"A sudden chorus of wild screams rent the air. There was a terrible shock, an upheaval, as if from an earthquake. The very ground trembled as if in a fit of convulsions. Sharp, darting pains struck the children mercilessly down into a state of insensibility. All then grew silent as death and pitch dark. "In a few moments the shrill whistle of a train resounded through the Shenandoah Valley, as it dashed out of the tunnel in the mountain and on over the great steel bridge into Harpers Ferry. "Little Maud, wakened by the echoing tumult, gazed in a bewildered manner about her. There lay her brother asleep upon the green mound, under the same tree where they had first met 'Aunt Twaddles.' She placed her hand tenderly upon him, and he awoke with a sudden start. "'Oh, Maudie!' he exclaimed, 'what happened that it grew dark so suddenly?' "The boy half arose as he received only a sob in reply, and you can well imagine his surprise as he gazed about; for there at his side lay a huge pile of freshly picked pennyroyal on the very top of which was a snow-white card. The card was most beautifully embossed with a picture of the Village of Hide and Seek, and, in the handwriting of 'Aunt Twaddles,' it bore the following inscription: _"To my darling Children: Remember always that, as you saw a tear destroy a realm of joy, so can a spirit of discontent destroy a life of useful happiness. Yours very lovingly, 'Twaddles, the Queen of the Dolls_.' "'Oh, Arthur!' exclaimed Maud, 'hurry and don't think of it any more.' "And the two children gathered up as much of the pennyroyal as each could possibly carry and hurried across the long foot-bridge into the village. "Men, women and children ran to greet them with tears of joy in their eyes. With strong arms they bore them and their pennyroyal into the Inn, where the stern, scolding, old inn-keeper stood ready to whip them, but the sight of the pennyroyal caused him to relent. "On the afternoon of the following day, Arthur and his little sister were seated all alone on the bank of the Shenandoah, looking far across upon the steep path that led straight up the face of the mountain. Their little elbows were planted firmly upon their knees, their chins sunk deeply into the palms of their wide-open hands. For a long time they sat motionless, thinking no doubt of their wonderful journey. Little Arthur finally broke the silence. "'Maud!' he exclaimed, in a tone deeply touched with emotion. "'What is it, Arthur?' she replied, with a sob. "'Maud,' he repeated, 'I was just wishing that that big mountain over yonder, right under Taffy River, would spring a leak.' "For a long time they sat weeping and thinking of it; nor is there any doubt that they wept over it until far into the night, when they fell asleep and forgot about it.