The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-02
HIS REWARD.

"You are most unjust, Charles, and
know the Lord will some day sting your
conscience fer your cruelty, and your heart
lessness toward that dear child"
The speaker was eomely LADY of about
fifty, tall, slia, and upright, and neatly clad
In widows weeds. Charles Pemserton, her
eldest son. handsome, stalwSrt young
man of eight-and-twenty, WHOM she ad-
dressed, answered inpatiently:
"Confound the boy, wish he was dead"
He did not mean that, for he loved his
little brother and delighted to sake him
happy. But his mother had fats facility
of tongue, and for the last three hours had
been attacking him on the subject with ag-
gressive meekness, and had stupg aim with
half-truths, accusations the letter d which
he could not deny, though in their spirit
and essence he felt :keE2 to be imEleasura-
bly, false. And new, OGt of his GRIEF and
impotence, he flung Forth those bitter
words, angry with himself as he did sc, and
rising to leave the roora lest his overwsought
temper should betrey hiE further.
HIS sanity mOther'eung a parting shaft
after him
''You may have your wish sooner San
you expect, Charles, and more than that.
He will probably not trouble you many
years, for he is very delicate and shall not
Outlive him very long. Then 1 suppose yea
will be hap-hap- happy"
Charles Pemberton saw, the cambria pre-
pared for the shower, and, shEddering, fed;
whereupon Mrs. Pembertonr retired to Ter
bed room to pray that her sons hard heart
might be softened.
And then from .eurtained recess at one
END Of the old paneled room thare.came out
little boy of twelve, with blaDoaed, serious
face, half-parted lips and wide dark eyes.
Toward the close. of Mrs. Pemberton's lee
ture he had entered the room.hy an open
window unperceived and finding that he
was the subject of thediscourse he had con-
cesled himself He had heard only the con-
GLIDING words and they chilled his very life
blood He stood now with one hGa6 clutch
ing the curtain.
$50 Charles wishes were dead, does he7
And mother thinks L am going t0s6ie to
please him. But 1 won't. l wonder what
makes neither think I am going &c die.
Perhaps she only said it to aggreyate
Charles. Why should be wish was dead?
/ thought he was fond of me-" and here he
was nearly ehoked with arising sob, which
he gulped down with officially. Il wonder
why-I'll ask him.
The next morning, after breakfast, lSs
brother, who had forgotten the incident q
the previous day, taking bsL, called out
acct your bat, Teddy, and lets have an
hours practice"
As they were walking down TO the field
Edward suddenly startled his brother by
asking:
would It be any good to you if 1 was
dead, Charles7"
''Good to met why, Teddy, what are you
thinking Off
"Well, yesterday you said you wished 1
was dead; and you wouldn't wish'thet If it
would be no good to you, would you7"
Charles stopped abruptly. and said xith
sternness, "Who told you that7"
Nobody. Just came into the room as
you said it, and you didn't zee me- AID
ever since have been wondering why
Charles Pemberton flung away the bat
and ball he was carrying, and casped the
boy in his arms, kissing him, and hugging
him like girl with new doll.
20 Teddy, Teddy, Teddy he said; al
wish my t. ngue had been torn out by the
roots before / had said such thing: but
didn't mean it, Teddy. You never thought
meant. did you? Why, Teddy, wouldn't
lose you for all the world. my little play
fellow, my brother. 1t isn't right for me to
complain to you Of mother, sszd when hsEe
just told you how it happened that /
said those cruel words-that I didn't
mean. didn't ever mean, you know.
for moment, Tsddy-then you
must forget all about it. 1 had
told mother that wanted to make man of
you, and that it was time you went to school,
and learnt to stick up for yourself, snd then
she said was cruel to you, and that 1
didn't care for you, and leetured and
scolded me all the afternoon, and then
forgot myself-which 1 ought not to have
done, for / know it is only her love that
makes her over anxious-and I said those
hateful words that 1 never, never, never
meant, Teddy"
al thought you never could mean il,
Charles said the little fellow. He had
borne up with wonderful stoicism till now,
but the overwhelming sense of relief was too
much for him, and he began to weep and sob
convulsively.
Then Mrs. Pemberton glided from the
shrubbery at hand, made q hslfgesture as
tie fellow in her arms, and borne him
away, but checking herself, turned on her
eldest son cold, reproachful glance. and
said:
at would be less unkind Of you, Charles,
and more manly. If you are determined to
tear the child from me, not to make his re
manning days miserable
And then with aggravsting meekness of
demeanor she turned once more to the
house
Teddy looked after her with queer old.