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

JULY 81, 1870. >.: ~
easily apd fearle,sly 6 'the 'wo0d vhleh
bordered the river lower down: Then
Eric, laying little hand upon the gun,
which he had never been permitted to
touch before, asked if twas not Major
Hermsn's. .'' |o -: -. ,>'r:, ....-@> = ).
eyes," said Jerome, with conscious
superiority, "he lent it to Don, you
know, the other day. I'm glad we've
got it to-day, for I know Joe says it
ought to be sent back. So perhaps it
will be, before we've another opportuni-
ty for sport. We will pretend to have
a real day, Poll, and shoot and have
lunch just as I saw Major Herman
and Don, and all those gentlemen"
eyes," answered Eric, "but I wish
it was loaded, that you might fire it off
once Tor me to hear.
"Ah! I dare say you do," laughed
Jerry, evidently wishing the same him
self, "but you see unfortunately l
heard Joe make Don promise never to
have it in the house loaded, and when
Major Herman said of course he would
not be so mad, Don said he wasn't
quite an idiot; 8, there's no hope"
! 1t was along way down the nver to
the wood, but the boys did not seem
to feel it so as they marched on talkiog
merrily; Jerome carrying the gun in
true sportsman fashion, and Eric,; with
the clumsy parcel Of bread and cheese
in his hand, keeping up bravely.
"We'li lunch, frst," SAID Jerome,
graudly, as he propped the gun against
a tree when they stopped in tho wood,
"and we'll shoot afterwards" ":-5
They sat down beside the quiet riv-
or, while round them the lights aud
shadows Of the October noon fol- quick
and bright, as above the tall trees met
and broke the sunshine into tiny dauc-
ing specks. -" .a....:..
Every crumb was eaten, and a jour-
ney made to the we'll up in the wood.
Then the boys ran back eagerly for the
grand amusement Of the day.
"T'll be Major Herman drst," said
Jerome, shouldering the gun once
more. |'Now I 70 slowly along here
looking for pheasants. Presently I see
the corner of one round a bush down
there; that must be you, you know;
but only Show your arm round, then
try to get away while I shoot you. I'll
be the birds next, and you shall shoot.
Be off.
OFF indeed, like the wind, ran the
child, while Jerry whistled carelessly
with as grovn-up an air as he could as
sumo, and marched on looking lntently'
for game. "Ah, hal" said he, pres
emily, suppressing his voice for fear Of
frightening his spoil, "thero you are,
are you, my fine fellow? I want you
for my dinner. One +! two | three r
A loud report, echoing and vibrating
through the vistas of trees, aud Jerry
thrown upon his back, the gun at arms
length from him. In one moment he
was up, and, with nameless fear and
terror on his face, he ran to the bush
into which he had shot. This bush
was close to the waters edge, and 60
ing round it with dilated eyes he saw,
below the surface of the water, on the
shallow pebble bottom, little upraised
face. Quick as thought Jerome's arms
were round the child and he had laid
him on the bank. Then, by the shud.
der that crept over the same white face,
he saw it was not as he had thought in
that one horrible moment. He saw,
too, that the blood was dropping from a
rent in the little well-worn velvet
sleeve, and instinctively he held his
hand tight upon tho shoulder where
the stained white shirt hung in tatters.
"Er- r-Eric," gasped out poor Jerome,
"my dear my dear r. for it seemed
that no other words would come.
With all the agony Of pain upon his
face the child gave little wan smile
into Jerome's eyes. g.: -: T..
"Oh;; my little brother What shall
I do! What shall I do!'
With new inefable tenderness Je.
rome held the little figure, and bend
ing over the wee white face scanned to
devour it with his miserable yearning
eyes. ..~.. ..~., - :...
"Oar Father-which art In Hoav-
en-" .,.,....
The words came sobb,ng up from his
heart, and IS they did 80 Eric tried to
fold his hands, but one he. could not
move, and the agony the effort cost
him was reflected in Jerome's face
above, though he tried to still his lips
as the child raised his one hand and
held it as if both were folded.
"Thy Kingdom-come." Poor Je-
rome did not even know iu his misery
how prayer went. He only knew it
was easier and better to say those words
than any others, until they broke off in
one passionate cry for help.
"You might as well have sauntercd
home little, Joe, then I should have
overtakeu you," said Will, as he reach
| al hav IN &srnn - o~>. A.. ..1.: