The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-07-21

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10 low panied voice she told him Of
Eries Punishment aud disappearance.
!"Never mind, Josie DEAR" he said,
making as usual the best of everything,
"he always bad the spice Of mischief IN
: him, and We cannot expect t. take it
out IN a day; but the instinct Of self.
preservation is just as strong; he's all
right, aud l would not harass myself if
1 were you. I'll go and look him u2."
Willis easy Indifferent way Of putting it
shamed away the fear poor Josie would
have blushed to tell Of, and she went
down in few minutes to prepare the
tea. Sitting on the rug in the dining
room was little Freddy, alone with his
picture-book.
She took him up upon her knee,
kissed him, and talked to him of the
pictures; but his thoughts would not
settle to them.
"Joe," he pleaded, putting his mouth
to her ear, "let Eric come out. I don't
like anything without him."
"Wait till te.-time, DEAR" she said,
trying to look Indifferent, "wheu Will
comes Eric shall. Why isn't Jerry
with you?"
"Jerry's been away all day, Joe,"
said the child ): "nobody knows where
Jerry I,'' il. -
A new light broke upon Josie, con-
Meeting the absence Of the two boys.
"Never mind" she said, stthey will
both come with Will, I dare say"
The child. eyes wandering to the
door saw it open quietly, and he apraue
from his sisters lap !; but it was only
Herman in the fsll, the servant said.
Freddy came back crestfallen.
II will not come in, Miss Kenn.rd," !"
said Noel, wondering At her anxious
face. ~ am only come for my gun.
Donald says it is in the back hall
where he left it last light. I have
just seen him in the city,"
"He was going to send it last night,
but I know where it is" said Josie, as
he followed her to the spot. "Be ought
he was going to send it,"
Looking at her as she spoke-it was
60 sadly often that he caught himself
watching her now-he saw q sudden
flush mount to her face, then disappear
as suddenly and leave it pale even to
the lips.
"lt is gone," she said, 10 a low tone.
"Gone; is it 7" said Major Herman,
earelessly, 'that will s.ve mo the
trouble Of carrying it. Donald need
not have troubled himself to send it.
though"
~ don't think he sent it, said Josie,
her fingers resting lightly on Freddy's
hair aud telling Of the fear in her
heart: "Let rs look somewhere else."
CHOW, Castor" said Noel, "ran and
look if you can see my gun in Don,ld's
room ; don'ttouch it,"
As the child disapp cared he turned
t. Josie, laying bis gentle hand upon
her arm.
"Tell me, Miss Josephine, what you
are afraid of"
She told him all she knew, aud un-
consciously grew more hopeful as she
told him, though she could not help
noticing how gravely and seriously he
listened.
"When will Donald be home ?" he
asked as she finished and as she an
swered the color rose painfully.
II cannot tell you exactly. I am
net quite sure"
"He promised you the gun should
not be left here loaded, did he not !
Yes, I remember he did, Miss JOSE
phine."
Still Watching herhe could read that
these promises had not been always
sacred, and the pity in his face grew
into something tenderer still.
1T is nearly tea-time, isu't itw he
said, as Freddy came IN to them.
"M.y, I come back to tea if I happen
to meet With any Of those wandering
boys Of yours I No gun, you say, Fred
dy? Well, never mind. I shall laugh
If find it At home after this search.
Goodbye" and he held Josie's hand
for long moment in = firm, closed
clasp.
"But you're coming to te.," cried
Freddy; "why do you say goodbye ?"
He dropped it With little laugh.
ut is not exactly goodbye" he
said, and then went; and Josie knew
that when he came back there would
be an end to any doubt.
The hours crawled on. Mr.. Kennard
came in to his tea, 40 hour after the
time, astonished At never having been
summoned.
"Freddy isn't very we'll, papa," said
Josie, looking down upon the child in
her lap "but I will put him down,
and We will have our tea together quiet
IT,"
"But whore are all the othersi"
"Ah indeed. Echo answers WHERE"
she said, with a little forced laugh, As
she drew up his chair and kissed him,