Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-04-25
MY SISTER KATE.
By the author of DORA THoRNE.p >
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER ".
1t was beautiful spring weather, an
we spent-that is, Kate, little Paul, an
myself-the greater part of each da
olt in the woods and fields
One morning my father received
letter which seemed TO give him grea
delight
Pussy he said to me, "here is goo,
news for you'll Your old friend Allal
is coming back to the Towers"
Papa" | exclaimed, "can it be true
aln SO pieasedi When will he b.
here ?"
al should not be surprised to see hin
some time this morning" he replied
@he was in London Yesterday when h,
wrote this"
ran away, full of glee, to tell Kate
When 1 reached the Hall, Lisette tolC
me her lady had gone on to the Hurs
Road with the child, and wished me
to follow her.
OH / went, wondering why she had
gone without me. Between the green
budding trees 1 soou saw the white
/ gleam OF her dress. Little Paul ran te
meet me, and nodded to my sister
while kissed and greeted him. Ev.
cry detail of that scene is imprinted
on my mind-the quiet fresh spring
| morning, the trees unfolding their
leaves, the golden primroses and purple
yiolets in their shady hooks. 1 can
recall my sisters face as she stood
waiting to speak to me, watching the
caresses her boy was showering upon
me-
Suddenly a hasty footstep was heard
coming from the wood. We both
turned quickly, and saw Sir Victor
approaching us, his face perfectly flu
| rious with rage. My sister turned
deadly white; She caught hold of the
child and held him in her arms.
"You are here, are your" shouted
my brother in-law in a loud angry
voice. "Why can't you stay at home :?
I've been searching the house for you. "
A light as of gentle patience came
into her sweet sad eyes.
Il came out with Paul for walk, Z"
she said softly.
"No excusesl" he growled. al want
to know who split the ink in my study
this morning; it has run all over that
new map of the estate. They tell me
you have been writing there. Did
you do it? ?"
"If | did," she replied gently, Il was
unconscious of it. | was writing there
this morning, and quilted the room
hurriedly. If did it, Victor, am
really very sorry for it"
Il can never get at the truth in my
house, and never shall, I suppose.
L believe every servant in it is paid to
tell me lie-!"
"You are naughty, bad man." broke
in shrill sweet childish voice, ito
scold my mamma w-and little Paul
clisped his arms round his mothers
neck.
"IIush, darling!" said Kate. "You
must not speak so to papa"
Sir VictOr's anger was transferred in
moment from his wife to his child.
"What is that you say, sir ?" he cried.
"Come down and beg my pardon, or
you will repent it"
But the little arms were clasped
still more tightly round his mother.
ado not be angry with him, Victor"
pleaded my sister. "He did not mean
to be naughty" r
"I will be master of my own child,
madam" he cried, and make him obey
mer
He seized the trembling little fellow
and dragged him from his mothers
arms. Sir Victor carried in his hand
a slight cane, and with this he struck
the. child violently several times.
Poor little Paul gave only one cry, and
then stood white and still while the
cruel strokes fell upon him.
@Victor, Victor" cried my sister, edo
not beat bim-do not hurt my child
In her frantic eagerness she flung
herself down upon her knees and
caught hold of his hands.
"Ah," he said, with sneer, II have
made you come down from your
pedestal, my lady! In future, if |
want TO humble you a little, | shall
know how to proceed. Take the boy;
| don't want to hurt HIM. Behave
yourself though, for, if ever want to
With these cruel words, he thrust
little Paul from him. The child stag
gered as he tried to run to his mother,
fell, and struck his temple against a
stone that lay in the path. Sir Victor
did not see this; he had gone back
into the wood again. The whole scene
did not occupy more than a few min-
utes. ran to pick up the child. TO
my horror. saw that the golden curls
were stained with blood, and that
dark ugly wound married the sweet
white face; the poor little fellow WAS
senseless from the effects of the fall.
"Give him to me Clary" moaned
Kate "Oh, my darling, my darling"
She sat down upon the grass, and
took the little child upon her knees.
@Will he die ?" she asked, in such
tone of wild despair that my heart
ached when heard it.
mo" said; "he is only stunned.
Let us get him home as quickly us we
can; the nearest way is down the high
road and over the fields. Let me carry
him, Kate"
But no-she would not part with
him; she held him tightly clasped to
her bosom, the golden curls streaming
over her shoulder.
We spoke no word OF that scene.
Ever and anon deep sob rose to my
sisters's lips; while her face was whittier
than poor Paul's. On the road we
heard the sound of a horses hoofs.
Here is some one coming" cried.
"Now, Kate, we shall have help"
But what words could paint my sur
prise and JOY when l saw Allan Char-
ton, pulling up his horse, and heard
him asking eagerly what was the mat
ter.
LADY Erlesmere," he cried in as
tcnishment, "what has happened
What can l do for you ?"
aMy boy has fallen, and Is hurt" said
Kate, her lips quivering as her eyes
fell upon Allan's plying face.
"Let me take him home for you. he
begged.
mo; / cannot part with him. II
you will go home for me, and tell his
nurse what has happened and ask her
to prepare everything, / shall be CRATE.
ful to you, Allan"
"That / will" he cried. "Dear
Clary, shall see you this evening at
the Grange" And in another moment
he was gone.
/ dared not speak to Kate after he
left usher face was working so
strangely. / was thankful when the
little fellow lay at last on his pretty
white bed. To our great JOY, h. soon
recovered consciousness; the wound