Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-08-13

|
these two brothers, these two nephews
of Sir David's; little Davie, wan and
delicate and beautiful-Hew, as strong
and proud as young eagle, with hon.
est, eager eyes, and boyish laugh that
it did one good to near but they were
very fond of each other for all of that
loved each other with that strange, un-
alterable love which lies between broth
ers oftener than we think, and that nev-
er died out between these two until the
very end.
"What is it?" the boy asked, pushing
back his heavy hair with one hand /;
"what is Davie crying for and what is
the question p
81 was asking Davie," said the old
man, leaning forward SO that he could
lay his wrinkled hand on the soft, silky
curls at his feet, 'about the boat. After
| have forbidden it so many times, some
one had it out last evening ; and dlsobe.
dience, as you know, Hew, must be pun
ished."
"Oh, yes, of course" said Hew.
"Did you take it?" Uncle David ask
ed, bringing the question home with an
emphasis that startled the boy, and
made red flush, that might have been
guilt, rise to his forehead.
The young eyes lit up with fash of
almost insOlent pride, and the young
head was turned de6antly toward the
gentle old man, while the clear voice
said: "Me Uncle DAVID 2" Then sud-
denly pair of great wan eyes were lift
ed in piteous entreaty, little, nervous
hand touched the strong brown one that
was hanging at his side, and he hesitat-
ed.
The whole truth flashed across him in
an instant, as he shook off the slight
touch and moved over to the window /;
and thvrv, as II concluding an unfnish-
ed sentence, he said, "Why, yes, did. +"
"Oh, Hew!" !" said Uuncle David, star
tied. And then he added, quickly, "but,
thank God, you could not tell lie l''
The quick red flush crept up again
over the happy bOyish face, but not such
a guilty red as that which dyed the
white forehead hidden on Uncle David s
knee. Little Davie rose unsteadily, and
put his hand out to the hand that had
sheltered him in every trouble of his
life-the strong hand that could dare to
bridge the gulf between them, Ohd tVuch
him now. He shivered little, and Hew
said: "What, cold, Davie, with such a
fire Goodnight, Uncle David we are
going to bed"
81 must punish him." Uncle David
thought, when he was left alone. "be-
cause said so. My dear boys, how can
l have the heart to do it p So the good
man, with faltering hand, dealt out
justice to the two boys he loved almost
equally-the one for his weakness, the
other for his strength.
Out in the passage Hew waited for an
instant, expecting what? Whatever il
was, it did not come, however; for Da
vie, waiting too, said nothing, and Hev
presently put his hand on the child'i
trembling form, and understood and for
gave the cowardly heart that could
shrink from any physical pain, but could
dare to tell lie. "I'm in for it now,
| thought the boy, with a sort of doggeC
{ pride-"the first ever told, and to Un
, Gle David, too butts for him."
! To be sent to school at once !! Tha
, was the verdict Uncle David pronounced
in his study next morning and that Hev
, listened to with assumed Indifference.
\ "And when ?" he asked, directly.
t "Well, to-day" said Uncle David
e "it is so much better to get it over a
once"
"Uncle David" said the boy, comm
q step nearer, and softening his voice
J, 81 may say goodbye tO-him."
1 "Well, I'm afraid not" said Uncl
David, clearing his voice, and lookin
: worried and perplexed. HE is SO il
: you see Morris was up with him a.
night"
o 81 know" said Hew. Then all hi
t petulent anger seemed to die utterl
" out, and he came and stood close in fror
of Uncle David's chair, and spoke ea
a nestly. "Uncle David, promise me-
G promise me on your sacred word of hoi
'e or, that if-anything happens to Davi
d you will send for me directly. 1t is ul
g Just and terrible to send me away now,
e the lad went on, almost beside himse
Ie with excitement "but l will bear it
le we'll as can, if you swear that to me-
D. "Of course" said Uncle Davi
lie promptly, though his voice was vel
N husky; "but don't say anything mo
es now, because you forget yourself "
is may look at the child, too, if you lik
ut but don't speak to him or rouse him
n any way, because he is in such pain.
~ trust you"
as Trust him who, indeed, could Unc
David trust if not the boy he had low
IS, so long-the boy who was running T,