Mr. Hawley

“ The windows were open, the air stifling. There came a roll of thunder and in a moment more a dash of rain. Then the windows had to be closed and the gas lit.
"Now we can hear ourselves think," observed Mr. Hawley, when he had given his order. "Doesn't this perpetual racket bother you?"
"I don't notice it any more. I've got used to it." Miss Clayber had regained her self-possession so far as to look perfectly composed, and even to smile.
"But the noise in the office,—the machines and so on,—don't you find it bad for your nerves?" ”

“ He knew that newspaper photographers were poorly paid, as a rule, and, not supposing that Hawley was any exception to that rule, he thought that a hundred dollars must look like a lot of money to him. Even though he refused it now, he no doubt would change his mind after he had had a little time to consider the many things he could do with that sum.
“Well, think it over, Mr. Hawley,” the mayor said. “No use deciding hastily. If you change your mind before the New York train leaves, drop in here again and let me know. I’ll be at the city hall until then. ”

“ Hawley.”
The Camera Chap grinned. “You mean you’re going to banish me from Oldham, Mr. Mayor?”
“That’s an ugly way of putting it,” protested his honor, with a deprecating smile. “We won’t call it being banished. I am going to ask you, as a favor to me, to cut your vacation short, and return to New York.”
“And suppose I refuse to go?”
“You won’t refuse,” was the grim reply. “You impress me as being a sensible young man. I suppose you realize, Mr. Hawley, that we can send you to jail, right now, for taking those snapshots without a license. We have a clear case against you.” ”

“ There’d be the deuce to pay in Washington, and——”
“You didn’t think of that when Mr. Hawley was in danger,” Virginia protested indignantly. “You were quite ready to risk your career in the navy, and possibly your life, then.”
“But Hawley was my friend, and I was under great obligations to him, besides.”
“Does that make such a great difference?” the girl inquired somewhat coldly. “Are you willing to remain [248] inactive while an innocent man is suffering a fate worse than death? Do you not feel an obligation to expose the villainy of these rascals? ”

“ Doctor Bonsal turned with a sad smile to Señora Felix: “You see! To attempt flight would be useless. Besides, even if it were possible for me to get away, it would be most unwise. It is necessary that I go to those men at the door before they come in here. It is our only chance of preventing them from discovering the presence here of you and Mr. Hawley—and that, of course, must be prevented.” ”

“ Lopez made a despairing gesture. “I regret to say that our birds have flown, Señor Presidente. Felix, Hawley, and Ridder are now safely aboard the Yankee warship.”
[307]
CHAPTER XLVI.
BESIDE THE GREAT GUN.
In the captain’s cabin of the Kearsarge a white-haired, emaciated man, with tears streaming down his pallid cheeks, was vociferously assuring the commander of the warship of his undying gratitude.
“My dear sir, you don’t owe any thanks to me,” the latter protested gruffly. “The man to whom you owe your freedom is Mr. Hawley. ”

“ Bertrand stood up, his sleepy eyes fixed earnestly on his teacher.
“The percale and the braid came to sixty-two cents altogether,” he announced, “so if you gave Mr. Dryburg a dollar, you would have thirty-eight cents in change.”
Bertrand sat down.
“Right,” said Miss Mason. “I’m glad I have one pupil who knows how to use his brain. Some of those who might have had eight on their cards this month needn’t be surprised to find a six. Robert, how much is seven times six?”
“I don’t know,” muttered Bobby ungraciously. ”

“ The four little Blossoms saw them coming, Father Blossom in the lead. Such a change had come over Mr. Harley! His shoulders sagged, he scuffed his feet and his eyes were heavy and dull.
"I suppose you know?" he said wearily to Mother Blossom, as he climbed into the car and Father Blossom took the wheel. "If I only knew where she went! But she quarreled with her people when she married me, and I never rightly knew where they lived, or who they were."
"You'll probably find her," Mrs. Blossom tried thus to encourage him. "It isn't easy for a woman with two children to drop out of sight, you know. ”

“ I saw, too, the tiny chain that clasped her fair throat, her dress of pale blue, and, most wonderful of all, two tassels that danced from the tops of her trim little boots. The air was indeed too heavy with beauty. But the reading lesson continued.
The years that stretch between that time and this have not bereaved me of the knowledge that Mr. Barton graciously accommodated Hiram Strosser, after vainly seeking to induce "Mr. Hawley, a wealthy merchant of Milk Street," to share half the risk. ”

“ Mr. Hawley had been an actor, under the name of Haywell, and he was the author of more than one tragedy, in blank verse. Mr. A. H. Wall, who succeeded him as librarian, [31] is a learned antiquary and an admired writer. [156] To him the readers of the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald are indebted for instructive articles,—notably for those giving an account of the original Shakespeare quartos acquired for the Memorial library at the sale of the literary property of J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps. Those quartos are the Merchant of Venice, the Merry Wives of Windsor, and a first edition of Pericles. ”

“ A gray-haired lady was speaking to the young woman who stood near a desk on a small platform.
“That’s Miss Wright, the vice-principal,” whispered Bobby, indicating the gray-haired woman. “Mr. Carter, over at the grammar school, is the real principal. If you’re real bad, Miss Wright sends for him. But she opens assembly and like-a-that.” 32
Presently Miss Wright went out, and Bobby led Meg up to the teacher.
“This is my sister Meg,” he said politely. “She hasn’t any seat yet.”
“How do you do, Margaret?” said Miss Mason, smiling. “Your name is really Margaret, isn’t it? ”

“ Meg leaned over Twaddles, who was seated next to the window.
"Don't forget to feed Philip," she cried.
Sam waved his hand to show that he heard, and understood, and the train went faster and faster. In a few minutes Oak Hill station was far behind them.
"Now we're started," announced Bobby, with satisfaction.
"Did my kiddie-car get on?" asked Twaddles anxiously. "S'posing they forgot it?"
"Is that why you were hanging round the baggage-room?" demanded Bobby. "Course the kiddie-car is on. I saw Mr. Hayes putting it on. You ask the conductor." ”

“ He taught in the winters, studied law at Cazenovia and Hartford, and began practice in 1850. He immediately became chairman of the Free-soil state committee, wrote for the Free-soil press, and spoke in every canvass. He stoutly opposed the Know-Nothings, and devoted his energies to the union of all opponents of slavery. The first meeting for the organization of the Republican party in Connecticut was held in his office, at his call, 4 Feb., 1856. Among those present were Gideon Welles and John M. Niles. Mr. Hawley gave three months to speaking in the Frémont canvass of 1856. ”

“ Linda informed the children.
The children ran out to see the calves being herded together, and Jud embarrassed Meg and Bobby very much by introducing them as the little people who had heard the calves in the night and gone downstairs after them.
"Meg heard 'em," said Bobby modestly.
"Well, well, well!" almost shouted Mr. Sparks, though that was his natural way of talking; he couldn't speak low. "I do certainly admire a girl with spunk enough to get up in the middle of the night and chase live-stock. You ought to be a farmer's daughter." ”

“ Even Dot and Twaddles, young as they were, could guess something of what Mr. Harley's sorrow would be when he learned that no wife and children waited for his coming on pretty Apple Tree Island. Meg glanced at Mother Blossom. That lady shook her head slightly, as a signal not to speak.
"Isn't that a sign of spring water for sale?" said Father Blossom suddenly. "Hand me the vacuum bottles, Margaret, please, and I'll have them filled. The children may be thirsty again before we get to Polly's. Dick, will you help me? We've a bottle for each youngster and they're slippery things to handle." ”

“ That, as you may understand, occasionally led to disputes.
"Take your lunch and play at Mr. Harley's house?" said Mother Blossom, laying down her pencil and smiling at the two earnest faces. "I don't know why not. I'll put some sandwiches up for you as soon as I finish this list."
"And may just Meg and I go, Mother?" added Bobby coaxingly.
"Oh, Bobby, you know the twins will be disappointed," Mother Blossom replied. "They do love to poke around that shack and I'm afraid they will feel hurt if they think you do not want them." ”

“ Twaddles ate the first dozen berries he picked and then he picked another dozen for Dot's pail. He decided that larger and better berries grew on the other side of the fence. He crawled under and his shout of delight brought the others.
"You never saw such big ones!" cried Twaddles gleefully. "Meg, look!"
"They are big," agreed Meg. "Come on, Bobby, let's go on the other side. Mr. Simmonds won't care."
Dot was already under the fence, and Meg and Bobby stooped down and crawled under after her. ”

“ RIGHT after dinner the four children started to hunt for the lost raft.
"It must have gone down the brook," argued Bobby, as they walked along. "Jud says things always float with the current. So we'll start on Mr. Simmond's land and walk slow."
They scrambled under the line fence, and Dot only tore one of the ruffles off her frock. They went on and on.
"We're almost to the woods," said Meg, as they dropped down under a ragged buttonwood tree to rest. "Where do you suppose the brook goes? Wouldn't it be fun to follow it through the woods and see what's on the other side!" ”

“ Can you come over tomorrow?”
“Is it about the fire?” asked Bobby in quick alarm. “Has Mr. Bennett said anything more?”
[126] “Yes, he has,” admitted Fred. “I can’t tell you now. You come over to my house tomorrow morning.”
“You come over to our house,” suggested Bobby. “Bring the boys. I said I’d help the children start a snowman in the yard. We can go out in the garage and talk and nobody will hear us.”
Fred said they would come and then he hurried on to watch the coasting race. But Bobby’s pleasure in the sport was spoiled. He began to worry again about the fire in the carpenter shop. ”

“ We don't, do we?"
"I'm afraid you're so hungry you can't argue very pleasantly," returned Mother Blossom. "However, I want you to wait till we get to the bungalow and I'll have a nice, hot lunch for you, Daddy, what about leaving the car?"
"There's a garage down the street a piece," volunteered Mr. Harley. "Guess the car will be all right there; and the motor-boat's due any minute."
"Told you there wasn't any bridge!" snickered Twaddles in triumph.
"Stop teasing your sister," ordered Father Blossom. "Stay with Mother, children, till I run the car into the shop. Who runs the boat, Dick?" ”

“ MR. BENNETT SHAKES HANDS BEFORE Professor Twaddles could say what he thought of this remarkable story, the bang of the front door sent him and Dot flying into the hall to see who had come. It was Bobby and Meg who had come home because of the cold.
“Hardly anyone at the pond,” reported Bobby, blowing on his fingers and stamping up and down to warm his feet. “Let’s ask Mother if we may make candy.”
The four little Blossoms enjoyed a grand taffy pull, and in the afternoon they played “menagerie” in the playroom, using the animal suits left over from the play they had given a year before. ”

“ Before they left the garage, their plans were all made to run away that night. There was no use waiting, Bobby said.
“I’ll meet you at the corner, at ten o’clock,” he said. “And we can’t carry much baggage. We can’t run with a trunk, and we may have to run.”
“Do we say good-bye to anyone?” asked Fred.
“Not a single person,” said Bobby, “Not even your mother. And remember not to bang the front door. Daddy is going to lodge meeting tonight, I think, so I can get away easily.”
After the boys had gone, Bobby did not go back to where Meg and the twins were playing with Mr. White. ”

“ Harley when we get to Apple Tree Island?"
"There is no Mrs. Harley there now," answered Father Blossom almost sadly. "She came to see Mother several times that summer. Mr. Harley was shiftless and easy going, but extremely fond of his family. They lived in a shack, but they loved each other devotedly and that, you know, is much better than having a fine house. Well, Mother never went to Apple Tree Island again—you youngsters kept her too busy. But I went nearly every year because I've always had to look after some property there for an invalid friend of Aunt Polly's. ”

“ Hambert. “Guess I keep those rabbits as good as you do, Bobby. You’re always fussing.”
Mr. Hambert held out a hand to Dot and pulled her into place beside him.
“All right,” he nodded kindly to Meg and Bobby. “You won’t be sorry if you do the work first and play afterward. Tell your mother I’ll see these youngsters safe home by half-past five.”
“Do you suppose Dot looked clean enough to go to Riceville?” worried Meg, after the fashion of older sisters, as the grocery car shot up the road and took the turn to the right. “Like as not they’ll go to the hotel and all the boarders will see her.” ”