The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-22

tell. M what's more, won't tell. m,
II We try to make me tell, I'll have
to set down the baby N dig out!" He
caught his breath in a half sob.
That sound of childish grief went to
Mrs. Stones motherly heart. It seemed
so out of character in this old, self-con-
tanned boy; it was as bad as If grown
man had broken into sobs.
81 thought was goin' to like ye,"
she said reproachfully, regarding him
as she might have regarded sinking
virtue.
~ can't help It'll" blubbered Peter.
Oh, I'll tend the baby-I'll do anything
anything but tell. I'm so tired o.
trampin'l 1 kin cook, too. know
how to make Johnny-cake," and he
looked at her appealingly through his
tears.
There was a suspicious moisture In
Mrs. Stones sharp eyes, too; but she
considered it beneath the dignity of an
admonisher to yield so soon.
'So!" she said, ''they's a secret bout
it, hey?"
"Yes," he answered, still with that
fearful gaze.
She worked on for five minutes.
''N' ye're runaway, hey? WellW
Peter looked her straight in the eye.
mo; didn't run away mot like ye
mean did; my folks knowed was 60
in to leave"
"Oh m they encouraged ye, mebbeP"
inquired Mrs. Stone, with irony.
"Yes, they did; m dad bought my
ticket fer me, N nav put up my
lunch"
Mrs. Stones jaw dropped. 1t was
evident that the boy was telling the
truth!
"Then they know where We beP" she
gasped.
mo; N they don't want to-fer
awhile"
"Well, O. all things!'' 81 can't keep a
boy aroun' like that" she was think
ing. But he was holding Adelia with
easy security, and the child was cooling
and patting his thin, freckled cheek,
and her own work was progressing in
a surprising manner without the baby
to care for. Mighty curious" she
muttered, under her breath. "Well,
see It ye behave yerself," she said
aloud, in tone of admonition.
"Yessem," answered Peter, obedient-
ly.
He behaved himself very we'll, though
his secret always troubled her, and
made her feel as if she had not quite
got him under her thumb. He attended
Adelia day after day with no sign of
failing courage. Mrs. Stone went so
far as to admit in his hearing that he
was not bad boy, though there was
no telling how he might turn out. He
was a merry fellow; and, when he
sang the baby to sleep, Mrs. Stone was
reminded of the way the birds used to
sing in her eastern home on morning
in May.
One day he had gone out for stroll
while the baby was asleep; and, need
ing him for something, she went to the
door and called:
Peter! oh, Peter!"
The boy was in full view; he turned,
but made no sign of obeying.
"Peter!' she called again. "Good
land! Have we gone deaf?"
This time he ran toward her hurried
ly, and arrived breathless.
'I-I fergotr' he said, in apology.
Mrs. Stone stared.
''Fergot yer own name? Well, that's
likelyr'
81 won't do it agin," Peter promised.
Mrs. Stones eyes made two-fold
implement of his small body.
Il don't b'lieve ye've give me yer
right nalne," she cried, in accusation.
Peter did not deny it. But amt a
villain" he insisted. 'It-it's ne 'ssary,
for the present. I'm behavin' myself,
amt II"
Mrs. Stone was obliged to admit it.
''But to go under false name," she
cried, in strong disapproval.
Peters habit was to get up early,
long before Adelia was awake, and
climb to the summit of the great black
foothill in the rear of the house. II
was a harmless amusement and was
not interfered with. When questioned
he could not explain this pleasure; he
could only say that the sight of the
mountains from there did him good.
These solitary moments on the hill
were revelation to Peter An all
embracing sense of supremacy thrilled
through every atom of his little body
as he sat with his eyes fixed upon the
valley, which looked so helpless lying
there at his feet. He could imagine il
was altogether at his mercy, to be de-
stroyed or preserved according to his
| will 'T pOuld take hold n IL M fold |
up N lay it away in one o the gulches,
he once thought, filed with a dreamy
ecstasy of power. Those were mo
ments of exaltation, of spiritual up
lifting, such as the first man must hav,
felt while gazing out upon his splendit
heritage-the earth and all the fullnes
thereof.
One day he asked Ranchman Stone j
he owned the land in the next vale,
beyond the black foothill in the rear O
the house.
"Yes," was the answer.
"Tm goin' to have dad come N buy
some day." said Peter.
"I'll sell it cheap" said the ranch
man, "'n' it's good land"
~ like the looks o. it," said Peter
gravely. The boy was blessed wit
strong practical qualities of which Mrs
Stone prophesied good things. :"
reckon oats 'ud grow fust rate dow
there"
II reckon they would. M they
good wafer there, too"
Eyes" said Peter, meditatively. ~