The record-union., 1892-01-30
A MISTAKEN SACRIFICE.
written for the REcoRD-UNIoS by Maude NJ
s. Peaslee.


responded in tone of relief:
''0h! it's you, is it, John? Well, you
needn't tell, uncle; / only wanted TO use
his penknife."
HE told you not TO touch it, Dave"
''Well, what of that? I'm not going TO
do any harm with it. What an old
preacher you are, John. No one would
ever dream you are only two years older
! than l am! Pm off now to finish my
ship. Mind, now, you are not to peach
| on me-"
! John said nothing, but looked more
than usually grave. He was sober be-
yond his years. and hardly favorite
with his guardian, his dead mother S
/ brother.
| Several times the boy had been harshly
| reproved by Mr.. Barton, but in no way
! did John show repentance for fault he
neither confessed nor denied.
/ Il don't like that trait in his character -
said the good man. He cannot get his
obstinacy from his mother; sweeter
woman never lived"
! John felt his uncle's coldness, but gave
no sign. That evening he noticed that his
! brother was very silent, and started at
! the least noise. When in the course OF
the evening his uncle had need of his
| knife, and opened the drawer where it
was kept, Dave turned strangely white.
John seemed to understand in an in
slant why Dave had been so quiet. and
| flashed look of reproach at him.
| He'll never dare to own up" he
! thought, nerving himself for his uncle's
questions. "pu refuse to say any
thing about it, and let uncle think
did IL. l wish Dave wouldn't lie so about
1t! What would mother think of hlm?''
Inst than ba boa ri his CXyyI, naplp
Iou saw John at the desk with the
drawer open, did you? Then of course
he took it," said his uncle's stern voice.
lie had no power to answer when MIR.
Barton addressed him in his sternest
voice. Could Dave do SO mean a thing?
Dave, whom he had loved and shielded
| III every way possible to boy, ever since
he had promised his dying mother tC
think always of his brother 1irst
Presently he found his voice; it was
soon over.
His uncle accused him, and he refused
either to affirm or deny Mr.. Barton's
hasty conclusion that he had taken the
knife.
Now where is it?'' asked his uncle
81 do not know, sir. l have not seen il
since''-
He paused, with Dawes imploring eyes
full upon him. The sullen look returned
to his 1ace-the look his uncle disliked sc
much.
did you hear me tell Dave not tc
touch it?''
''Yes, sir''
did you not know that included you
in the order?"
Eyes, sir.'
'Weli, then, shall fog you as I told
Dave | should him if he disobeyed me-
John drew offhis coat at once; he knew
what his uncle's tloggings meant, and the
| GnO1pr, / nyr tha
Dave had disappeared. John did not
see him again till he went upstairs for th,
night
Dave was sitting on the edge Of the bed
he had been crying and he made Johr
kiss him after the light had been blown
out.
"What makes you so Igood to me, ole
fellow?" he asked. Pm awfully
ashamed of myself, but l don't believe
could stand one of uncle's thrashings
Why do you stand such things for me
anyway?"
John did not answer at first, but i
seemed to him he could hear his mother
voice again.
''Be good to him, John; care for hin
and shield him; he is weaker than you
my Davie, my baby"
And then had come silence, almost be-
fore he could promise her all she asked.
How he had loved that sweet-voiceC
mother. Life had been very different t.
him since she died.
Il promised mother to look out TO
you, Dave" he said, at last, but there
are some things you must do for your
self. 1t was cowardly to put me in tn,
position you did to-day. L don't car,
much for the t1ogging- soon over will
but you've no right to hurt me so il
uncIe's eyes; and can't you see how yol
are hurting yourself, Dave? You won
always have me to shield you; you'll
have TO stand for yourself when you ar
a man,
Il wouldn't care for anything" Dav,
cried, ''if it wasn't for those marks OF
your back. Uncle does fog so hard. II
make it all up to you some day, John
I'll be so good you'll be proud of me ~
John sighed. Dave had made the same
promises so often, and so often haC
broken them the moment punishmen
threatened him.
-
Years passed on, and the boys haC
grown to manhood.
Many times had John taken upon him
self unmerited blame, hoping always tha
Dave would do better in the future
Always quiet and reserved in hi
nature, he had made few friends, and haC
the name of being morose and surly.
With the usual inconsistencies of sucl
character, he longed for just what hi
peculiarities shut him away from.
He often envied his brother the care
less light -heartedness that seemed hi
passport into the best society for Dav,
was great favorite wherever they went
John is one of the best of fellows" h.
said one day to young lady in whom h
seemed to have great interest, "but h
lets the best of opportunities pass by
him."
He had never realized that it was Johl
: ! Ixrh NJ fret caX q nl,
openings, and. pointing them out to him
stood aside that he, already Fortune
favorite, might win further laurels.
1t had been so in their childhood:
had been so in their youth; and it wa
more than ever so now that they wer
men, and in business life.
They were still members of thei
uncle's household.
They roomed together, and John gen
orally accompanied his brother to al
places of amusement, principally becaus
he wanted to know what kind of a lif
Dave was leading.
In word, he still assumed himself t,
be the boys guardian, and still felt anx
ious for his success and desirous of shield
ing him.
Dave had been spending his money
very freely for some time; indeed, ha(
spent as much of Johns as he could per
suade him to lend.
He showed little inclination for hi
brothers. society, and would often Sill
away from him in the evening withou
telling him where he was going.
All these things worried John, anC
when the younger boy began to be sharl
in his manner, and impatient ofquestion
ing, he was much afraid there was seriou
trouble ahead.
, Dave had been very unlike himself fo
! some time, and John had resolved t,
have long talk with the boy, when b.
discovered something that for seyera
days absorbed all his attention