Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-07-15
THE HALF-BRoTHER.
A rHRnLIse TALE or THE SEA SID


combs his yellow hair in smooth and
equal portions towards either temple
There my king" she says, "and now
where is brother to take you out to
play ?"
The naughty great boys were quar-
reling with Charley on the beach mother,
when he sent Billy home to his task to
be rid of them"
And what game did they quarrel over
Billy ?"
No ga-om, mother but Dick Saun-
ders called Charley bad name"
Tell mother the bad name, my man.
BILLY can't-he dosen't know it now,
mother.
The conversation was interrupted by
the quick entrance of Charley himself
The moment his mother saw him, she ut.
tered an alarmed cry. His clenched
hands were thrust into his trowsers pock.
cts he frowned, for the first time in his
life, his mother had seen him do so; hi:
face, nay his forehead and ears we're scar
let, and blood trickled down his cheeks
Obviously he had been fighting hart
battle, but as obviously was the victor
The boy was about thirteen.
Let Billy 60 and play at the door,anC
I'll tell you, mother" be said, after sht
had addressed many anxious inquiries tt
him.
She led the little fellow out, and shu
The door upon herself and Charley. HI
dropped into chair, flung his arms owe
the table, laid his face upon them, ant
burst into tears.
Naughty Dick Saunders has hur
you, Charley she cried, aPproachin;
him.
"No-not as we'll as | have hurt bin
the story teller! the puppy" sobbe'
Charles. Mother, Dick Saunders spok
i'll of me and YOU
What did he say, Charley ?"
Il can't repeat it after him-1 woh
But mother be old enough to ask 20
what am going to ask. Was Maste
Turner, who died last year, Billy's ia
iher?"
To be sure he was, Charley" Sh
grew very uneasy.
And your husband Z"
Yes"
And my father, too Z"
She changed color, and dropped h'
eyes beneath the deep glance Of HI
child.
Nov, Charley, knsw what they sa
of you and me; and the time is indet
now come for me to speak to you of VIII
nearly concerns YOU
did Dick Saunders tell no stor
mother p interrupted Charley, sittil
upright, and again unconsciously SCI uti
izing her face. She raised her eyes, m
bis for an instant, and then sank back
her chair, covering her features with b
hands, aud weeping dolefully.
II ask pardon, mother" said the gt
erous and hitherto gentle boy,as he gain
her side, and put his arms round
neck "you always loved me, and ] sh
always love you, let them say what I'll
will Of US. Kiss Charley, mother, wo
you?"
Fondly, almost wildly, she cmbra'
him and resumed.
g No, Charley-Master, my husba
was not your father; stop momer
She stepped into her little bedroom;
turned with small, oval, red leatl
case placed it in his hand sat do
averted her head, began to move
work on the table, and would vainly !
uer cohlthu6d ttdfs1 aS Suc aoeSNs -
that and you win know more Of your
ther."
While he cbeyed her commands,C
ley recollected that he had more
once detected her weeping over the ]
red leather ease. When TIE minia
met his eyes, the boy started.
My father was ships captain,
said.
He was an officer IN the kings ma
sue answered.
And gentleman, mother =
Wis commission made him one, c
ley, but be would have been true
tleman without it"
And be married you before mi
Turner married you, mother"
"Cbarley, your father and were
er married" A pause ensued. {
leys features betrayed bitter and
inward combat. as his glance still
on the miniature.
is he dead ?" be at length aske'
aV 49, -. b,,, r an, mt s4yre 6