Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-16

for joy, btu too tongue-tied to utter
the gratitude he really felt.
But better feeling had slowly grown
up during the past weeks between the
two, that Gordon's sunny temper and
ways had done much to promote; fol
his exactly the right influence for Doune
,Doune came and in the nick of time
and when it was most urgently needed
Nothing morbid could live in the heal
thy atmosphere Gordon made around
him; while for Doune'S strength OF
character and brilliancy of intellect
the elder boy had deepest admiration
so that the bond between them was
one of unbroken harmony from the
first.
Often they would talk of what they
would do when grown up, and, living
so close together, not Il day passed but
the boys went through the Iovel
woods, sometimes even entering the
house itself and roaming through it's
neglected, deSOlate rooms, invariably
ending in a visit to Job, who sat by the
fireside but would never be able to do
any active work again.
! He had come out of his fit perfectly
clear i'll mind, save for one fixed hal
lucination, which was that it was not
his young master who had been buried
under the name Of Lord Lovel, but
some other man, who reSembled him,
and whom Mr.. Eyre had thought fit to
bury thus for some reasons Of his
own.
He never acknowledged Gordon as
the heir, but invariably addressed him
as Master Lovel, and babe him not
grow up idle, or looking to the inheri-
lance, as any day little Master Frank
might walk in and claim his own.
The boys humOred him i'll his fancies,
and he liked them both; but best of
all he loved little Madcap, who some
times came with them, and concerning
whom the old man had 4 supernatural
belief that she was her mother born
over agin that mother who had
once been his masters girl sweetheart
and who had been stolen from him by
Mr.. Eyre.
So between the old and broken man
and the young fresh child strong and
and faithful love grew with the years,
and by the time she was ten there
was not a story Of Franks beauty
bravery, and truth that she had not
got by heart; and he become that
perilous, often most disappointing,
creature upon earth-a child's hero;
and for every flower that she laid Oh
her mothers grave she laid one also
for Frank.
The last few days of the holidays
passed in bliss to Madcap, for the two
boys Claiming themselves for their neg
lecD took her with them everywhere;
carried her over wet places but in dry
ones allowed her TO trot like a little
dog at their heels, and if she got a
tumble or two they were none the
wiser, for she did not mind what bumps
and bruises she got so long as she
might follow them.
Neither of them could make enough
of her during this time, and each night
the boys went SOre-hearted to bed and
dreaded the parting with her more.
travelling together as far as town,
noune went to his little sisters cot
before she fell asleep and sat down
beside her.
''Madcap, my little darling" he said,
I've not been very kind to you these
holidays; but I'll be better next time,
and it won't be long :. He stopped
IA moment, with that smarting pain
in the eyeballs that is Il brave boys
way of crying, then went on and
you'll be a good girl, and get nurse to
write me a letter once every week,
telling me how you are, and I'll write
to you often-and you must love me
always"
so! yes"' said Madcap, you and
Dad-and Geordie," she added as an
,,afterthought.
Don't you love me better than Dad?'
said the boy his courage giving way,
and the question forcing itself out.
You and Dadr' said the child, dane
ing up and down in her cot Dad
and Doony-love 700 bothr' and she
kissed him fondly.
He thought to himself bitterly of
how often he had neglected her, thus
driving her to Mr.. Eyre to be consoled,
and indeed this fresh boy-love had for
the time swept him off his feet, SO
that one day he soon forgot his usual
visit to his mothers picture.
And when the fatal moment Of part
ing came-when Madcap, drowned in
woe, was splashing Doune and Geordic
Iimpartially with her tears and throt-
Ting their with her kisses, even then
the boy could Eot forgive his father
that equal share with himself in his
little sisters heart.
"Good-by, Sir" said Geordie, taking
Mr.. Eyre's hand warmly; "and thank
you for the brightest, happiest holi-
days have ever had in my life"
Come back at Easter" said Mr..
Eyre, who had really liked the boy in
his way.
"Good-by, Sir" said Doune, his cold
hand barely touching his fathers; and
if he had not been so tall Of limb, and
resolute of glance, his independence
might have provoked a smile; as 1t
was, Mr.. Eyre met him in his own spirit
and in final storm of sobs from Mad
cap, the school-boys departed.