The two old maids were at the kitchen
door, both dressed, one holding a lighted candle. Tunk Hosely
stood by the door, buttoning suspenders with one hand and holding a
musket in the other. They were shivering and pale. The room was
now cold.
"Hear that!" Tunk whispered, turning to the teacher.
They all listened, hearing a low, weird cry outside the door.
"Soun's t' me like a raccoon," Miss S'mantha whispered thoughtfully.
"Or a lamb," said Miss Letitia.
"Er a painter," Tunk ventured, his ear turning to catch the sound.
"Let's open the door," said Sidney Trove, advancing.
"Not me," said Tunk, firmly, raising his gun.
Trove had not time to act before they heard a cry for help on the
doorstep. It was the voice of a young girl. He opened the door,
and there stood Mary Leblanc--a scholar of Linley School and the
daughter of a poor Frenchman. She came in lugging a baby wrapped
in a big shawl, and both crying.
"Oh, Miss Tower," said she; "pa has come out o' the woods drunk an'
has threatened to kill the baby. Ma wants to know if you'll keep
it here to-night."
The two old maids wrung their hands with astonishment and only said
"y!"
"Of course we'll keep it," said Trove, as he took the baby,
"I must hurry back," said the girl, now turning with a look of
relief.
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