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Some years before he had been the head of a grammar-school, with a comfortable income; but a habit of drinking had been his ruin, and he was now the preceptor of the village of Grassford, and gained his livelihood by instructing the children of the cottagers for the small modicum of twopence a head per week.
"And if so, my mother would have by this time found me out; she would have advertised for me done everything I feel that she would have she would have returned to Grassford, and " "And what, Joey?"
Such was the state of things in the village of Grassford in one year after the pedlar had added it to his continual rounds and Byres was a great favourite, for he procured for the women what they commissioned him to obtain, supplied the girls with ribbons and gewgaws, and trusted to a considerable extent.
"It means that, if you are that person, in all probability there is some legacy bequeathed to you by a relative," replied Mr S ; "is it you?" "Yes, sir," replied Rushbrook, changing colour; "I did once live at Grassford." "Then you had better write to the parties and make yourself known. I will leave you the newspaper." "What think you, Jane?" said Rushbrook, as soon as Mr had quitted.
"And you have been in London ever since?" "No, sir; I repaired to the small village of Grassford, where I set up a school, but circumstances compelled me to resign, and I am now about to seek for employment in another hemisphere; in short, I have an idea of going out to New South Wales as a preceptor. I understand they are in great want of tuition in that quarter."
It will be necessary that for a short time we again follow up the fortunes of our hero's parents. When Rushbrook and Jane had quitted the village of Grassford, they had not come to any decision as to their future place of abode; all that Rushbrook felt was a desire to remove as far as possible from the spot where the crime had been committed.
Why when and where did this murder take place?" "Many years ago, madam, when he was quite a child." "How very strange!" thought Mrs Austin, panting, for breath, and dropping into a chair. "But where, Mary?" "Down in Devonshire, madam, at Grassford." Mrs Austin fell senseless from her chair.
Little did those who envied Austin his property and establishment imagine what a load was on his mind what a corroding care was wearing out his existence. Little did they imagine that he would gladly have resigned all, and been once more the poacher in the village of Grassford, to have removed from his conscience the deed of darkness which he had committed, and once more have his son by his side.
"What was the name of the village which you stated you had resided in lately, sir?" inquired McShane. "The village of Grassford." "There is something I recollect about that village; let me see something that I read in the newspapers. I remember now it was the murder of a pedlar."
It was on a blusterous windy night in the early part of November, 1812, that three men were on the high road near to the little village of Grassford, in the south of Devonshire.
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