Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-23
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granite of daily routine, but not long
enough for the space their going left
vacant to lie filed with other matter.
As she sat in her softly lighted, quaint
old parlor, Mrs. Beverley greatly missed
them. She felt miserable and downcast.
too, for Ran, although good child in
the main, was subject at times to fits Of
stubbornness that exhausted his mother
and tried her patience and self control
far more than Hector's temper. And he
had taken the occasion of the very
hottest day in all the year, in the middle
of the afternoon, when the thermometer
stood at ninety. to get into tantrum
and to remain in it with a logged per
sistence which Mary really thought
would be the death of them both before
she could subdue it.
The trouble arose out of dispute be-
tween the brothers relative to the proper
time for taking the old drake with the
wen under his chin numbered among
Rams POSSESSIONS down to the little
pond in the rayine for his daily swim.
Ran wished to take him at once because
of the heat, and Hector, for the same
reason, desired to defer the trip until
later in the day. From some cause.-the
heat, perhaps-both children were out
of tune and in the most favorable con-
dition for taking offense. so that an able
bodied quarrel was in progress before
either comhatant realized whittier per
sistenCe and temper We're leading them
In the course of it statements were
made with force and as forcibly contra
aicted until finally Ran deliberately ap-
piled to his brother an insulting epithet
composed of four letters, and empha-
sized the same with word of strength
picked up from intercourse with Ned
Anthony, who was careless in his talk
and FOR rejoinder Hector promptly
knocked him down
Things had reached a crisis before
Mary appeared upon the scene and sum
moned her unruly sons to Judgment.
With Hector she had little trouble: his
disposition was like her own. and she
could understand and cope with it. He
was fiery of temper and instant in re-
sentiment, but he was also generous.
sympathetic and we'll balanced. There
was rarely any difficulty in making him
comprehend the moral aspects of his CON
duct, or in helping him to self govern
ment, which was his mothers aim.
But Ran-poor little Ran, over whom
her heart yearned most, because he was
most unlike her-was of totally differ
ent tyre. With depth of nature and
many endearing traits he united per-
sistence of will and an unforgiving
temper. 1t was difficult to make Ran
abandon point, still more difficult to
make lin express or-worse still-feel
regret for wrongdoing. His actions
were more often the result of deliberate
intention than of impulse. Il know it
was wrong. l did it on purpose, and |
won't say I'm sorry. I'm not sorry"
he had declared on one occasion. And
his dishcartened mother knew that tie
child was speaking the literal truth.
Mary sat thinking of her little son
somewhat mournfully. Every struggle
with him left her weaker, cost her more
in vitality and will, and she was owning
sadly to herself that, young as he was,
the boy was getting beyond her power
of management, that he needed, even
now, stronger hand, more resolute
will than hers. She felt so helpless, so
weary, so powerless to guide Alright
either herself or her boy.
1t was not Ran alone that Law heavy
on her mind. Business cares oppressed
her-tenants' Quarrels and mismanage-
ment, the knowledge that she was going
behindhand, and that the remnant of
property on which they all depended was
decreasing in value in her hands, ~and
that she was powerless to help it. All
this was making the present hard and
the future dark, and when the evening
mail brought her letter from Miss Cor
nelia announcing her immediate return.
and giving manifold directions about
prepare tons for her reception, most of
which Nary knew must be carried out
by her own hands, she felt that her cup
was indeed full to overfowing.
In this mood Dan Stewart found her.
He had walked over, partly influenced
by the restlessness which Expresses
lovers out of sight of the beloved, partly
to announce Ned Anthony's return the
following morning and to hint at his
own intended departure. In coming
through the garden, which was the near
est way he broke off branch of pale
pink rosebuds of kind rarely seen save
in old fashioned gardens, and brought
them in to her, laying them in her lap
with remark upon their delicacy and
beauty.
He did not try to make her talk, or to
attract her attention, or to make de-
mands upon her courtesy. He said a
few words about her being tired, and
not trou bling to amuse him, and then he
went over to the old piano in the corner,
from whose faded, time worn keys his
skillful fingers could still coax sweet