Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-08-26

Tho glrlS had been gone two days, long enough for the edge of their de- parture to be turned little on the granite of daily routine, but not long enough for the space their going left vacant to be filled 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 q 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 moro than Electors temper. And he had taken the occasion of the very hottest day ill all the year, in the middle of tho afternoon, when the thermometer stood at ninety, to get into a tantrum and to remain in it with a dogged per sistenco which Mary really thought would be the death of them both before sho could subduc it.
 Tho trouble arose ont of a dispute be- tween the brothers relative to the proper time for taking the o.l drake with the wen under his chin numbercd among Rams pOssessiOns) down to the little pond in tho ravino for his Gaily swim. Ran wished to take him at once because of tho hcist, and Hector, for the same reason, desired to defer the trip until later in the day. From some cause.-the heat, pcrhaps-both children were out of tune and in the most favorable con- dition for taking OHensC, so that an able bodied quarrel was in progress before either cOmb1tant realized Whithcr per sistcnco and temper wero leading them. In the course of it statements were made with force and as forcibly contra dictcd, until finally Ran deliberately ap- piled to his brother an insulting epithet composed of four letters, and empha- sized the same with d word of strength picked up from intercourse with Ned Anthony, who was careless in his talk, and for rcjoinder Hector promptly | knocked him down.
 Things had reached crisis before Mary appeared upon the scene and sum- moncd her un1uly sons to judgment. With Hector sho 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 well balanccl Thero was rarely any difficulty in making him comprehend the moral aspects of his con duct, or in helping hin to self govern mcnt, which was his mothers aim.
 But Ran-poor little Ran, over whom her heart ycarncd most, because he was most unlike hcr-was of d totally differ ent type. With depth of nature and many cndcarinG traits he united per sistcnco of will and an unforgiving | temper. 1t was difficult to mako Ran abandon point, still moro difficult to mako him express Ur--wOrso still-fccl regret for wronGloiug. His actions were moro often the result of deliberate intention than of impulac "l know it was wrong. did 1t on purpose, and l won't say I'm sorry. I'm not sorry" ho had declared on one occasion. And his dishcartruud mother knew that the child WAS speaking the literal truth. | Mary sat thinking of her little son somewhat mournfully Evory struggle with him left her weaker, cost her more in vitality uud will, and she was owning sadly to herself that, young as he was, , tho boy was getting beyond her power , of management, that he needed, even now, stronger hand, moro resolute will than hers She felt so helpless, sc weary, so pOWcrluSS to guidc alright either herself or her boy.
 1t was not Ran alone that lay heavy on her mind. Business cares oppressed hCr-tcnAnts Quarrels and mismanage mcnt, tho Knowledge that she was going behindhand, and that tho remnant O. property on which they all depended wa decreasing in value in her hands, ant that sho was powcrless to help it. Al . this was making the present hard ana tho future dark, and when the evening mail brought her letter from Miss Cor nclia announcing her immediate return and giving manifold directions abou
 preparations for her reception, most O
 which Mary knew must bo carried ou
 by her own hands, sho felt that her GU
 was indeed full to overfiowing.
 In this mood Dun Stewart found he1 T Ho had walked over, partly influence o by tho restlcssness which oppresse
 lovers out of sight of the beloved, partl
 to announce Ned Anthony's return tn , following morning and to hint at hi
 own intended departure. In comin
 through the garden, which was the neal
 est way, he broke off branch of pal
 pink rosebuds of kind rarely seen say I, in old fashioned gardens, and brougl them in to her, laying them in her Ia WlJn u TclldEh upon IuclI ueIICdCy ttu - beauty.
 He did not try to mako her talk, or {
 attract her attention, or to mako d.
 mands upon her courtesy. He said
 few words about her being tired, an
 not troubling to amuse him, and then
 went over to the old piano in the corne
 from whose faded, time worn keys h
 skillful fingers could still coax swe'
 Inncic and 1oloVpl fpr her lOnp tim
 all the soft and tender strains he coul
 remember After awhile he sang to he
 in his sweet, pure tenor, a grand ol
 chant or two-"Come Unto Me" and
 Know That My Redeemer Liveth"-ar
 then Q cradle song that was mother
 crooning over her infants slumber.
 The tears came to Mary's eyes, ar
 overhowed them, falling like brigl
 drops of dew upon the roses in her hand
 She did not try to stanch their flow; the scomforted her. He was not loolin