Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-08-12

by the gate, because she'll think some
body else has got a better place. tell
you what we'll do; We'll squat down
right by the middle walk, behind the
box bushes, and wait till we hear some
of the angels talking about her and say
ing where's she's gone, and then we'll
clip the other way and hunt for father
"That amt good way" objected
Hector; you're sure to meet her walk
ing around, anyhow; so there isn't any
use of lodging. You can't stay in one
place fifty hundred millions of years
without seeing all the people,"
| Cant I?' despondently; then, with
more hopefulness, "I can everlastingly
toddle, Hec, and Aunt Neelie walks so
slow. When see her coming toward
me, you just watch out sharp, and you'll
see one little angel HUSTLE
| Hector laughed, and the listener had
much ado to keep from joining. There
was another skeleton over in the old
gray house besides straitened means.
In his blunt, straightforward way he
was beginning to be sorry for Mary Bev-
erley, and to feel, as he would have ex-
pressed it, that life "wasn't toting fair
with her."
With his habitual quick movements
and light, almost stealthy step, he passed
into the inner room and out at the back
of the house. After moment he came
around and seated himself on the steps
beside the boys and made overtures of
friendship. They We're friendly little
fellows, neither shy nor pushing, and
the trio got on well together. Indeed,
when they discovered that he knew all
about making bird traps, and had knife
with six blades in it, besides corkscrew
and pair of scissors, and could initiate
wild birds and creatures, and-oh, bliss!
had seen live bears, the acquaintance
showed signs of deepening into init
macy.
After the talk had gone ON some time
and Anthony felt that his popularity
justified it, he commenced plying them
with questions. How many children
were there in all? Who took care of
them and the like? Only them, the
children said; they had had little sis
ter, named Mary, but she had gone to
heaven. She had been older than Hec-
tor. Their mother took care of them.
Who else should?
"They had an aunt Anthony sug-
gested.
They admitted that they had, but she
was old; she could not take care of any
body. She needed people to take care
of her, to wait on her and fetch her
things.
81 don't mean the old lady," said their
new friend brusquely. you've got a
young aunt-a girl named like your lit
tie sister" Anthony could never re-
member that Mary, if living, was only
o couple of years younger than himself.
"The idea of my wanting to know any
thing about Miss Neelie! She's an old
tartar, amt she?"
Now, the children, while ready to dis
cuss their relative between themselves
and to pass judgment upon her freely,
were quito we'll aware of what was
proper and becoming in the matter.
They would comment and criticize
themselves, but no stranger should take
the liberty. Hector drew himself away
little and remarked, in a reserved tone,
that Aunt Neelio was an old lady, and
had been ill and had trouble; she must
be treated with consideration.
Anthony did not know that the child
was rendering verbatim his mothers
daily precept to himself, nor did he at
all realize that he should not have put
the question. He was amused at the
boys change of manner, but he was a
little annoyed too.
"You have another aunt?" he asserted,
rather than questioned, a second time.
"No," said Hector; 1--WE haven't"
But Ran was child who liked exact
ness.
eve haven't now" he amended, "but
we used to have before we were born.
There was little Mary once that wasn't
our sister. She must have been our
aunt, you know, Hec; although it seems
funny, don't it? She was grandpas baby
long ago, and she's over there with the
rest" He pointed as he spoke toward q
| spot back of the home buildings, where
O group of cedars were outlined darkly
against the clear blue sky.
: Anthony felt as though some one had
r struck him in the face. He knew thai
| those trees stood in the family burying
= Iground. Things looked black around
him for q moment and the dream OF
t years shriveled slowly, like Il morning
3 Iglory when the day grows old. TIL,
children watched him as he slowly GU
1 into the bit of wood he had picked NJ
t from the path. They were not surprised
at his knowledge of their family matters
Q Their world was small as yet, but it wa
IS the world, and with its concerns ant
history of course all men were familiar
A lady came out of one of the cabin
8 with a little willow basket in her hand
, Behind her hobbled an old negro maj
y who was talking to her volubly, chuck
3 ling to himself and seeming very vel
:, pleased about himself. Anthony watched
his Grandisonian bow and the sweep h
gave to his old ragged hat as he stepped
forward to open the gate for her. Sh
was tall and stately, but no longer il
u her first youth, Anthony could see, a
@ she fingered to give last word or direc
Q ton.
u "Who's that?" he asked abruptly, al
u most harshly.
u She was walking toward them now
and Ran was racing down the path t
} meet her. Hector, who had started like
IL Oh