Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-08

| NO, sad fhceDe. all the repellant
forces in her body reused by tho sight Of
him. I'VE never can be rid of him, Thorncy.
Look at his hair getting gray; and he has
robbed us Of more hopes than he has hairs
in his head. He has carried our names into
prisons; he has tried TO drag us into wick
edness. am scarcely more than a little
girl, but feel old and lfe-worn when look
at you, Thane White"
"And he went and took my tin whistle. y
said Thorney, adding his climax.
'.See here, said Thane, his facial spasms
in full play. Before proceeding he took out
piece of tobacco and worried it iiercely
II dropped along 70 have an understanding.
Last night you wouldn't give me stake,
my lady, bad as | needed it,"
$50 you robbed Thornley," said Phoebe,
| with scorn.
''Took what was my own by rights" cor
rected Thane giving his tobacco final
wrench, after which nc put il in his pocket
"You treated me mean. But l Il pass over
all that il you'll divide up after-whilc. Xo&
always We're smart, and can see what you
are up to now If you will, I'm mum; II
you won't / amt talin' any such pains 20
help you ON
~ know what you mean,n said Phoebe,
her face suddenly covered with pallor as
with mask of strange features "But
understand az once that an honorable man
can offer nothing but plying kindness to
your sister,
ave got "A strong purchase on you, and
you know t." said the convict, smiling IN
sue 'ession Of facial spas,ns; ''whatever you
intend to do. l want yon to get married.
Thorney and me needs q rich brother-in-law.
IF you won't get married I'll have to take
Thorney with me-"
"Oh, no, you'd never do that said
Phoebe, lowering her vol &c detiantly.
ooh, yes, would. Ia do just that. My
hair Is turpin'. l ought to have young
hand il training for my old age. You've
dragged him around at your apron string
too long, anyhow. Now, see here, Thornley,"
Thane chcwcd rapidly at his tobacco, jerKed
his head as low as the window-sill and in
stantly reappsarad'with one check distend.
ell; "here stands your sister and her fine
notions about honor and honesty that she's
always preached at you. But has she done
any thing fer youf"
"She never took my tin WHISTLE" nut
tered Thornoy.
''Blast your tin whistlel only took it to
make you follow me round. You listen to
me aud you'll get your tin whistle back and
the cash TO bay plenty more. Don't you
have to work hard for very little money!"
| Tnorney dOggedly acknowledged his in
| juries.
$50 away burst out Phoebe land let
the boy alone. You are only trying to tor
mont me through him. You shaft harm
! him"
mo. l want to a. him good said Thane.
4 'You see it's herself always, and you and me
counted out, Th)iuey. When you're Us old
as l am she'll want to drop you altogether
+ like she does me. Her programmes work
for you and easy times for my lady. RI
make your fortune for YOU
"Now you're gittin it down to a fine
! point, remarked Thomey, with cunning
grin
'Why doesn't he make his own fortune,"
demanded Phmoe, "instead Of constantly
stripping us.''
( Thorney's expression changed to blank
and open-mouthed doubt. lie could grasp
+ but one idea at time, and his feeble
holi on that kept his head moving like a
! ball betwixt these two more powerful nat
ures.
4 "You ought to be enjoying lfe,n contin-
ued Thane, 'instead OF chopping and dig
ging for living You ought to know
where gold watches and full poclet-books
grow. and you've wit enough to get at them
if somebody gave you few hints"
! "He gets it down to fine point,n said
/ Thorney, challenging Phoebe.
Look into my eyes, Thornley," she said
Z He attempted to do So but his gaze sank
before her blazing oarnestness. Ibid he
I ever DO any thing for us but get us into
! troubled Have we not learned what we
/ know, in spite Of himl Haven't we always
/ been happiest and safest when he was in
prsone Is it likely that he wills ever be diff
/ ferentp'
Thorney now challenged Thane with a
wag Of the head.
"She's gittin' down to fine point" he re-
marked
"You and / must stand by each other
! What have in the world but you, Thorneyl
have enough to bear without your desert
ing me.''
II ANITA desertin' you" said Thorney,
! dropping his head with distressed puclier
I Of the mouth.
Hang to the apron string, sonny" ex-
horted his other mentor at the window
I Thorney menaccd hun with a slowly
clenched fist. "You amt give up my tin
whistle yet, any way
+ "Iu blow on 1t when l want you" said
! Thane, removing his elbows from the win
dow sill "I'n staying round the neighbor-
hood, and II sec you both again. Keep an
4 ear open for that whistle, Thornley,"
( The window glass again shuddered and
clinlled rs he drew down the sash He
paused moment aud laughed through the
patched pane ct thcm q puttieI crack con
tribuung to the diacortion OF his face.
/ After he disappeared Phoebe covered
down in scat with her head bowed.
"That Gils youn inquired Thoraey, star
ing suspiciously "You amt afraid o
Thaac, arc yoa.n
Phoebe shook hcr head without lifting it.
II amt said Thorncy, stretching out his
4 arm to feel the muscle "EIe amt no man
beside Of me. l won't let him hit You ike
he used to- And blame if he amt got TO
give that tin whistle up; won't stand it.
He took my tin whistle, Thano did, an
nounced Thorncy, in way calculated to
impress his sister by the startling news.
She took her wrap from its nail near the
waterbuckct and stopped to look at her
liquid reflection
"You no account wretch said Phoebe to
the face thus meeting her from some lower
world, ''you cant do any thing bat stare
up from the pit you are in.
'That whistle cost me quarter Of dol
lar" runina,ed Thorncy bitterly
BE comlosod about il, Thornley," said
his sister, laying her head against his arm.
"We viii surely get our whistles back YETI
''Thane never took n6.ae from YOU"
"He has not left INC even a peany whistle,
Thorney, to auuse myself with since you
and were little children
The spring days succeeded one another in
monotony. There was change going on IN
the earth, and the buds swclled large upon
the trees, though scarcely flush Of green,
even IN the awakening lichens, showed it
self through the woods.
Phoebe felt another change growing
around her She was at first 50 alert for
Thames expected footstep that the meaning
Of whispers il her school, hints from Randy
Thompson. aud the sicnces of Mrs. Holmes,
quite escaped her. He did not appear. Her
breath by degrees grew frcer, and she
turned again to the simple pleasures Of ex-
istence TO find they were taken from her.
Ii she coaxed Toddlas to rock on her lap
Mrs. Holmes had an errand with him out Of
the room. Her host looked at her with a
puzzled expression and stinted his usual
cordiality. She met Adam and Nose Guy
once or twice, AID their curious insolcncc
brought fire into her eyes
There were such silcnces at table that
her food cholSed her. II was no longer
Randy's pleasure TO wait on the pretty
creature whom she considered such child,
and to sit in Phobes room when every
body else was in bed, telling neighborhood
traditions No one wanted her to do any
thing for him. An invisible circle of sep
l.. 81.