Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-12-12

| tAiC OaChs LOo ltLhcNN Ats -'AObNf
Why, look at these hands, these shoul-
ders-look at me- ! can earn money
somehow. And, by heavenl if this
is all your responsibility and Christian
ity amounts to, / don't care if don't
see no more of it. There are plenty to
welcome me, and you have driven me
to them. Remember that, son of my
motherl You'll"
He thrust his hat upon his head, and
dashed out of the room, striding
through the outer Office with no heed
of any one there, and changing the
door kah.nd him as he departed.
|
One dark night, few weeks later,
James Graham, in full fellowship with
a gang of burglars, was receiving in
structions from a companion how to
enter and conceal himself in house
that had been marked for robbery.
The lesson was given in front of the
doomed house itself; and after his
companion had left him, Graham
muttered, eyes, belong to the fra
ternity now. | am here TO rob this
house. / have the mask and the pistol
in my pocket. have my little dark
lantern, too. Pm burglar, and burg
largs were the only men who welcomed
me back out of prison. My brother
turned his back on me. NY brother
| wonder what my mother would say
il she could see me now? If she
knew
lie stopped himself with an OATH
seemed, with motion of his hand, to
cast away the thoughts that were upon
him-and in a moment more had
mounted TO the window indicated by
his comrade; and finding that il opened
easily, had clambered in. His shoes
were noiseless. lie made no sound as
he moved; and guiding himself by the
lanterns light looked for place of
conccalment. 1t soon presented itself.
A long wardrobe, witha door at either
end. In this, behind very curtain of
suspended garments, he hid himself.
lie heard, after while, baby cry,
and in a minute more step ran across
the entry, and ray of light glanced
through the keyhole at one end Of the
wardrobe.
"Ada," cried lady's voice, "come
here. Baby is wide awake and | can't
leave him."
Then another rustic. another step,
and there were two women very near
him-so that he could almost hear
them breathe.
"Im so glad you came today, Ada"
said the other, "when ! am all alone.
Charles was called away so unexpected
~ this morning! declare the thought
of that accident makes me i'll, and
| am nervous all alone in the house
at night, dear. Besides being always
glad to see you, ! am so thankful 10
have you tonight"
"And | anu never nervous, JESSIE" |
said the other. 81 am as good as a |
man about the house, mamma says. |
I've hunted imaginary burglars with |
poker many a night. Mamma is
always imagining burglars, dear
soulln
"Don't speak of Them" said the
matron, who was evidently -quicting
her child as only mother can.
"This house would be more of |
a temptation TO them tonight than it
has ever been before since we lived
here. There are two thousand pounds
in that safe, Ada. Charlie hadn't
time to deposit it in the bank. They
that Mr.. Bird might be
dying"
As she made this confession, the
man, concealed so near her, listened
with his very heart in his ears; but it
was not to the statement so well cal
culated to rejoice burglars heart.
That was forgotten. He heard only
the voices and the names these two
women called each other by. Ada!
That had been the name of the girl he
loved. Jessiel That was his sisters
name. After all, what was it to him?
Like his brother, the latter had cast
him off, of course, and no doubt Ada
only remembered him with horror.
Still, how like their voices. Could
it be? He stole forward, and knelt
down with his eyes TO the keyhole, but
he could only see part of woman's
figure swaying to and fro, as she
rocked her infant on her bosom.
"Dear little fellow!" said the voice
Of the other woman. "How sweet
babies are!"
She came forward now and knelt
Town, and he saw her profile. 1t was
Ada Musgrove-for he had left her a
girl of sixteen, and found her a wo-
nan of twenty-six, but handsomer
han ever.
"You love children so that | wonder {
rou don't marry" said the matron and {
low James Graham knew that it was
his sister who spoke. 81 know William !
wants you TO have him. He always has |
owed you. And, Ada, he can give you
III that makes life happy"
James Graham's cheeks flushed in
he darkness. He hated the world more q
han ever now. He hated his kinsfolk {
this cruel brother and sister of his /
most of all. S