CHAPTER XXX.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 145, 13 March 1886, Page 3

CHAPTER XXX.

" WHAT A GOOD MAN HE MUST BE !" One afternoon, Miss Starkey set off by herBelf to do some shopping. " I've got a little trading to do for myself, and I don't want to bother anyone else with it, so I guess I'll go alone, "she had informed her friends, and they, seeing that she preferred to go by herself, allowed her to do so without annoying her with objections. " You can't get lost," Graco told her, " for any policeman will put you right, if you get out of your way." "I shan't get lost, child. You don't suppose I've been here more'n a week and have had my eyes shut all that time, 1 hope?" Miss Starkey. j:e,turned, witbri some spirit ; and departed with full faith' in her own knowledge regarding the points of the compass, and her ability to take care of herEelf under any circumstances. She found her way to the great thoroughfare without any trouble, where she spent a couple of hours lookingabout and purchasing such articles as she wanted. Then she took a car and went to visit the Jones family, which Had really been her principal errand out that afternoon. She had been to see them with Grace two or three times, and had become as much interested in them as that young lady herself was. The little girl's arm was quite well now The husband was much better, and able to ait up for a portion of each day, while there was an air of comfort and cheer about the place which was in strong contrast to the poverty and want that had existed there upon Miss Campbells first visit. Miss Starkey unloaded her well-filled bag of half it 3 contents, and then settled he£ self for a long talk with the husband and wife, and her conversation must have been highly enjoyable, judging from the look of animation and pleasure which lighted both faces when she at last arose to go. The sun had gone down, and the street, as she stepped out upon it, was fast growing dark and deserted. ° She had not proceeded far on her way before she became conscious that some one was dogging her steps. Turning in her quick, energetic way, she saw an ill-favoured youth of perhaps sixteen or seventeen years following her, though on the opposite side of the narrow street. Seeing that he wa3 discovered, the boy made a bold dive acros3 the alley, seized the bag which she carried in her left hand, and tried to wrench it from her. But she had a firmer grip upon it than he had supposed, and though he pulled and tugged at it vigorously, he did not succeed in hia purpose. "Better let go, my lad," Miss Starkey laconically observed ; " that is my property, and I intend to keep it." The speech appeared to anger him, for he muttered an oath and gave a more powerful wrench at the bag. Among other things, Miss Starkey had purchased an ambrella that afternoon, and it proved to be a useful weapon in her present emergency. The oath had scarcely passed the lips of her assailant, when she swung this instrument of defence with all the vigour of her strong right arm, bringing it down upon the hand that grasped her bag with a force that made him suddenly relinquish his hold and fall back a pace or two, while he howled with pain. "Mow, young man, you right about face and march, or you'll get another," Mi3B Starkey said, with a determination which plainly indicated to the young highway robber that he had no ordinary spTrit to deal with. But he proved to be a persistent character also, and he made a second plunge toward her, and there might have been some doubt as to the issue of the contest, bad not a heavy hand been suddenly laid upon the shoulder of the youth, and he was wheeled about with a force that almost made him see stars, and which brought him face to face with a powerful, stately gentleman, whose expression of sternness and resolution warned him that it would not be safe to persist in his attempts to plunder. "What are you about, sir? What are you molesting this lady for?" was the startling and imperative query. "Nothing,"hewhimpered, in a frightened tone, while he tried to wriggle himself free from that detaining hand. "Then go: take youreelf oft instantly," and the gentleman pointed authoritatively down the street. He needed no second bidding, for he turned and slunk out of sight in less time than it takes to relate it. "Now, madame," said the gentleman, turning courteously to Miss Starkey, "allow me to see you safely out of this place ; it is growing dark, and this locality is not quite safe for a lady after night closes in." " Thank you, sir ; I don't mind if you do, for I teel a trifle shaky now it's all over. When my mettle was up I did well enough ; but I'm not so young as I used to be, and it doesn't hold out quite ao well ; though I guess'another week from this umbrel would have settled that young scamp. But— my name is Starkey, sir," concluded our friend, introducing herself with primitive politeness. " Thank you : and mine is Hamilton," said that gentleman, smiling amusedly, under cover of the darkness, of the originality of hiB new acquaintnnce, while he quietly took possession of her bag, offered her his arm, and conducted her to the corner, where she told him she would take a car. "Here we are," he said, when he came ou * ,?P On Broadw *y. " Which way do you " Up town, sir." "Ahl that is fortunate; so do I," Mr Hamilton eaid, as he hailed a car, which Mies Starkey gladly entered and sank into the nearest seat, for she was still a little " shaky," and looked a trifle pale. When she reached the end of her journey Mr Hamilton alighted with her and insisted upon accompanying her to her own door, although Bhe stoutly affirmed that she was all right, and did not like to trouble him. She seemed to have forgotton that he had possession of her bag and new "umbrel," so he stood quietly by her side while she rang the bell and waited to be admitted. As Robert opened the door, Grace came out into the hall with an anxious look on her face ; but it vanished as soon as she saw her friend, arid she came quickly forward to her. "Oh, Miss Starkey, we were all getting very much troubled about you, and lam

relieved enough to see you safely home again," she said, eagerly, Then observing her pallor, and at the same instant her companion also, she started and a bright colour suffused her face. "Has anything happened?" she asked, hurriedly. "No, no, child, don't be worried over nothing," replied Miss Starkey, with goodnatured impatience, for she never could bear to have any fuss made over hor. " A young scamp tried to rob me, and this gentleman came to my aid, and then would come clear home with me. This is Miss Campbell, Mr Hamilton," she explained and introduced, all in one breath. " I have mot Mr Hamilton before," Grace said, turning frankly to him and holding out her hand, with a smile. "I am very glad to meet you again :'' she added, " pray come in and tell us all about this startling adventure." Mr Hamilton would have excused himself, as he felt almost like an intruder, but she turned to lead the way to the drawing-room, and he could not well refuse to follow. She wheeled a great easy rocker forward for Miss Starkey, and invited her attendant so cordially to be seated also that he accepted without demur, while he watched the beautiful girl with mingled curiosity and interest. She stood by while Mies Starkey removed her bonnet and wrap, when she carried them away with her own hands, after which she brought a hassock for her feet, and then sat down on a low seat by her side and smilingly said sho was ready to listen to her wonderful story. "Taint much of a story, nor worth making any fuss over ; there ain't no bones broken — without 'tis in my umbrel — nor no joints dislocated," the spinster began in her original way. "The amount of it is, a young scamp thought he wanted my bap 1 moron I did, and so tried to help himsolf to it. The bag's out there in the hall, but I gues? he's got something else to remember Marthy Ann Starkey by, for some time. At any rate he'll have bigger knuckles tomorrow, than the Lord gave him, and my candid opinion is that the next time he tries to play his grab game he'll be pretty sure that the woman he tackles don't carry a stout, new umbrel. ' Grace Campbells clear laugh rang through the room like a strain of music, at the conclusion of the recital, while she pictured to herself the comical and animated tableau which Mr Hamilton had witnessed, as Miss Starkey stood in attitude irate and with uplifted weapon to defend her property. That gentleman indulged in a genial smile, but it was more in sympathy with her infectious mirth than with the droll story, while he thought her very charming in her intereatin,andattention to, this exceedingly eccentric old lady. " But were you not very much frightened ?" Grace atked, grovving serious again, as she remembered that she might have been in real danger. "Not till 'twas all over," replied Miss Starkey. "I guess I was a little mad at first, though I don't generally allow my temper to get ruflled over trifles. If the young rogue had asked me civilly for some money, I'd have given him some and welcome, for I always carry some loose chango in my pocket to give away ; but to have him undertake to help himsolf in that heathenish way was more'n human nature could stand. I wasn't sorry though," the spinster continued with a sigh of relief at the remembrance, " to see Mr Hamilton heave in sight, for that rascal made himself scarce in no time ; and besides, I guesa it saved my umbrel ; but you might have ' knocked me down with a feather ' when 'twas all over." "But where were you? How did you chance to meet such a daring young robber ?" Miss Campbell questioned. " Well, I suppose I may as well own up first as last," said Mis 3 Starkey, somewhat relucantly. "I wanted to talk with Mrs Jones about another chango ot those stockings that we are going to give her, and — about some other matters too ; so I went down there." Grace's face was crimson for an instant at this betrayal to Mr Hamilton of her charities. "If you had only told me that you wanted to go there you should havo had the carriage " she said, reproachfully. "It is not safe for a lady to go into "such a locality alone, especially in the evening." Miss Starkey sniffed contemptuously. ''That is a pretty state of affairs in a civilised country," she said, indignantly. "I'd like to make a law or two for this city, and we'd see if a woman couldn't go about the public streets on an errand of charity without being 'spoiled by the Philistines.' But where's George Washington ?" " Mr Starkey was up in the library just before you came in. He had been talking about going to look for you, but I convinced him how useless that would be." " Well, I guess I'd bettor go and set his heart at rest ; he always gets the fidgets if I ain't 'round about once in so often," said the spinster, rising. Then, turning to Mr Hamilton, she added: "I shan't forget your kindnees, sir ; and if you ever come to Starkeyville-or Lynnel', as they call it now — we shall be pleased to see you at our place." Mr Hamilton arose also, and thanked her for the invitation, adding that he hoped she would loee no sleep on account of her adventure. Then bidding her good-even-ing, he turned to take leave of Grace also, saying he must be on his way home. Grace attended him to the hall, saying aa she went : "How are your iirotcrjas in street getting on ?" y I think, perhaps, that Miss Campbell might be able to give me as much information upon that point as I could give her," he answered, with a pecular expression. " Well," she returned, laughing and flushing, " I confess to having become deeoly interested in them. Do you think Mr Jones is really going to get well ?" "If he does, he will owe a great deal to your kindness, Mies Campbell. If he could only get away into the country, out of the poisonous atmosphere of that locality, I • hink there would be no doubt about the return of perfect health to him." " I wonder if it could be managed somehow ?" said Grace, musingly. "It would be so much better for those children too. It is dreadful the way people live in those wretched streets. Mr Hamilton," with sudden earnestness, " I have felt guilty ever since I went into that place.'' " Why ' guilty' ?" he questioned, searching her face. " Because I have so much, and those poor people so little. How ur^quallv things are divided in this world ! Why is" it so ?" "That is a problem which I fear will never be solved here," Mr Hamilton returned, smiling; "though if every one would honestly ask himself or herself that question, and then faithfully perform the duty which conscience would surely suggest, it would go far toward mitigating the evils you deplore," "What is one's duty, Mr Hamilton? Isn't it hard to decide always just what it is ?" Grace asked, wistfully. " « Do with thy might whatever thy hands find to do,' " he quoted gravely. I "Then I have a great deal of lost time and work to make up," said Mies Campbell,

with a sigh ; "for my hands have been idle all my life." She lifted her earnest face to his as she said it, and meeting his eyes, she thought them wonderful in expression, while she said to herself : "I have never seen a finer face anywhere ; it is so full of power and earnestness. What a grand man ho must be !" " One can never correct a mistake until one becomes conscious of it," he said, gently, and ho held out his hand to her; "and since you are so regretfully conscious of haying lost opportunities in the past, I feel quite sure that you will not pass many by in the future. But I must bid you good night now ; I have already tarried longer than I ought." "I am very glad to have met you again, Mr Hamilton," Grace replied. "1 would like to introduce you to mamma, but she is out this evening. We receive, however, every Thursday from eight to eleven p.m., and if you can ever spare us a little of your time, we will give you a cordial welcome." Mr Roger Hamilton, about a week later, while at the house of his sister, Mrs Austin, was formally introduced by the latter to Miss Grace Campbell. The occasion was a social gathering, and Mrs Austin, who had long been acquainted with the Campbells, little knew, as she presented her brother to Miss Campbell, that they had not only previously met, but had already taken a doep ..interest in each other. It was not strange that, afterward, Grace and Mr Hamilton Decame more than ever interested in the pitiful condition of Mr llufus Jones and family, and together planned a little schome for his relief " Into this scheme Miss Starkey heartily onterod, expressing her willingness to have the sufferer conveyed to her own home in Maine. It was noticeable that Grace soon found great comfort in doing kind deeds, especially when she was assistod by such a generous heart as the Rev. Roger Hamilton,