Jack and His Seven Foes — page 189: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ye al Early and late she would be abroad at intervals, always going in the same direction. She sought the spot where she had parted from Jack. Her wistful eyes would rest longingly on the track he had taken, and she would picture him returning, triumphant and buoyant. : ‘He cannot fail,” she was always murmuring. “His enemies cannot conquer him.” But fear would come into her heart, and at times she would weep, and kneel and pray for him, always asking that he might come back to her “ to-morrow.” But the morrows came and passed, and Jack did not come. No word or message was possible. Neither directly nor indirectly did she hear of him. Then she began to grow pale and listless, and Abel Newcombe would grow anx10us. “IT must give up work,’ he would say, ‘and take you from here.” “No, no,’ she would answer, not wish to go yet.” So the father toiled on, the mother rejoiced, and Annie pined and lon oed for her absent lover. At last, after a long and weary wait- ing, news came of him. She was at the old spot one morning when two weary, stooping figures ap- proached her—RalphandJacobSturmby, bowed down with grief and fatigue. Her keen eyes read their story, and with a face lly-white, she asked them if they had come from far. “More than ten hundred miles,” replied Ralph. ‘“Where is the old man you called Ben? ” “ Dead.” “And your young master — brave Jack P27 They looked at each other and stood mute. She bade them speak. ‘“‘T am strong enough to bear it,’’ she said. “He is dead, too,’ said Sturmby. ‘‘Did—-did his enemies kill him?” she asked. “No,” replied Ralph, “they all perished together in an earthquake. They are buried 1 in a grave deeper than man could make,” "THO . G JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. a a a BE ee a ee AE an RE ie Aa eR ec a i eee ee ee a ee ee a “Go forward, and tell your aoe to” my father,” she said. Erect and quiet she stood while they — passed by, watched them until they were out of sight, then threw herself down upon the ground. “Oh, Jack, dear Jack, to think that I shall never see you more !”’ Tears came to her relief, or she must have died. Ina little time she arose, and walked to and fro. When her eyes were dry, she went home. A. brave, strong girl. What she thought or felt would Be known only to herself. She did not carry her heart upon her sleeve. She found her father and the two new arrivals in the kitchen. They were talking, but dropped their voices as she came in. Her father rose, and put his arm around her waist. 3 My pretty lass,’ he said, ‘‘ you must bear it.” “JT will try,” she answered, simply. “He was a brave and noble lad, but his was a stormy life, and it ended in a storm.” “A sgorrowtul life, ending.” ; “Aye, so ’twas. But bustle, and give our friends some food. They have need of it.”’ Annie laid some bread and meat upon the table, and leftthem. She was walk- ing up and down outside when her father joined her. “‘ Lass,” he said, ‘‘ what’s to be done now ?”’ “ft must be borne,’ she replied. ‘’ Have we not both said so?” | “Tt’s not that, lass, ’m speaking of, but the money. Shall I go on making 1b F “Do you want it? ”’ “ Not for myself.” “ For mother, then ?”’ ‘No, she is content.” “ Who for, then P”’ “Hor you, my lass.” “IT shall not need if,’ with a quivering lip. “Then we will close the works, and sell the mine,’ Abel Newcombe said. ‘And can you sell it?” ‘To-morrow, or in a week at latest. In seven days we can leave here,” with a pitiful said Annie, ECORNICLOOOKSsE®