The Project Gutenberg Etext of Outpost by J.G. Austin

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Title: Outpost

Author: J.G. Austin

Release Date: November, 2003 [Etext #4676]
[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
[This file was first posted on February 26, 2002]

Edition: 10

Language: English

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OUTPOST.

BY J. G. AUSTIN,

AUTHOR OF "DORA DARLING, OR THE DAUGHTER
OF THE REGIMENT," &C.

BOSTON:

1867.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. SUNSHINE CHAPTER II. THE LITTLE WIFE CHAPTER III. CHERRYTOE CHAPTER IV. THE CHILDREN OF MERRIGOLAND CHAPTER V. THE RUNAWAY CHAPTER VI. MOTHER WINCH CHAPTER VII. TEDDY'S LITTLE SISTER CHAPTER VIII. THE FAYVER CHAPTER IX. THE NIGHT-WATCH CHAPTER X. THE EMPTY NEST CHAPTER XI. A TRACE AND A SEARCH CHAPTER XII. TEDDY'S TEMPTATION CHAPTER XIII. THE CACHUCA CHAPTER XIV. GIOVANNI AND PANTALON CHAPTER XV. THE PINK-SILK DRESS CHAPTER XVI. BEGINNING A NEW LIFE CHAPTER XVII. WHOLESALE MURDER CHAPTER XVIII. DORA DARLING CHAPTER XIX. A CHAMBER OF MEMORIES CHAPTER XX. A LETTER AND AN OFFER CHAPTER XXI. GIOVANNI'S ROOM CHAPTER XXII. THE CONFESSION CHAPTER XXIII. TEDDY LOSES AND FINDS HIS HOME CHAPTER XXIV. MR. BURROUGHS'S BUSINESS CHAPTER XXV. MAN VERSUS DOG CHAPTER XXVI. MRS. GINNISS HAS A VISITOR CHAPTER XXVII. TEDDY FINDS A NEW PATRON CHAPTER XXVIII. WELCOME HOME CHAPTER XXIX. LIFE AT OUTPOST CHAPTER XXX. KITTY IN THE WOODS CHAPTER XXXI. THE FOX UNDER THE ROBE CHAPTER XXXII. THE PAINTER AND UNCLE 'SIAH'S HARNAH CHAPTER XXXIII. A GLEAM OF DAWN CHAPTER XXXIV. THE FIRST CHANCE CHAPTER XXXV. THE SECOND CHANCE CHAPTER XXXVI. TREASURE-TROVE CHAPTER XXXVII. TEDDY'S PRIVILEGE CHAPTER XXXVIII. WHAT DORA SAID CHAPTER XXXIX. A SURPRISE FOR MRS. GINNISS CHAPTER XL. THE WEDDING-DAY CHAPTER XLI. KARL TO DORA

OUTPOST.

CHAPTER I.

SUNSHINE.

"The last day of October!" said the Sun to himself,—"the last day of my favorite month, and the birthday of my little namesake! See if I don't make the most of it!"

So the Sun called to all the winds and all the breezes, who, poor things! had but just gone to bed after a terrible night's work, ordering them to get up directly, and sweep the sky as clear as a bell; and bid all the clouds, whether big white mountains, little pinky islands, sweeping mares'-tails, or freckled mackerel-back, to put themselves out of the way, and keep out of it until November; when, as the Sun remarked with a sigh, they would have it all their own way.

"And as soon as that job's done," continued he, "you may go to bed again in the Mountains of the Moon; for you will only disturb me if you are about."

So the winds, grumbling and sighing a little, went to their work; and the Sun, after a good dip in the Atlantic Ocean, began to roll up the eastern sky, flecking the waves with diamond spray, touching up the gay-colored leaves still clinging to the forest-trees, blazing on the town and city clocks to let every one know how late it was, and finally thrusting his saucy glances into all the windows to see how many persons had needed him.

"Come, come, you city-folks!" cried the Sun. "Your neighbors in the country were up before I was, and have eaten their breakfasts, and half cleared it away by this time; and here are you just beginning to dress yourselves! Hurry up, I say! hurry up! It is the last day of October, don't you know? and to-morrow will be November.

"But, at the corner house of a handsome square, the Sun found himself better satisfied; for through the windows of the dining-room he saw a lady and gentleman seated at the table, having apparently almost finished their breakfast.

"That is better," remarked the Sun: and, thrusting one of his slender golden fingers through the window, he touched the stag's head upon the cover of the silver coffee-pot; glanced off, and sparkled in the cut glass of the goblets and egg-glasses; flickered across the white and gilt china; pierced the fiery heart of the diamond upon the first finger of the lady's left hand, and then, creeping swiftly up her white throat, played joyously in her golden curls, and even darted into her soft blue eyes, making them sparkle as brilliantly as the diamond.

"The sun shines directly in your face, Fanny," said Mr. Legrange, admiring the color in his wife's hair. "Shall I lower the shade?"

"Oh, no! thank you. I never want the sunshine shut out," replied she, moving her chair a little.

"Not to-day of all days in the year, I suppose; not on the birthday of our little Sunshine. And where is she?" asked Mr. Legrange, half turning his chair from the table to the fire, and unfolding the damp newspaper beside his plate.

"I told Susan to send her down as soon as she had done her breakfast. Hark! I hear her." And the Sun, drawing his finger across the mother's lips, helped them to so bright a smile, that her husband said,—

"I am afraid we have more than our share of Sunshine, or at least that I have, little wife."

The bright smile grew so bright as the lady bent a little toward her husband, that the Sun whispered,—

"There's no need of sun here, I plainly see," but, for all that, crept farther into the room; while the door opened, and in skipped a little girl, who might have been taken for the beautiful lady at the head of the table suddenly diminished to childish proportions, and dressed in childish costume, but with all her beauty intensified by the