Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-07-28

O1oP OooP, h0nAJ h0 uiuA scAin0
his brother on purpose. 1t was all an
accident !''
But this appeal came to late. The
wrong had been done.
"It's shame !' said the mother, who
felt every painful blow the child had re-
ceived, and who spoke from the moments
indignant impulse.
Mr.. Bray did not feel any better. Set
ting the child down. without venturing
reply to his wife's remark, he strobe
up stairs to the sitting-room and threw
himself into the great armchair. No
one ventured to come near him for some
time. 40 he had fair opportunity for
self-communion. At last toddling
little curly-head, who generally hailed
her fathers return with joy, came side
ling into the room, and with half-timid
air made her way. by almost stealthy ap-
proaches, to the side of the moody man.
Curiously she lifted her eyes to his
moody countenance; stood for moment
or two, as if in doubt, and then Chamber
ed up and laid her golden tresses against
his bosom. AS she did so the fathers
arm was drawn around her. But little
curly-head was not, in her selfish inno-
cence, content with the sunshine of favor
for herself alone.
.'Papa" Her voice had in it some-
thing of doubt.
What is it, my little pet?'' And Mr..
Bray, who was penetrated by the child's
sphere of tenderness, kissed her pure
lips.
willy didn't hurt Eddy purpose.
He didn't strike him."
"But Eddy said that Willy struck
him." The father sought to justify him.
self in the eyes of his child.
eddy only thought So" replied little
curly head. "Willy didn't strike at
ALL"
Mr.. Bray said nothing more; but he
felt very uncomfortable. When the tea
bell rung he went with little curly-head,
to the dining room. All the rest of the
family had kept away from him. Mrs.
Bray looked particularly sober; and
Willy who had been set all right as to
his conduct by his mothers declaration
that he had not been guilty of striking,
put on an air of injured innocence. Mr..
Bray did not speak once during the meal
but sat in silence, with heavily clouded
brow.
For that evening the accustomed
pleasant talks, cheerful smiling faces
and merry laughter were banished from
the home of Mr.. Henry Bray. A single
moment of anger had done this unhappy
work. 1t was something better at the
family reunion the next morning. Sleep
had wrought its usual work of restoring
the mind to its better state and calming
its pulses to an even beat,
AS Mr.. Bray left his house something
earlier than usual, and was walking
along, with his eyes cast down, thinking
over certain matters Of business that
would require his attention, man came
to his side, and, in pleasant voice,
said:
Good morning, Mr.. Bray !''
The merchant glanced up, with a
heightening color. into the face of this
person who had overtaken him in his
rather deliberate walk. He knew the
voice. 1t was that of Mr.. Carlton.
"Good morning" The response was
not hearty. How could it be?
81 was sorry to trouble you yesterday"
said Mr. Carlton, speaking in frank,
cheerful way. but friend to whom
had loaned sum of money disappointed
me at the last moment, and was CON-
PEELED to borrow at an unreasonable
hour. Your kind effort to serve me was
none the less appreciated because [ had
no need for the check when you were Sc
obliging to send it in. Mr.. Angrew
had already supplied my trifing def
ciency."
Now what answer could Mr.. Bray
make to this Was Mr.. Carlton actually
in earnest ? Was he really so dull a
not to have appreciated his rough, in
J sulting message of the day before-o
was this courteous acknowledgement o
an almost exorted favor rebukin,
r piece of irony
"It would have gratifed me if you hat
used the check" replied Mr.. Bray, hi
S voice little below its usual frmness o
3 tone. at was rendered in all sinceri
. ty."
S 81 never doubted that for an instant,
q said Mr.. Carlton. as if surprised that hi
{ neighbor should intimate, even remotely
question of his right appreciation G
It the favor. "Mr. Bray's reputation as
courteous. gentlemanly merchant and
e kind-hearted man forbid any other il
t. ference"
e Now this. Mr.. Bray felt, was crowdin
10 him little too hard. and he was consil
s. erably annoyed. "rell Mr.. Carlton thu
d [ neither borrow nor lend" Could
f. forget that rough answer to his neigl