Connecticut western news., 1882-06-14

on. That gave Luff chance to forget | his fathers parting charge to him and to prepare another trick for Little Brother.
 "Milt Milt p he called. "They're waiting for you!'
 As Milt knew that he was expected to help Luff draw Walt and Russ up out of the well, he reluctlantly left the kitohen-corner and his book and went out in answer to the call
 Luff stood amid the rubbish at the edge of the we'll leaning on the wind. lass and looking down. Milton, as he drew nigh, could hear the steady click click of the sledge and drill below.
 He walked carefully around to the opposite side of the we'll from Luff, aud looking in, saw Russ and Walt still at work, with no appearance of stopping.
 "You told me they were waitlng," he said. "They are not half ready yet. !"
 "Yes they afe, replied Luff, with & sober look on his red, chubby face. "They are going to tamp now, and they want the fuse. Run and fetch it"
 Where is it ?" Milton asked.
 "Why, under that board there; don't you know2 Hurry ]"
 Little Brother did not ask why Luff could not have got the fuse, instead of calling him from the kotse before even the tamping was begun; nor did he sus- peot a trick. He ran to the board, lifted it with one hand, hastily put down the other on something ooiled up there, and started back with a shrek of horror.
 Luff roared with laughter, leaning on the windlass, which fairly shook with his weight.
 "Why don't you bring the fuse, Milt?" he cried, choking with mifth. Whats the matter with the fuse?' 1 "It's a snakel You knew it was a snake." gaspsd poor Little Brother, still shuddering from the shock.
 "The fuse ain't snake p said Luff, "The fuse is there, too. didn't mean for you to get the snake"
 "But you knew I would see it, and it's mean, disgusting trlck!' Milton protested, indignantly. 1 "Of course knew you would see il, |" said Luff. "But it won't hurt you. It's dead"
 "f know it won't hurt me. It wouldn't hurt me, if it wasn't dead," cried Little Brother, his eyes flashing as his mothers could sometimes flash. "But dread the sight of snake, dead or alive; you know it, and that's what you sent me to the board for" "I sent you there to euro you of be- ing such coward" said Luff, still laughing, but not so heartily as at first. s'No, you didn'tl' Milton declared. "You wanted to have some low, silly, hateful sport; that's what you did it for. You didn't think anything about curing me of being coward. You know, though don't like some things you do, and which I'm glad I don't like-fun with dead snakes, for instance-you know I'm no more a coward than you are."
 The boys color had come back into his cheeks, his voice rang out with spirit, and his blue eyes sparkled as he told this truth.
 "You're careful to keep out of my reach when you say that" said Luff. "That shows you're coward"
 ''It shows that don't like you and your ways; that's what it shows p re- piled the boy. eff don't like a cer- tain thing can't help it; whether it's a dead snake, or big brother"
 "Oh l" Luff sneered, trying not to show that he was cut by this sharp retort.
 "I could go and take hold of that snake if it was necessary; shouldn't like to, but could do it. I could hug you, too. if it would do either of us any good But don't see that it will, and so I'd rather have nothing to do with either of you."
 Milton did, however, walk resolutely up to the board, take the innocent little reptile on stick, and fling it away out of the yard.
 Luff did not often see him show so much spirit, yet he should have learned before this that the delicate and sensi- tive boy could do the most disagreeabIe things, with unhin ching resolution, if, as he said. it was necessary"
 Luf actually resented what he had provoked hlm to say, and began to think of some other trick to play off upon Little Brother. As he could not at once invent new one, however, he resolved to try an old one over again.
 Milton did not like to be held over the brink of the we'll. He had also a great dread Of the sound of the blast, and would always, when 1t was fired, hold his ears and run from it as far as pos sible.
 'I'll catch him and hold him, after the fuse is lighted" thought Luff. "That will give him a good scare.''
 He said nothing, however, until tue blast had been charged and tamped, and Russ and Walt were ready to come up out of tho well.
 ''Give me turn here now, Mllt, ' said Luf, soberly. ''No more fooling!"
 ''It will do for you to say no more fooling" Milton replied, slowly ap- preaching the windlass. Its you that do it all."
 'Well, fun IS fun, and work is work, 7" said Luff. "Now it's work turn. Catch hold here p
 Little brother laid hold of the spokes