The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-10-22

happy. The atmosphere suited him ex-
actly. He could live with real boys, and
at the same me receive the ministra-
tons which he had long been used to
from girls.
And what of these girls. his sisters,
all these months? Oh, they thought Of
him often. The pretty keepsakes, the
afiect;onate letters, passing from the old
farmhouse to the city. amply proved
that. But Edward took these testimo-
mails of his sisters regard just as he had
taken all previous ones, as mere mat
ter of course. One evening a letter
came from Lucy, which was destined
to make sensation. 1t appeared that
she was going to be married, and for
love. She had imbibed some beautiful,
and, TO her, new ideas, and had begun
to realize the true dignity of the human
soul. And kindly, sweetly. tenderly.
she endeavored to help her brother
toward something of q similar realiza-
ton. 1t was just such letter. from q
good woman. as any honorable man
ought to prize more than q casket of
rare jewels.
Now, what do you suppose Edward
did with that letter? Why he called
his three chums around the table, and
when they were seated, proceeded de-
iberately to read it aloud to them. Not
appreciatively, not reverently, not hum
bly,, as though he were scarce worthy
of such disinterested afrection-not gem
crously. as though his companions, like
himself, were boys who were away from
their sisters, and needed all the help
that good woman could give
them. Far from it. He read that
sacred letter as though he we've
reciting some ridiculous travesty-
read it as good Oke-and
wound up with laugh b0isterOusly
loud, and the remark:
ISIS is getting sentimental; she must
have been reading novels. Wonder if
she forgot to wash the dishes!''
Edward looked at Walter and Will and
saw upon their faces what he had ex-
pected, smiles of approval. Of course,
they would agree with their superior
friend. But nothing short of the super
natural could have prepared him for
Percy's aspect. It was terrible to behold.
The boy had sprung to his feet, and
now, drawn to his full height, stood
confronting Edward, like an aveng-
ing fate. His white hair, with
his abnormally red face, involv-
unfairly suggested to all, beacon light
giving warning of danger ahead. One
second only did he glare at Edward
just long enough to inspire within him
and his two parasites feeling of won
derful awe. Then he exclaimed, his in
tense earnestness killing his customary
drawl:
You're a cad, sir! If you had said
about my sister what you have just said
about your own, I'd knock you flat!''
Percy's three auditors could only stare
at him as though dazed. This they did
until Percy himself felt a reaction and
sank into the nearest chair.
you all think Tn a fool, don't
you?" he queried, fiercely, as soon as
he could find voice. perhaps am.
But, fool or no fool. I'd know how to
value a sister if l had one. You did
not know that when my twin sister
Nellie and l had scarlet fever she was
taken and was left as am? Do you
think can ever forget her? Do you
suppose l have never prayed that l
may meet her again? The one thought
of my life is of her little grave in the
mountains"
The latter part of Pe'cy's speech was
addressed more to himself than the
others, and at its conclusion he dropped
his head upon the table and burst into
tears.
But they were not tears of weakness.
Every one of the three bcholders knew
and felt this; within every one was kim
died a feeling of Involuntary respect.
What they were pleased to call his
namby-pambyism was really his good
ness, in which he was their superior
True, any one of the three could have
licked him, for it was very apparent
that Percy was not strong bodily, but
where they had failed he had bravely
shown himself the champion of the
weak. Yes, Percy was the hest man.
the only gentleman of them all. Every
one of the three knew It, and in his own
heart acknowledged that he had been
tried and found wanting.
And now, did Edward feel
like a cat in strange garnet ?
He did, and so did Walter and Win.
Three cats in strange garnet, then. In
this case. the strange garnet was Percy's
moral atmospheric do believe that
every soul exerts an influence which
may be perceived outside of it, just as
the earth is wrapped in an airy robe,
which can be felt, even when it can not
be seen. Had three cats tried to fly up
into the domain of the birds. they could
hardly have been more out of place
than were these three boys in the ele-
waited region Of Percy's best thoughts
and feelings.
But this one cat in particular, Ed
ward, had the good sense to feel that he
was in a strange garnet, so too, had the
other cats, Walter and Will, in less
degree. They would have rectified their
mistake, if they could, and, thanks to
Percy's suggestion, they found a good
way.
''Sit down now," he said, sand write
nice letters to your sisters" adding BIT
terly. 'this is a pleasure denied to me,
for have no ster.'
They did write letters to their sisters
Edward. Walter and Will. Edward
really did catch inspiration from Lucy,s
letter, wrote her just such an answer as
it deserved-never forgot it as long as
he lived. Walter and Will apologized
for ne2lecting their sister so long, and
did the best they could to get up re-
spectacle missives-probably they never
forgot either. But, after Edward had
finished his letter to Lucy, he still felt a
little dissatisfied; he began to realize, as
he never did before, the true worth of a
good girl, and, partly with the idea of
working off his dissatisfaction, partly
with that of giving expression to his
neX-found thought of q good girls