The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-09

went from bad to worse, and one night
when was just 13 was awakened
from sound sleep by her scream. In an
instant few to her room, catching up
as i ran fathers old bowie knife that
always hung by my door. In the dim
light i saw her lying by the bedside, a
man bending over and choking her.
With all my strength / slashed at him
just as he turned. / meant to kill, but
the turn saved him. He sprang to his
feet with an oath and cry and rushed
to the washstand. ! had laid Uncle
Fred's cheek open from ear to chin.
1T was long before mother could
check the flow Of the blood. 1t sobered
him. of course. and made him piteously
weak. For days after that she nursed
and cared for him, hat forbade my en-
tering the room. Men came to see him
insisted on seeing him-and she
would send me to the bank for gold and
pay their claims and bid them go.
At last no was able to walk out with
that awful slash on his thin white
face. Once then he met and cursed
me, bat / did not mind-I had acted
only to save mother. How could / sup
pose that her assailant was her own
brother? Then finally with sobs and
tears she told me the story, how he had
been their mothers darling, how wild
and reckless was his youth, how her
mothers last thought seemed to be for
him, and how on her knees she. my
own mother, promised to take care of
poor Freddie and. d.shield him from every
i'll, and this promise she repeated to me,
bidding me help her keepit and to con-
ceal as far as could her brothers. mis-
deeds. For few months things went
little better. Uncle Fred got CON-
mission in a California regiment toward
the close of the war and was sent down
10 Arizona. Then came more tears
and trouble. couldn't understand it
all then, but do now. Uncle Fred
was gambling again. drawing on her
for means to meet his losses. The old
home went under the hammer, and we
moved down to San Diego, where father
had once invested and had left little
property. And then came the news
that Uncle Fred had been dismissed, all
on account Of drink and gambling and
misappropriation of funds. Miss Har-
vey knows all about this. lieutenant,
for mother told her and had reason TO.
And next came forgery, and we were
stranded. We heard that he had gone
after.that with a wagon train to Texas.
got employment on ranch, and then
m ther married again, married man
who had long befriended us and who
could give her a comfortable home.
She is now Mrs. Malcolm Bland of San
Francisco, and Mr.. Bland offered to
take me into his store. but loved the
open air and independence. Mr.. Bland
and Mr.. Harvey had business relations,
and when Uncle Fred was next heard
from he was Starving to death, he
said, actually dying He wrote to
mother from Yuma. Mother wired me
to go to him at once, and did. He was
considerably out at elbows, but in no
desperate need yet. just then Mr.. Har-
vcy offered him good salary to take
charge of his freight train. We all
knew how that must have been brought
about. and ! felt that it would only DO
a matter of time when he would rob
his new employer. He did and was
discharged. but Mr.. Bland made the
amount good, and the matter was bush-
cd up. Then he drove stage awhile and
then disappeared Mother has written
me time and again to find him or find
ont what has become of him. and I
promised I would leave no stone un-
turned. Tell her have kept my word.
Tell her found him. But tell her. for
Gods sake, to think no more of him.
Tell her not to strive to find him or 10
ask what he is or even where he is, be-
yond that he has gone to Sonora
Lieutenant, said Patterson, sud-
denly appearing at the opening, could
you step here momentt"
Drummond springs up.
lone moment. Mr.. Drummond,"
whispers Wing weakly. II must say
one word to you alone"
iii return in q minute, sergeant.
Let me SEQ what Patterson wants.
Miss Hhrvey and Ruth have risen.
The former is very pale and evidently
trembling under some strong emotion.
Once more she bends over him.
-"Drink this. Mr.. Wing, and now
talk no more than you absolutely have
to-"
Then renewing the cooling bandage
on his forehead her hands seem to lin
ger-surely her eyes do--as she rises
once more to her feet.
Meantime the Lieutenant has stepped
cut into the canyon.
What is it, Patterson? Quick"
THAT was some of our fellows, sir,
; squad of four, but they turned all Of
II "