The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-02-20

throat grow apOplect1c. never gave
second glance in that direction, for there,
close to me, only on the opposite side of
the gate, stood my brother Solomon. /
could not have mistaken him if there
had only been the faintest flicker of
light. There he was, in his long coat
and high hat with his arms folded on
the top bar of the gate, and his eyes
fixed steadily on me.
''Solomon," said, growing very cold
and uncomfortable under his gaze, cts
getting chilly for you to be out
He did not answer that, and so pres
emily went cheerfully on GIVE been
you remember where I said I was
going u stopped again here. I did
| not want to confess where I had been if
he did not know and did not want to tell
| another falsehood if he did know. So [
put it to him that way intending to be
guided by his answer. 1t was so long In
| coming that took heart of grace to try
| another tack.
W.
Another pause, and then he answered,
| in his old, slow way
Give been at home, expecting you,
Jacob; waiting for you until I could
wait no longer.
s'I'm sorry for that" said, feeling a
little cheerier to hear him speak. 81
would not have been SO late only had
to go round by Blagly on business. |
dare say you notice I'm coming from
there now. I only went on business,
| SOL"
| He made another pause before he an
swered, and, though it was trick of
Soils and always had been, felt myself
growing uncomfortably cold. Why
could he not have stayed at home, as par
sons should on Sunday nights.
But the icy chill turned all at once to
clammy heat when Solomon asked me
quietly. and without turning his steady
gaze from my face, Glow much OF that
filthy lucre have you won, Jacob p
"You-you have been dreaming, Sol
omon."
thinking his long fingers which had
been clssped together on The gate, he
stretched one hand towards me. give
notes." he said, SILL with the unmoved
gaze. Give worthless, ill-won notes. y
ST clasped my breast pocket anxiously.
I have little money here, SOL" I said
as airily as I could, ''a few pounds more
or less and I want to buy you new
umbrella, yours is getting shabby. I'll
60 into town tomorrow and choose
one.'
I tried to get up little cheerfulness
over it, but Solomons gaze dampened
it all out Of me and, besides, he had
taken back his long, hungry, outstretch-
ed hand
Give notes." he said again. Give
worthless, ill-won notes, Jacob y
''Even if [ had the notes, Sol" l
began, trembling like leaf in storm,
'seven if I had them-ha, ha what an
absurd idea. what should you want with
them And-and," added, clutching
desperately at a straw OF courage, what
right have you to them ?"
''Tbere is no right in the question, .
said Solomon, and his face grew longer
and longer. It is all wrong
ssYou don't often joke, Sol, said
pretty bravely, though I was trembling
like any number OF aspen's "but of
course you're joking now, and its rather
late for a joke, isn't it Come along
home with me. .
TIN not going your way now" he an
swered
Shall you be home tonight @ |
asked. trying to finish up the scene in
my natural tones.
''To-night II is midnight now"
God bless my soul, is it really %
exclaimed, not so much surprised as III
dicu,ously Hurried and nervous under my
brothers intent gaze.
Solomon had shivered as the words
passed my lips, and for the first time he
looked away.
Goodnight" he said, in slow,
absent way and then [ think he added
three other words, which he often did
add to his good-byes but he spoke so
low that / scarcely heard. and I felt so
angry with him, too, that I didn't even
try to hear
[ walked on moodily across the heath.
AlI the benign effects of JOS punch had
evaporatsti: AL the pleasure of the sport
had been swept away in one chill blast +;
the only definite idea shat possessed me
was the determination not to buy my
brother Solomon a new umbrella.
[ always carried my own key, and for
babe the servants 10 sit up for me, SO
you may guess / was surprised 10 find
my groom watching for me at the gate.
l