Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-03-01
The Victory.

''Howard ."-and the voice was low
and tender which spoke: but the boy
never needed, and the soft fingers clasp
ing his felt no answering pressure.
'Oh BROTHER" went on the same en-
treating to es, edo not give up so, as if
there were no hope left; there's many
and many thing you can do yet; only
think, dearest, how much worse it
might have been; only think if you
had been"
But she could not finish the sentence.
sit would have been better, Ethel, -
he answered, passionately, his voice
hoarse and broken. Better, far better,
that | had died, than live only to drag
every one and myself"
ssNo burden, Howard" sobbed the
girl. ''Oh, no, How can You say that,
when we love you so dearly? 1t would
have broken mammals heart to part
with youS o brother. Think what it
is to have the sweet privilege of still
exchanging acts and thoughts of love. F"
His heart was softened; tears filed
the large hazel eyes and he flung his
arms about her neck and silently kissed
her cheek. For while each was busily
thinking; then the sister rose to 60.
'I cannot stay longer, Howard" she
said, regretfully. at is time to make
the tea" then, as she bent to give him
her good night caress, she fondly whis-
pered, Remember, dearest, they also
serve who only stand and watt"
''Dear Ethel." unused the boy, when
she had gone, ''what brave, loving
spirit she hasl No, | will not despair !;
for her sake and mammals will achieve
something"
And he lay still there in the quiet
twilight, his large eyes looking out into
the shadows, and his mind busy, plan
ming for the future, until his thoughts
took different turn, and strayed back
over his infancy and happy boyhOod,
down TO the first great sorrow, his
fathers death, and on TO the accident a
week before, which had made him a
cripple for life. -.-,--,
He was not what was called hand
some-Howard Lee-though tall and
weil-formed., There was nothing in
his face or manner to strike the tram
sient beholder; his was one of those
natures with which there must be soul
union in order to know its true worth.
His love, where he did love, was i'll
tense, overlapping all obstacles, and
the whole devotion and ardor of his
wealthy heart was centered in his
mother and sister. He was gifted, too,
though as yet he scarcely knew it, and
all his high resolves and aspirations
met with keen shock when he heard
that henceforth his vision would be
bounded by that little room. But Erhel's
words sank deep into his mind. He was
fifteen: the next five years he could de-
vote to preparatory study. Mr.. Weston,
who had been his staunch, tried friend.
would supply him with books from his
library. What might he not do in five
years? And then-and then! 1-
Mrs. Lee was not rich, as might be
seen by the room, the only article of
luxury in which was the sofa on which
Howard was lying. Still, there was
no sign of poverty; the carpet and cur
tains were warm, if not expensive, and
all the furniture was in keeping. But
constant industry was needed to sup
port the household in comfort. Mother
and daughter kept little millinery es-
tablishment i'm suburban village; the
family was respected and wished well
by all; and not only this, but every one
knew that whatever was bought at Mrs.
Lees would really be worth the price.
Howard, who wrote good hand, had
been employed as cOpyist in lawyers
Office, in London; so that each member
of the little group had been happily
and cheerfully occupied, until this mis-
fortune cast cloud over their sky. II -
1t was morning. clear, cold, De-
cember morning, and Ethel had just
cleared away the. .breahastthings,a and
arranged HOward's room, which was
now used as the sitting room, and was
preparing to sit down to her work,
when brisk step sounded on the walk,
and, in moment, some one knocked at
the door. j - tf---f >
80 Howard" said Ethel, archly, as
she opened it, 'shere's another of these
interminable visits, don't you wish it
was over?''
81 only wish it could, be intermina-
ble," said Howard, as he extended his
hand for Mr.. Weston's friendly grasp:
and a smile, the gayest that had been
seen on his face for days, chased across
his face.
Mr.. Weston was widower; his wife
had died many years before, and it was
not long ere his only child followed
her. People suspected that he had met
with reverses of fortune, but he never
hinted it, and none could tell; all they
knew was that he was extremely simple
in his habits, and books were the only
luxury. he INDUCED in.r 1t has been al
ready said that he had a line library.
But, however it might be, neither pow.
erty or grief had had power TO contract
the gentle heart that found its. delight
in doing good to others, although he
felt, as keenly as any could, the blight
that rested on all the fair promises Of
its own life To none was he more at
tached than to Howard Lee, and his
affection was fully returned by the
warm-hearted boy, and the feeling of
sorrow and disappointed hope was
hardly less keen to him than to the
sufferer.
He had been absent for a month, and
this was the first time since the day
after the accident, that he had seen
Howard who was now eagerly mourning