Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-05-19
CHAPTER III.

Basil. / thought of it as lay awake
last night in the cold, white moonlight
1t seems TO me all that can be done; there
is no other way. | know this cup is
very bitter. Child, can you take i,!'
'Mother, | cannot. Oh! tell me, is
there nothing but this?'
And from Gertrude Keith's pale lips
sadly came the answer
'No-nothing'
i would save your nigh spirit this, if
could, but we are starving-freezing.
and aid must be sought. Go but to one
person, Basil. If Ryall Marsh refuses
you, ask no one else.
Basil Keith looked moodily on the
floor. A fierce struggle was going on in
his proud heart, and he answered in a
siled voice
Mother, i, will kill me to beg
Mono, boy, it will not; the pang
will be sharp but it will soon be over
Why, Basil, how strangely you talk;
hunger and cold you have battled stout
ly with. and yet you say it will kill you
to beg
Gertrude Keith said this in a quick,
excited way, and Basil turned towards
her; then he met her large black eyes fix
ed imploringly upon him. That look
wentto his heart, and, burying his face in
his hands, the boy wept. At length,
Basil grew calm, and. brushing away the
the tears, he said, slowly and firmly
1T is over now, mother. will GO
Yes! the sharp conflict was ended
Poverty had triumphed! Pride was con-
quered. ....M @ .s..
BLESS you, Basil, for this. | have
long shrunk from this step, but my hear,
is weak; cannot endure much. Per.
haps | do wrong in sending you to Ryall
Marsh, yet he may help US; and want is
stern and bitter. .-.
Il know it, dear mother, and let me GO
non --n0,U, whilst am braced for il;
aad he picked up his cap but his moth.
er checked him. ..... .'.
Take Jane with you, she is SO little
and SO fair, and it may be she can help
you the better to plead your story
Perhaps, together, you can move his
heart; and, Basil, remember, boy, yor
do not 60 to Ryall Marsh as an every
day beggar, You have right to ash
help from that man. His injustice. hi.
oppression, robbed your father of his
possessions, and sent him to an early
grave. Ryall Marsh made US what WI
are, and send you to him to ask bu
i your own again.
And Basil Keith pinned the shawl care
fully around his little sister, and smooth
ed with loving fingers the brown curl.
under the old hood. Then he took he
by his sidesmand his hand was on tn,
latch when his mother again called him
Il have just thoughtof something, Ba
sill said she, earnestly; 'will you ge
me piece of paper and a pencil!'
Basil wondered.
]. There is nothing here, mother, bu
the leaf of an old book
] THAT will do. Push the pillows un
der me while | write. There, 'tis done
Don't look at il my child. Put it il
your pocket, and should Ryall Marsh re
fuse you. give him this. Don't tell hin
your names, and gasping for breath, .h'
sick woman sank back in her bed.
Take care of mother when we ar,
gone. Ma,ty.' whispered Basil. as h
passed the kind neIghbor in the little en-
Try. We will come back soon.'
Masty promised, and the children hur
ried into the street. They looked roun,
more than once at their home, and hal
J wondered if they ought not TO run bacl
again to tell Matty to take care of thei
mother.
i .And Basil thought has struggle wa
hard. All! if he had but known how
my heart shrank from sending him I,
that man. Bitter stralts-sharp suffer
ings-haye driven me to it, though
God grant that Ryall Marsh may hav,
mercy on me and my children;' and will
tears Gertrude Keith hid her face upol
, her pillow.
Basil and Jane Keith went hand il
hand through the crowded streets, shiv
, eringly clinging to each other, whilst tn,
: rich and gay pushed past the little chill
dren, unheeding their wretchedness.-
. The air was biting cold, and from tn
! dull, sad sky overhead came ever an,
anon tiny snowflake. Basil and Jam
! Keith shuddered when il fell OH them.-
Snow was full of cold misery TO them.
!, Ryall Marsh's great brick house, will
It's cleaning marble steps, loomed ou
! grimiy in the distance, and Basil felt hi
/ heart sinking as they crossed over. TO
wards il.
We are little beggars, now, Jane.
whispered he, bitterly, as he lifted tn,
heavy knocker. We have come to asl
! this man for money; dom, you feel a
} though you could kill yourself for yer,
, shame! do
No. Basil said the little girl, hftin,