The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-04-28

poisoning. The doctors could not do
anything at all. It came from wound
made by rusty fish hook. Her brother
did it. That's what comes of having
hot temper. He's no less than mur-
derer. And she was so devoted to him,
too. She used to tell me how smart he
was, and was always praising him. I
feel sorry for him now. Ican't help it,
bad as he is. I've heard his mother say
he had q proud, stubborn spirit. |
guess it'll be humbled now Do you
want to go upstairs aud see Mrs. Lacy
I'll go with you She is almost heart
broken, poor woman.
Fred heard the door close, and foot
steps ascending the stairs. He pushed
the folding doors wider apart and en-
tered the parlor very quietly. In the
centre of the room was long lounge;
on it lay Lila. She seemed to be
asleep, but when he crept close to her
and knelt down beside her, he could
not hear her breathe. And her face
was strangely white, except that on the
right cheek was ragged crimson
wound. He shuddered as he saw it.
Lila, he said.
She did not answer. She did not
move. He understood then. The
something terrible had happened at
last. This was the fruit of that hot
temper He had killed his sister, He
remembered how good she had always
been to him, how forgiving, how ready
to excuse him always. She had never
spoken an angry word to him. And
she had shielded him many times from
his mothers just displeasure. And now
she was gone, and he had killed her:
He could never apologize to her now
for that fit of anger. He could never
tell her that she might have the can,
that he could use the pasteboard box Just
as we'll. While he knelt there he heard
footsteps behind him, but he was too
wretched to turn round, and he did not
move until he felt q hand on his arm.
Then he started up to see-the sun
shining still through the leaves of the
forest trees, and cleaning on the water
and old Bose at his shoulder with lit
tie basket hung about his neck. Was
it all dream, then? Had he fallen
asleep. was it possible he had suffered
so keenly in mere dream? Oh, how
glad. how relieved he was! He almost
sobbed as he threw his arms about the
old dogs neck. The basket was Lillas.
In it were two sandwiches, piece Of
cake, hard boiled egg and soms
pickles At the bottom was a little
note. Fred's fingers trembled as he
opened it. 1t ran:
| DEAR FRED-Jane said you went away with
| out any lunch, so l sent Bose with this hope
he'll find you. Don't think any more about the
scratch. know you didn't mean to do it, and
it isn't so very deep. ought not to have taken
the can. But was making something for you
and thought I'd put the can back before you
noticed it was gone. LILA"
Fred read the note over twice then
he put it in his pocket and began to
eat his lunch. And while he ate he did
more thinking of a serious kind than
he ever had done in any half hour be-
fore. 1t was nearly six o'clock when
he reached his home and he noticed
with an odd feeling at his heart that
the blinds were all open. He heard
Lila singing in the sitting room, and
went softly in, setting the basket very
carefully on the chair. 1t seemed very
heavy and there was something scratch
ing in it. Lila had her back to the
door She was bending over something
yellow in her lap. There were scraps
of bright yellow silk on the floor and
on the window-sill was bottle of shell
lac and small paint brush. Fred
crept softly across the floor and put his
arms about his sisters neck, startling
her so that she let her work fall to the
floor. -,--r
"Oh, Fred T.
Lila |"
That was all that Fred said for at
least five minutes, for there was lump
in his throat that choked him so he
couldn't speak. And what he said after
the lump went down needn't be told.
1t was enough that Lila was satisfied
that he was sorry that he had given her
that disfiguring scratch-so satisfied
that she cried. And if tears came to
this tender hearted, loving sister.
Presently Lila picked up her work
from the floor. 1t was a cuff box
something Fred had long wanted-and
was gay with yellow satin ribbon
THAT can was just what L needed to
form on, said Lila. "All the pals
were great deal too large"
She tried not to seem to notice the
shame in her brothers face.
I've got something to show you,
too" said Fred, and he went out in the
hall ! and brought in the basket. Il
tramped all the way to Pimlico station
to get this, he said. "Iknew of man
there who had some and thought I'd
buy one. gave him fifty cents for il
all 1 had"
He pulled aside the cover of the bas.
ket and let Lila look in. Curled up as il
weary of rebellion against her prison
was plump Maltese kitten.
For Miss Mercy Claybecll, he said.
That was the beginning of Fred'a
struggle to overcome his hot temper,
and the memory of the dreadful dream
he had had by the river remained with
him all the days of his life to help him
through many an hour of sore tempta
tion 10 many glorious victory.