The Globe-republican., 1891-02-25


sembled to witness the execution Of the
hspless kitty, and two OF them were
Eung to the ground before they knew
of his presence. An instant latcr he
reached the little derrick. The fuse
had burned down into the body Of the
big cracker. and in another second 1t
would explode. Without tho faintest
trace of hesitation the little fellow
seized it and flung it behind him.
I An explosion followed almost Instant
". and was accompanied by yell Of
pain. The moment Dick recognized
Arthur. and perceived his intention, he
sprang after his cousin, and was direct
ly in line when the cannon-crackerc came
flying toward him. 1t struck him and
fell to the ground, exploding as it did
SO, and burning his bare feet painfully.
f.; Furious with rage the cowardly young
bully rushed at Arthur, who was re-
leasing the white kitty from her unhap-
/ Ply position, and with a savage blow
/ knocked the little fellow down. Then
| he jumped on him, and began topummel
him, screaming: Take that will you!
and that! Pll teach you! I'll show you
who's boss round here!"
/ All at once these cruel cries were
changed to yells of dismay, as, whack!
whack! whack! shower of singing
| blows fell upon Dicks shoulders. Uncle
Phin, who had followed Arthur as fast as
he was able, had arrived just in time to
save his ''lil marse" from any severe
injury at the hands of his enraged
cousin, and to administer, with q stout
stick, the thrashing that the young ras-
cal SO we'll deserved.
In less than a minute cowarJly cousin
Dick and his frightened followers were
scampering away towards the house,
where they proposed to lay their side Of
the case promptly before their mother.
Cynthia had gone after her beloved
kitty. and bravo little prince Dusty"
who had flung himself into Uncl" Phin's
arms, was sobbing as though his heart
would break.
"Soh, Honey, sob! Don't you cry
now" murmured the old man in sOOth-
ing tones. "'Member dat while you is
Dustin by name. you's Dale by breed
in, an comes of Dale stOck-you'S mos
man now, a young gen'lmin, an it
won't nebber do fer SIGH as you is to cry
like a lilly gal. Sob now, Honey. soh."
Neither of them heard the quick, de-
termined step that approached them
from behind, and SO occupied was poor
troubled Uncle Phin in soothing and
comforting his charge, that it was an
easy matter for Mrs. Dustin to snatch
the trembling boy from his arms. Then
she marched rapily away, without
word, but dragging her victim relent-
lessly after her.
Uncle Phin half started to his feet
when he first realized what was happen
ing, but sank back again with a groan,
and murmured: ''De good Lawd, hab
mussy on His lamb
Then he bowed his frosted head on his
knees and the hot tears trickled slowly
between his black fingers.
While he thus sat helpless and de-
spairing, poor Arthur was taken to the
house and there whipped until the
apple tree switch broke and his Aunt
Nancy's strength was exhausted. Then,
telling the boy that this was a lesson
for him to remember as long as he lived.
she babe him go to the wOod-shed, which
was his slceping-room, and stay there
until she should release him.
During this undeserved punishment
not cry had escaped from the boy nor
had tear found its way to his eyes.
He bit his under lip and clutched his
hands. but not sound did he utter.
He remembered what Uncle Phin had
just told him. He was almost a man
now, and no man, especially Dale,
would cry for q whipping. So, though
the little face was drawn and white, and
the boy trembled until he could hardly
stand, he held out to the end as bravely
as ever a martyr under torture, and
when he was thrust into his cherries
shed he sat on the edge of his rude bed
rigid and fearless. His mind was in q
furious whirl, but above all was tho
overwhelming sense of injustice and
outrage.
Finally he sprang to his feet, crying:
81 hate you! hate you! 1 hate your
and then, flinging himself on his bed,
he gave way to a burst of passionate
weeping.
mamma! Why don't you come for me
and take me away from this dreadful
place? 1 can't stay here any longer!
Indeed can't, mamma! Oh! come for
me; do come! Please, mamma, come
for me, and take me to where you are!'
For nearly an hour the forlorn child
cried for the dear ones who had left him;
then his sobs gradually died away, and,
utterly exhausted. he fell into troubled
sleep.
In the meantime little Cynthia, who
only found her dear kitty after long
search, met her father coming home
from his work. and when he inquired
what was the matter with his daughter
and who had made her cry, she told him
the truth of all that had happened, SO
far as she knew it. Mr.. Dustin had be-
gun to suspect that Arthur was ILL
treated by his cousins, and as he
listened to Cynthia's story his face grew
very stern, and he said: This matter
must be looked into"