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44MV0 0010itT STORY.] Cousm…

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44MV0 0010itT STORY.] Cousm Sarah Pi!kington By R. MURRAY C!LCHRtSI. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) Josiah Belk, throughout his sixty-Qve years, had borne the repute of being the kindest and moat amiable creature within a twenty miles' march of Qrassbrook. To be sure, luck had favoured him; he had inherited the compact little farm from an uncle before attaining bis majority, and had, moreover, a nry com- fortable little property at the nether end of the village. His good fortune had not, aa it might have done with any other young man, turned him into a drone: he had worked complacently till his forty-fifth year. theu had married and enjoyed a twelvemonth of easy happiness before being left a widower with a daughter just three days old. On the evening after young Yeb Hancock had come with word that he wiahed to take Susan to wife. the old man was nlled with utter dismay. Since his daughter had been able to toddle about she had ministered to him with a very pretty devotion, and now, In her early womanhood, aeemed so indispen- sable that the thought of any change turned him quite aiek and faint. His churchwarden pipe brought no aolace. nor did the quart-jug of good home-brewed that he had fetched from the cool cellar. He sat before the fire in the parlour gazing moodily into the flames: now and then tears ran down hia plump cheeks-tears because of the pain self- interest must cause him to inflict upon his darling. At six o'clock his daughter, who -had been spending the day at the market town, re- turned, and after leaving the horse and trap with the lad. came straight to the parlour, and, bending over him, kissed his crown, where the hair was beginning to grow thin. "I'm back, father." she said. "I'd a grand time in Bakewell. See what I've brought y<m She dropped a large packet of tobacco into his hand; to her surprise he left it fall un- heeded to the Boor. Ay, I see you're back," was all he said. Her arm went round his neck. "Why. father, whatever's gone wrong?" she said, I'm sure something is amiss!" He pushed her away with considerable petu- lance. "I'm HI in the mind," he said plain- tively: "a'nd there isn't a doctor living as can cn;re that. I feet as I did afore your mother was took!" The girl's rich colour had faded; her lipa were slightly parted, discovering her even white teeth. "Why don't you tell me what's wrong?" she said. "If 'tis ought I can help." He barst into undisguised sobbing, and bent so low in his chair tha.t his beard covered his ponderous knees. "And I've been such a good father to you." be moaottd "I've guarded you like to the apple of my eye. Nought was too good for yott. You've been used like a. lady bom. A kinder parent ne'er wore. shoe leather. And to think as you should lead Yeb Hancock on so as he came this very ffternoon and asked me leave to wed you.. That sly you've been. 0—o—h, dearie me! 'tia more nor I can bear!" Poor Susan's hands rose to her heart "But, father, he's bee'n coming to sec me for the last five years———" "I thought twas to see me, Susan, or I'd ne'er have encouraged him. He's a rascal. that he is, pretending as he liked my com- pany, and talking about polities, and market prices! But I've ?ent him away with a sore ear, by Jowks! I'se warrant you he'll 'none poke his nose here again in a hurry!" "But I'd look after you all the same. father; Shepherd's Flat's only half a mile away; I'd over every morn. And there's Aunt Emma, Vickers; she'd be only too glad to manage the house." Josiah sat upright in his chair. "No Aunt Emma Vickers here, thank ye!" be said ccldly. "You're my daughter, and you'll do as I bid. I doubt if I shall live another 20 year; when I'm gone you can do as you've a mind. Now just you take off your things and hetp the wench to look supper. I could fancy I a bit of that cold pork." Susan, with a heartrending sigh. left the parlour and went slowly up the steep stair- cnse that rose from t?ie square lobby. Before sh" had reached the landing, however, she turned dizzy, swooned for the nrst time in her I:fe. &nd fell heavily to the bottom. Josiah l'ushed out with a cry of alarm, and found lier lying unconscio-us. on the stone Sags. He lifted her oa-sdiy—in spate of his stoutness he was very strong—and bore her to a settle. The eervant. a gaunt woman, with a. hare lip, c.-me raping to his side. "Mercy uon us all!" groaned the terrified old man. "I do believe as she's broken 1 er arm. Give me the brandy. Libby: 'tis in the -orner cupboard; then send William a-horSt;- back for old doctor." In another minute Susa;n opened her eyes and to rise. but feU back with a sharp Mdamation of pain. "Is't hurting bad. my *4*tty?', aaid Joeiah. "Heigh me, whate'er must we do? Ubby, whate er must we do?" Joaiah covered his face. "Eh, poor Susan'" he faltered. "And her so young!" The ?irl had fainted again; to his dim eyes it seemed as if she were really at the point of death. Recovering himself, he dipped his handker- chief in water and bathed her white face. The servant gave way to her emotion, and wept M ioudly that he was obliged to command silence. 'Twill be an hour or more afore old doctor comfs." she sobbed; "and here shes passing away aa quick as can be! And no neighbours in the house; nob'dy to help straighten her out!" Her words excited the old man to a degree of panic. "You'd best run off to Shepherd's Flat and bid Mrs. Hancock come at once. None a. minute must you loae; it maybe aa she'll know how to manage!" The woman waited for nothing more, but ruahed from the hooae and made a short cut across the Aelds. being in so desperate a hurry that afterwards she recollected nothing but a wild scrambling over limestone walls. In lesa time than Josiah had believed possible she returned with Yeb's mother, a stout and comely matron of nfty, who had not even tarried to remove her lappeted evening cap. She met the old man somewhat angrily. crashing him aside with a certain contempt. "I doubt you've been up to some mischief. 1fr. Belk." she said. "If I hadn't been vastly fond of Susan I'd ne'er have come after the way you've used my lad. Nay, I always respected you until he told me, but now. < ffell! For good sake do you clear out of my -oad. If I'm to do Susan any good I can't nave you buzzing about. There, look at her, )oor thing, she's coming to! 'Twould be best i her eyes didn t light on you for a while!" He stared at her ill great dismay. "I 'thought this was my house." he began. Mrs. Hancock, however, laid a hand on each shoulder, and pushed him through the door- vay. "Now stay outside till you're called," the said. "Things are in a bad way, but .ou'l1 make "em worse. You Then she knelt beside Susan. "It might have been worse, thank thie powers." ahe said. 'Tia brokaot sure enough, dearie; but I daresay 'twill soon be ts well as ever. Now, prythee. tell me how It happed; twasn't with your father using ¡OU roughly?" "Nay." said Susan, with. in spite of her pain, a faint laugh. "Father was in here at the time, and I on my way to the chamber. I turned dizzy near the landing and dropped to the bottom." "And what made you turn dizzy, Susan ? Well, ne'er juind telling me yet; 'tis no use talking; 'twill only excite you into a fever. Lie you still and don't speak. As sure as ought I hear old doctor coming trough the garden!" She waa right; in another minute Dr. Penton. who had been the Grassbrook practi- -ioner for forty years, entered the parlour. Mcoimpanied by his aêSistant. The old <;entl<;ma.n pursed his lips '.nd shook his head; th€'n. after Stueam was helped upstairs, set to work at once, with the result that in another half hour the broken bone was cleverly set, and the arm bound in splints. Mr. Belk sat on a stool outside the chamber door. mopping his ..yes and whimpering quietly; even Mrs. Hancock's heart was <-ouched by his grief. Tie done, and it can't be helped." she said to him not unkindly, when the others were gone. "No good comes of crying about spilC milk. I make no doubt as Susan '11 forgive you in the course of time. You'd best go to bed, Mr. Balk; thera's little you can do but get in folk's way!" He caught her skirt as she moved away. "Mrs. Hancock. Mrs. Hancock. for mercy's sake. you'll bide here this night? Libby 'Id be no manner of use with a sick person, as you'll know without being told. And as for -me, well. I've ne'er had any nursing to do in my life." 'Doctor, he says as happen yon'd like a person from Bakewell; but, to be sure, he thought it only I'd bring my mind to stay, 'twould be wisest—seeing as some of those young misses with hospital training need a coup!e of servants to wait on 'em. And Susan, poor wench, she begged me to bide with her till she gets about again." "You'll let me look at my poor lass? 1 coutdn t close my eyes——" "Oh. that tender heart of thine! Nay. Mr. Belk, old doctor s given her a, sleeping draught. and says Hot by no means must she be disturbed." She took his oand. and, without any for. ther resistance, slowly helped him down the stairs, shook the cushions of his easy-chair, and then hastened to the kitchen, where she prepared a hot spiced concoction of great potency. After he had drunk this with con- siderable gusto he grew drowsy, and retired to hiB own chamber, whence in a few minutes came the sound of heavy snoring. As tha clock struck ten, Mrs. Hancock. who had fre- quently drawn aside the window curtain. opened the outer door, and stood in the perch. In a short while she passed through the garden a'nd reached the gate just as a stalwart lad turned the corner of the lane. "I couldn't help coming, mother, when you didn't get back." he said. "I hope—1 hope my poor lass is non seriously bad?" "None she. replied Mrs. Hancock. "Acci- dents will happen: and, as I've told her, it might have been worse. Ten stairs there are —'tis a wonder she only broke her arm in- stead of her*'neck. Old doctor says with care she'll be right as a trivet in another month." "Thank Heaven for that," he exclaimed. "Haa she-has she said ought about me, mother?" "None yet, Yeb; there's been no chance; but I'm sure she will in the morning. You go to bed and sleep your worries off—I'm tending to everything here now." "Ay. but she'U ne'er mate with me against her father's will. She's too good a daughter for that.' "-Happen you're right," said his mother. "All the same. if I've a grain of wit left in my headpiece. I dare lay my soul as she'll call me mother! Lawk-a-me, do you bear yon noise—'tis Mr. Belk a-snoring hearty as can be. I made a posset for the poor soul. and put half a tumbler of brandy in. I'd brought your grandfather's nask. thinking as they mightn't have any in the house. He was fretting sorely; I scarce e'er saw a man in such a case. It grieved me, it did. I used to think as be were lapped up in self!8hnS8, but he does feel about poor Susan." She put her hand on his breast and kissed him with more tenderness than she had shown for years. Now, don't ccme till I aend word." she said. "Good-night. Yeb, and Heaven bless you, my lad." She stood watch- ing him out of sight, then returned slowly to the house. Soon after dawn. seeing that Susan showed signs of waking, she went downstairs and prepared a light breakfast ol tea and toast. The girl smiled palely when she re-appeared bearing the food. "You are kind to me," she said. "I really wondered how you could care to come after the way father used Yeb." "Don't worry, my lass," said Mrs. Hancock. "Sup some tea and eat a must fair starving. Then we can talk matters over. You're willing to trust everything in my hands, and do just as I bid you?'' "I can't go against father," replied Susan in a faint voice. "He's an old man, and 1 must do my duty." "Hoity-toity!" exclaimed Yeb's mother. "I'm the last person in the world to make mischief. Now, none another word till you've drunk a whole cup. Now, will you promise to do as I want?" Susan nodded. "In all except disobeying father," she replied. "Oh, thou innocent lass! Well, first and foremost, you're to say as you won't see him. And you re none to unsay it till I give you leave. 'Tis for your sake and Yeb's. I promise you he'll give you his blessing ere another week's gone by." The myatined girl agreed. Mrs. Hancock busied herself in making all ready for the doctor's visit. As she went downstairs about seven o'clock she heard Mr Belk's chamber door open. and saw the old man, who w¡s already half-dressed, ieckonixig to her I' eagerly. "How's my poor daughter?" he said. 'Tm going in now to look at her." The dame moved towards him sharply. "And that you're nono." she said. "Susan's given me orders as you've to keep away. 1 daren't, let you in. She's feverish, and be- like it might go to thf brain. She's set as I set can be on none seeing you." She could scarce help laughing at the old man's grotesque dismay. "1 m vastly scared as you've done her a mischief," she con- tinued. relentlessly. 'Tis odds but she'll turn out like Cousin Sarah Pilkington." "Cousin Sarah Pilkington!" he repeated numbly. "You'll none remember her, seeing as she lived in another part of the country. But her mother set foot on a chap's courtship, and Cousin Sarah ne'er forgave her. From being the gentlest of her sex. she became the most masterful; and poor aunt lived a hog's life for a good twentyrear!" Mr. Belk, overcome with emotion, went back into his chamber. Mrs. Hancock con- tinued her progress downstairs. It is of little importance whether OB not Mrs. Hancock had foreseen from the nrst the satisfactory conclusion of her stay under Mr. Belk's roof. She persisted m her declaration that the old man should not see his daugh- ter; and during the third afternoon even allowed him to listen to a long conversation, in which she pleaded with apparent earnest- ness. Never again in this world— the words were her own-oould she tend him as she had tended him in the past' The good woman strove to atone for the girl's obduracy by ministeri'ng very cheertully to his creature comforts; and be- fore the fifth day had so environed him with content that Be had almost forgotten poor Susan's existence. What appealed most to him was a dish of puddings superior to a'ny found in the best Bakewell shop. On the feventh evening Susan left her chamber for the first time. and slowly made her way tt) the parlour. The door hung ajar; through the opening, nowise to her surprise, she saw her father and Mrs. Hancock sitting very close together near the hearth The gaffer was nodding and winking roguishly; the dame's head was turned aside. "Well. in course it shall be as you will." said Mr. Belk. "Your farm's as good as mine, and belike Yeb'Il rather stay there. Susan'11 none min5 changing, that I do know. 'Twould he best if we went to church wi'out all Grass- brook talking, seeing as we're on in years." "I'm with you there." replijd Mrs Hancock. "Ay. I'll come to this spot; us women fancy to change. And now I reckon as I'd best send for the lad to tell him things is settled right. Eh! but I'm thankful as you'll have no Sarah Pilkington to keep house with you!" She caught a glimpse of Sara&'s whisking skirt, and left the parlour just in time 13 catch her on the third stair. "I don't know, love." she whispered, after a kind kiss, "I don't know as I haven't growed fond of the old .chap!"

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