Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-15

interest.
~ ~ ETo make home
~ and earn living for
ITESW my brother and sister
a W and myself, - re-
N&t piled Ned, promptly I,
''Not afraid of hard work? Don t
mind leaving the oity?',
''No, sir. );
81 have two boys at home, and l wish
they had half your pluck, - said the gem
tlemau. Now as TO this application of
yours. IT'S irregular, 1 must own; but
can t see why it shouldn I hold. If a man
deserts his family, his widow or MINOR
child, in case of her death, may declare
themselves heads of the family, ana en-
ter land accordingly. When an honest
man is stricken down by disease, 1 can t
see why members of his family shouldn t
have the same privileges. It may arouse
some discussion in Washington, but if
you can afford TO take the risk, l think
we can and will. Go up and settle on
the land. and then enter it in the office
of the county clerk of Alameda county.
II he makes any objections, refer him to
me.
CHAPTER ~. TOM s APOLOGY.
A night or two before the children left
the city. as thew were resting from a
busy day labor, there came the sound
of great hubbub at the gate, followed
by the sound of stampede up the walk.
Two voices, a boy IS and man IS, were
heard outside, then there was CHATTER
as il a squad of infantry had rRceI over
the little porch, and there were gruff
murmurs and smothsred laughter.
The boys, thoroughly, startled, sprang
TO the door and flung it open.
On the porch a man aud boy were
struggling with something very strong
and active, and very wild aud unman-
ageabls; something that was spotted,
dun-color and white, with eyes like a
fawn, and silken ears that pricked for
ward as the door opened, in very know
ing fashion.
''That' III do, Jiml'' said the boy, IN
tone Of one accustomed TO giving orders.
''I've got her now. You can go. -
rBaR-a-aa.
Surely they know the familiar call.
Beauty!' exclaimed Ned, amazed
THAT IS what g the matter, - replied
Tom Bateman, for il was he, avoiding
Ned = eye, as he secured the rope TO one
of the posts. afraid you might forget
her. Knew you were awful busy.
Thought ID bring her along myself
But Ned was boy, too, and he still
bLthlAeu OhSA Lub aEO AulOhA gbuhl
Bateman had made at the schoolhouse.
al don't want your calf, % he said,
bluntly. "Keep her yourself. -
Hope appeared at the door, drawing
back slightly at the sight of the visitor.
Something had happened the previous
Saturday that she had not told the boys.
After they had started for the land
office she had gone out on the back steps
TO have the "good cry'' she bad been
promising herself. She had been hold
lug back all the week, and her tears
rained down thick and fast, while her
slight form shook with the sobs she could
no longer control. She did not hear the
faint tinkle CT the door bell in this house,
nor yet loud rapping on the front door
when the bell remained unanswered.
a moment later Tom BAteman came
along the walk at the side of the house,
and opened the gate in the tall lattice
work separating the front yard from the
back, He thrust his head through the
: opening and. called out in a cautious
voice, as if not quite sure what sort of
reception he might meet:
"Boysi''
Rope raised her head and recognized
him. and tried TO recover her self-com-
mand, but could not. Dropping her face
again upon her arms, she sobbed as if her
heart would break
"Why, Hope!" said Tom.
He was big boy in class OF the first
grammar grade and she was a little girl,
grades and grades below him, but she
reminded him of little sister he had
lost, and whom, for loves sake and the
pain the memory brought him, he had
tried hard to forget. He sat down on
the step beside her and drew the little
girl into his arms and made clumsy eft
fort to quiet her.
"Don t cry" he said. "It's a ter
rible thing, know. Mr.. Roberts has
been telling me about It. But you can't
help matters by crying. Youth just
take away the boys nerve.
'But the boys mint here,'' sobbed
the child.
"But am. And 1 can I stand it. Do
stop, Hope. You II kill yourself crying
so Would that make il easier for Them
OF your fatheF?'
He had succeeded in quieting her at
last, and he dried her tears with hand
kerchief not very Immaculate and wrung
from her promise that she would not
cry any more before he went away.
"When you feel like crying, just tear
arou the house and bang things about
and make other people feel bad. That's
the way do. -
Hope laughed.
But don't tell the boysi'' she i'm
ploTed.
IAN right. Mum s the word.
The consciousness OF this innocent Sc
eret embarrassed them both at their next |
Injecting; bnt it made Tom all the more |
Determined TO make peace with the |
brothers OF the little girl who had sobbed |
out her s0rrOws in his arms
Don I be spunky, Ned. - urged Tom /
ln low voice. - didn't Know /