The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-03
CHATTER Y.

1
CHAPTER V.
In the listening attitude which twenty
four hours had confirmed 10 a haiit Phasbt
sat la the school-house and waited for
Thorney. All the seats were empty, but
ridges Of dust around the bottom Of the
desks and clay tracks on the floor showed
where young, restless feet had been. A
sum in fractions remained upon the black
board. The fire was dying in the gray and
elderly stove, which seemed 90 deny having
ever INDUCED in red-hot fits of roaring
when wind and snow beat outside. A barky
odor came from the wood box. and from il
also crept out u mouse To smell at crumbs
dropped at noon. Perhaps Phnbc's moving
hand. perhaps the appalling dreariness of
| the school-housc interior, terrified the
mouse, and IL flashed back In u gray streak.
| Somebody's cow in the woods. reminded by
associations Of sad experience In her hfe,
uttered "a mellow, plaintive lowing. Feet
shuffied and bumped upon the step; then
| Thorney White brought them in and straight
to the wood.box, where he stood digging
the mud off by scraping his heels across the
boX's edge, as If this were the object of his
| entrance. Phnbe came down the aicle and
took hold Of his arm The unshuttered win.
dows threw plenty Of light around them; it
was not yet five o'clock
Thorney gave pettish jerk and continued
digging with his heels. She stood patiently
aside. Search Us she might, she could never
find comfort or support in his face, yet she
could not bring herself TO guide and control
him with more firmness than tenderness
In the secret folds OF her heart she owned
ing her brother he ought to have an average
struck between them and be endowed with
half OF her abilities.
"You aren't cross tonight, are you.
Thorneyl" said Phoebe.
Thorney responded that he didn't see no
sense in leaving his work to run at her beck
and call.
~ didn't want you TO leave your work.
would have waited till your work was
done"
ThornCy grOwlcd that his work was never
done. lie didn't have folks taking him To
parties; he couldn't drive around big and
proud and keep his brother a-hooping it.
"Oh," said Phoebe, with an accent of quiet
despair. Thames been with you, hasn't
heW
YES he has" growled Thorncy. "And
he took my tin whistle from me-
"ThOrney, he didn't get your money!"
"He did, too. He made me bring out all
my wages. And he took my tin whistle
sulked Thorney, grieving for the instrument
with which he initiated birds in the woods.
Many an hour when Thorney should have
been chopping, he sat upon stake-and-
ridered fence or the high limb of felled
tree, and piped after his fashion as heartily
as Pan.
"Thdne don't know how to work it,"
shifted Thorncy, "but he made me give it
up to him"
Phoebe looked at him, collapsing on his
own muscles in abject helplessneSs; and ut
herself.
ADO you think we shall ever get away
from it, Thornley,
"Get away from what.'
"From all of it, Thane ia so much stouter
and older than we are. And he knows how
to make us do things we hate to do We
ought to have some chance"
you've got chance enough" frowned
Thorncy IL wish could set around and
draw big wages And 60 to parties. Why
don't they invite nae To their parties!' de-
manded Thorney, in sheepish sullcnncss,
shaking his head at the wood-bOX.
Eyes, why don't they!" said voice be-
meath one of the window sashes, which be
gan To go up with many shuddcring re-
monstrance and jar of glass. The man who
sash with stick and leaned on his arms so
AS to bring head and shoulders within the
room, opposite Thorney. "And ne, too.
But my lady there has IA way of putting her
self above you aud me, ThOrncy. She
would like TO shake us altogether, Only
she can't
mo" said Phpbc, all the repellant
forces in her body reused by the sight of
him. 1--WE never can be rid of him, Thorney.
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. l am scarcely more than little
girl, but feel old and life-worn when look
at you, Thane White"
'And he went and took my tin whistle"
said Thorney, adding his climax.
"See here" said Thanc, his facial spasms
in full play. Before proceeding ne took out
piece OF tobacco aud worried II fierccly.
II dropped along to have an understanding.
Last night you wouldn't give me II stake,
my lady, bad as needed it,"
$50 you robbed Thorney," said PhGbe,
with scorn.
Took what was my own by rights" cor
rectcd Thanc, giving his tobacco II final
wrench. after which he put il in his pocket,
"You treated me mean. But | II pass over
all that II you'll divide up after-whilc, You
always were smart, and l can see what you
are up TO now. If you will, I'm mum; il
YOU won't l amt talin' any such pains To
help you on"
II know what you mean," said Phubc,
her face suddenly covered with pallor as
with mask of strange features. "But
understand at once that an honorable man
can offer nothing but plying kindness 20
your sister"
"rve got strong purchase on you, and