroom window* and in the cold clear moonlight, she now recognihed her cousin, returning 1 apparently alone with Mils Williams. 'It is disgraceful!' she muttered to herself with bitter anger, ' utterly, utterly disgraceful! George shall know —she shall leave this house, I'm determined. Oh! Hugh, Hugh, how can you,' she went on passionately, ' how c»n you disgrace yourself so far !'

(To be continued).