AFTER MANY DAYS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4137, 25 October 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

AFTER MANY DAYS.

Br MAHT HAtPINK. As the widow Wilson returned from milking, with her little son Johnny, she saw a wretched-looking young man leaning over, the garden gate. v Those wild, hungry eyes looked eagerly into tho foaming milk pail, awakening.a feeling of pity in Mrs Wilson's gentle heart that could never see any form of suffering unmoved. \ The man, pulling hie hat over his eyes, as though afraid or ashamed of being seen, said: ' '■■ ' Will you gire mo a drink of milk, ma'am ?' ■ Going into the house, Mrs Wilson cut a

thick slice of brown and white broad, and filling a large bowl with milk, took them clown to him. Tho man—or rather lad, for he could not have been over seventeen —Ra'. as though half famished. Handing back the empty bowl and plate with a ' Thankee, ma'am,' he drew a long sigh cf satisfaction. ' Have you come a long way ?' said-Mrs Wiison, as she noted the dust-laden garments and wearied aspect. ' A very long w;iv.' 'Whore aro you goiii£ ?' The lad made no reply to thi-, save by a wistful, troubled look, and Mrs Wilson continued : 'You've run away from home, haven't you ?' Seeming reassured by that motherly look and tone, the young follow said : ' I don't know, it was never any home to me after father brought his new wife there. She turned his heart against me, so that lie treated me worse than a dog; but I don't know but what I'd have stayed if I had thought I'd have come to this. I. started to find Uncle John, who lives in Rhode Island ; but I hadn't much monry ; it is further than I thought, and I—got into trouble. I must be moving on. If any one asks you if you've seen a chap like me —' Here the lad caught, a glimpse oftvro horsemen at (he foot of the hill on which tho house stood. 'There they are!' he cried, in an agony of horror, 'for. pity's sake, hide me -somewhere !' Giving one glance at the horsemen, who wore partially hidden by the trees, Mrs Wilson seized one of tho hands held out to her, saying: ' Come with me.' After seeinc; the fugitive safely stoworl away in the attic chamber, Mrs Wilson returned to the gate, having scarcely done so when the horsemen made (heir appearance. On perceiving her the elder of the'two said : ' Madame, we are constables of ■ county, in pursuit of a young fellow who has broke gaol. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and .had on a calico shirt and brown coat and pants, all of them very much the worse for wear. Have you seen any one answering to this description ?' ' Yes ; only a few. minutes ago.' ' We thought he must have passed here. Did he go up or down ?' snid the constable, referring ro the course of ihe river. ; ' He went up.' : Urgiiin their horses forward they rushed on. Mrs Wilson bent over the pale, cold face that was lying on the attic floor, and noted its youfhfulness of outline and expression. ' Supposing it, wore Johnny ?' she thought, as the blue eyes opened, staring wildly into hers. ' They're gono ; you are quite safe,' ?he snid, in response to tho terror depicted in every feature. 'No, ma'am, ,, he said, in reply to lipr questions ; ' I didn't do anything to be put in gaol for, iiiore'n to pick, a little fruit or corn, or pomethinjT of f.li.it kind, when I was most- starved. But I fell in with some men on the road—real bad, they were, though I didn't know it until 'afterwards; They, gave me something to eat, and treated me so friendly that I stayed with them one night, and the next morning a lot of people swooped down upon the camp and took us all off to gaol. One of them had put a watch he stole into my pocket, so it would a gone hard with mo if I hadn't got away.' Mrs Wilson's soft heart was accompanied by a shrewdness in judging of character which did not admit of her being easily deceived, and she believed the story that was told her. After seeing her weary guestsoundly slopping on the cot bed in the attic chamber, sho spent more than half the night in fixing over for him some garments that had belonged to her husband. Considering it to bo the part, of prudenro to got him off early, she had him up at the first- grey dawn. As they were all at breakfast, tho two constables made thoir appearance at tho door, having returned from thoir fruitless ' Sit still,' said Mrs Wilson, as she aroso to answer their knock. They asked fora glass of milk. As they were drinking it one of thorn glanced at the young fellow at the table, who looked so different in his new suit, freshly cut, hair, and clear, hands and face, that he failed to recognise him. A3 soon as tho two men hod ridden off Mrs Wilson resumed her labor of love. She made up a bundle for the stranger, consisting of a substantial lunch, a change of linen, and a pocket Bible. ' It is one I gave Johnny,' sho said ; 'but I can get him another. His name i 3 in it, but you won't mind that. . Then giving, him a few dollars —all she had by her—together with some counsel that sank deep into the heart of the motherless boy, she sent him on his way. ' John,' said Mr Davenanfc to one of his clerks whom ho had summoned to his private office, ' you'yo been working hard all winter and need a vacation. 1 It is not the habit of tho senior member of the wealthy firm of Davenant, ITaviland & Co. to say much to tho employes aside from necessary instructions, and thero was some surprise in the young man's look and tone as he said : ' I hardly think I can afford one. , ' Oh, I mean that your salary will go on all the same. I've bought a place in Mil ford, Connecticut, and I want you to ccc about some repairs that are needed. Aro you acquainted in that part of the country ?' ' I ought to be,' cried tho young man, with sparkling: eyes, ' Why, I*wns born in Mil ford ; living there until I was fourteen, and know every nook and crook in it. In what part of the town did you buy ?' 1 In the southern part, on the river. It is ■called old Roberts place, 1 believe.' ' It's the old homestead, whore I spent tho happiest part of my life. Mother's maiden name was Eoberts; the property came through her.' The speakers voice trembled with suppressed emotion; but if Mr Davenant noticed it, he did not seem to do so, ' It is a beautiful placo. I don't see how you could make up your mind to part with it.' ' It was not a matter of choice, sir. Tt was mortgaged at the time of father's death. For some time mother kept up tho interest, but nt last a series of misfortunes, in the way of sickness and bad crops, obliged her to let ifc go,' ' Where is sho living now ?' ' Fhe is living in a little cottago thnt I hired for her in a town adjoining Mil ford ; so I shall have an opportunity of seeing her if I go. , ' I want to get a trusty, competent woman to take charge of the place, as I don't expect to be there myself more than two or three weeks in tho summer. Perhaps your mother would like to do so ?' John's face flushed with surprise and pleas nre. . 'She would like nothing bo well, sir, nor could you get any ono that would au it you better!' 'Very well, then it. is settled that you start to-morrow morning. Here is some money ; and you aro to draw on mo if you need more. • 1 want yon to buy a good horsu and cow, and some other things that you will find on 'this list. It is my intention to start a branch oflico in Milford for tho sale of our manufactures, and put you in charge of it; But I will attend to that myself when I come on, iii June. , Mi' Davonant was as ; good as his word, reaching Milford about the middle of that month, John going to the station to meet hiir;. The young man was too animated and excited to notice his companion's grave, pro-occupied air. ... ■; ' I don't believe there was ever a happier woman than mother, now she has to her old home,' he snid, as they came in .view of the house. . '•-■•' ■ ,; •■ Strangely -conflicting feelings filled Mr Daveuant's heart as, he • alighted at the gate, where ho etood a homeless, outcast boy,

fifteen years before. The same sunset hues burned brightly in the western sky ;on every side, were the same bloom and verdure. And there was the same gentle, meekbrowed woman—somewhat older, but with the same pleasant smile upon her face— coming clown the path to meet them. ' It. is your house, not mine, to which you bid me welcome,' snid Mr Davenant, in reply to her greeting, 'as yon will see by examining this paper. , Tho paper that Mr? Wilson took into her trcmling hand was a deed of the place, made out in her own name. ' I don't understand it,' she faltered, lifting eyes to thoss (hat were looking at her through grateful tears. ' Perhaps this will make you understand it more clearly, , said Mr'Davonant, placing in her Viand a pocket Bible, on tho fly loaf of which was written : 'To Jon>" Wixsox. From his afiectionate mother. ' Remember thy Creator in the days of tliv youth. , ' Beneath it, in bolder, and more recent characters, wero the following: 'Cast thy bread upon tho waters, and thou shalt find It ffter many days.'