The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-11

higher than his horses head. I'm som<
parts of this state know of men wh<
planted mustard for the seed-they
thresh 1t out with machines as you dc
wheat-and now they want to raise an.
other sort of crop and they can't. The
mustard volunteers each year and kills
out the other crop"
1t was during the next winter that
the Los Angeles man received lette,
from his eastern brother who had re.
turned home, telling him of the con.
version of his son Howard.
Howard has turned out ali right
just as told you he would" he wrote.
he was converted last week in a
series of revival meetings here. Alice
Is perfectly happy. You NOW they
were married just two months ago and
she says it is the best celebration Of
their wedding day that is possible.
We all think the same, for really even
had begun to feel pretty anxious
about Howard. He is as enthusiastic
and active as even his mother could
wish, and we are in a happy and
Thoughtful frame of mind all around"
Il couldn't have heard better news"
said the brother, as he finished read
ing the letter to his wife. II hope he
may stand firm. He is a gifted young
man and capable of doing much good
in the world"
1t was two years later that the
brothers met again in the depot IN
Los Angeles. 1t was raining. A steady
drlzzle fell on the impatient horse and
beat on the buggy-top as.they drove to
the house.
"Oh, Dick" said the visiting BROTH
er, II can't believe it. l can't even
now and l couldn't stay there another
day. | knew you and Laura would
take me in
We're only too glad to, my dear
brother" and he laid his hand loving
ly on the others arm. There were
tears in his eyes as he looked at the
pale, thin, rapidly aging face of the
other. 1--WE are glad to have you come
to u.s."
When they lowered Mary in the
grave | couldn't stand it; l tainted, |
guess. Oh, it was dreadful; can't tell
you, and yet can't keep still. l think
sometimes l shall go crazy. l can
think of nothing else Howard did do
well for time, as l wrote you, and he
meant to, am sure he meant to, poor
boy. am sure it killed his mother
Mary never was very strong, you
know, and he was all the boy we had
Don't talk of it now, George" said
the brother tenderly, wait till Laura
gives you some warm dinner, you'll
feel stronger. Well be there in min.
ute and she'll have it all ready"
"Yes, / know. You see the old com.
panions kept trying to win him back.
If they'd left him alone he'd have done
all right, but they wouldn't. And he
went back. 1t was like what you told
me when 1 was out here before; vol
unteer crop. I've been thinking of it
all day."
Don't think of it now, George,
there's the house, see," wiping the tears
slyly from his eyes, doesn't it look
natural?"
1.-THE house, oh, yes. No, I won't
IaIA aoouC H. DuV you see-WndG Is
man to do with his only son-I couldn't
believe they'd send him up for life, but
they say they had hard work to do
that. You know the law allows capital
punishment in our state. Oh, he'd
never have done it if he hadn't been
tipsy. Ben Redding's son-they'd been
friends ever since they were children
you remember Ben. Well, he and
Howard were at a game of cards in
Overmeyer's saloon-something came
up they cuarreled and Howard-oh, !
never wanted him to carry revolver.
This the house, oh, yes. Well, won't
talk about it, but you can see it was a
volunteer crop-a volunteer CROP
Emma Hartman, in Union Signal.