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

Mr.. Eyre had been supected of the
murder of his wife, but was not permit
ed to know that Digges had taoitly
proved himself guilty of the crime.
But here they erred. Doune had
heard and knew nothing; but those
who loved him might well tremble fol-
Its effect upon him when such know
ledge CAME
He was thinking of her tonight, when
Il step sounded without, followed by a
chuckle, that announced Madcap. And
the boy started up, thinking it was his
father; but tall lad brought in the
child, who ran to Doune, crying out.
''Dome, Doune, here's that nice lit
tie boy me saw at the funeral!'
The two lads, near of a height
though there was year between them,
offered in appearance a most striking
contrast, as for moment, boy fashion,
they looked askance at each other;
then the one held out his hand, and
the other took it with an honest grip,
and without speech or any other pre-
HmlnarleS, there was at once good
understanding between them.
| whats 90 name?" said Madcap,
with hands behind her back, and a
much-tumbled pinafore fully disclosed.
Gordon Lowell"
Doune looked at him earnestly. So
this was the new Lord Lovel; and how
fondly he remembered the old one, the
Frank" who had been his and Dody's
playmate, none but he himself knew
Come and have ride on my rock
ing horse" said little Madcap, pulling
at Gordon'S hand; and SO the boys
were given time in which to take each
others bearings, as the best sort of
boys always will before rushing into
a friendship that is not rue one if it
does not last a lifetime Doune had
endured his schoolfellows, but never
had real boy friend, neither had Cor
don ever found one completely to his
liking, so that before the evening was
over, and in spite of Madcap's frivo-
lous Interruptions, the two boys had got
so good u glimpse into each others
minds as made them part reluctantly,
and with eager thoughts of the NOR
row. The three children breakfasted
together, and it was afterward that
Mr.. Eyre's unintentiona1 revenge upon
little Madcap began.
The boys entirely taken up with each
other, found the three-year-old child in
their way; and, though both adored
her, presently found an excuse to take
her back to the house, then rushed
away from her laments and spent their
morning gloriously.
For there are so many perilS and
dangers into which mettlesome boys Of
eight and nine can get, even in morn
ing's excursion round a small estate,
and so many pursuits through which
a baby might not be carried, for how
could they have climbed, leaped, and
raced with the little one toiling behind
them?
And they are happy, as boys can
be happy, as man, woman, or girl
never was nor ever will be; and of
all heartsome healthy sights commend
me to lad who, the full flush of his
youth and vigor, follows those in
Inocent pursuits that are storing up
strength within him against his man
hood
Mr.. Eyre had seen the premature
return heard the childish sounds of Ia
ment, saw the little figure that ran,
with socks down at heel, after the
retreating boys, returning shortly with
every sign of grief and disorder, and
sobbing her heart out she climbed the
steps that led from the garden to her
nursery. Surely she would come to
him, Mr.. Eyre thought; but she did
not, and presently he swallowed his
pride and went to her though not even
he could heal the wound her brothers
desertion had inflicted upon her faithful
heart. She permitted herself to be
Ismiles to meet the faithless ones when
they appeared ruddy and hungry in
the distance.
Doune snatched her up and kissed
her fondly then, seeing his father be-
yond, felt the color of his spirits change;
but Mr.. Eyre demolished a difficulty,
and established a right order of things
by in Guiding both boys in his inquiries
as to how-they had amused themselves
lndt IiCEL1HS.
Doune flushed and was tongue tied
for awhile; it gave him a new sensa-
ton to address the father who had
mot spoken to him for three years,
but he forced out a few words so
that Gordon saw nothing amiss, and,
liking both, was struck once more by
the extraordinary resemblance between
father and son.
But if Nh. Eyre did not hold himself
aloof from the children, he never in
truded on them.
They could come to him when they
pleased; but he never went to them;
their meals, their hours were different,
and having resumed his duties as mag
iStrate, there Wer days when little Mad
cap seeking him for consolation, found
none, so that thus early there were
thOrns in her babyish lot, and she learn
ed to suffer before she understood the
meaning Of the word
For that first day in which she found
herself neglected had, with variations
moro or less cheerful, repeated itself
during the ensuing fourteen days so
that sometimes Madcap would be car
ried first by one boy, then the other,
through all sorts of adventures, and
anon found herself neglected for some
rat catching or bird sharing exploit,
from which her small presnce was rig
0rn1ICIu TO