The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-10-28
CHAPTER XXVI.

am back again in my mothers
arms, with her kisses and tears cling
ing to my cheek. Back again in my
native element Away from the dust,
from the narrow walls of Bellies city
home, free to ramble at will; free to
breath the sweet fresh air of heaven,
and finging aside the gloomly forbod-
ings which have oppressed me, l fit
about in gladness, and am my old nat
ural self once more. Jamie is older,
but more cheerful, than when l left.
His little girl certainly is proving the
sunshine of his existence, may it al
ways serve to brighten his poor, dark
ened life. Kitty is seventeen, and L
find Joel prosperous, famous, and we'll
deserving it all. He is desireous of
moving to town, he intends sending
Kitty off to school next year, and
doesn't want to bury her when she re-
turns young lady, so wishes home
in town. 1 suggest the probability of
getting La Grange, and he says g it is
a good suggestion" Sometimes [ sus
pect he is preparing for bride, and
the bare idea of such an occurrence
serves to worry me, yet l don't see
why it should, as there is slight prob
ability of my stalwart brother-in law,
ever leaving his delicate looking wife
a widow.
The summer days glide by far too
rapidly for me, and the time for my
work is rapidly approaching. l envy
each hour that has passed, and would
like to retard the fiji ght of time. Can
it be sign of age, to cling so tena-
ciously to the present, if SO my years
will soon oppress me, as even now L
feel more advanced, than is natural,
I'm sure, at nineteen.
You see I can't help being perplexed
at our family affairs. Archie and Belle
worry me. It seems to me that the
skeins of their lives are sadly tangled,
and [ want to unravel them. | sup
pose it would be better to patiently
leave it all in wiser hands, and abide
the future, but it must be my nature
% wish to keep everyone straight.
Since / am to pass out of Jamie's
hands, that is, be of no expense to him
this year, he proposes sending Jack,
bonny, sunshine Jack off to school, and
have a project, which is to teach
music at home another year, and de-
vote the proceeds to the same object, but
l keep my own council, letting things
take their course. Mother pays Belle
visit while | am at home, and father
returns when [ do to keep up with
her. Even Archie is entIced away
from his present home in Boston to
come and see her Also to remain
until Father and l arrive, thus giving
them each a chance to see him once
again 1t is pleasure to them, but
to me-all pleasure is taken away by
his manner, which is boastful and
course in the exteme, partaking Of
the nature of the low company il
which he undoubtedly mingles, Their
he never meets anyone's gaze with s
frank open look.
I think father feels much as I dc
for he is unusually quiet during hi
stay. and seems yet more detected whe1
he has gone.
I do wonder if our erring boy viii
ever develop into comfort, ,-sucl
things have been and still may be O.
if, some day we will wish that he hat
never been born.
My underlined dread concerning hin
is increasing to greater proportions
and assuming a definite shape. fea
that one day he will commit desper
ate deed, that will place him some
where-great God! suppose it shoul'
be on the gallowsi