The Van Buren press., 1895-08-10
after all; and I'm going to keep it up,

~ ""o Afc hiuuIeS OF Blk, ana tn0
children claInored for dinner. Rob had
not put in an appearance, though Es-
theirs fingers were giving the finishing
touches to the table, The minute hand |
seemed to speed over the face of the
cuckoo clock; she felt as If it were
trying to cheat Rob, and looked
anxiously down the path, hoping to
see the boyish figure dash in sight
"Cookool cookool" began the old
clock, triumphantly. Still no Rob.
Esther was tempted to have Jane de-
lay the ringing OF the dinner bell, bit
restrained the impulse. 4twould b.
violating the compact, and, besides,
Rob must learn self-reliance, and ex-
pect the consequences Of his own heed
lessness So the dinner. bell added its
voice to that Of the cookoo clock, and
1t was a funeral knell, as well a.
business-like summons to dinner, for
IT tolled the untimely death Of Esther's
little project. When the family assem-
bled, there was an empty chair at the
table.
'Oh, dear!" walled Sue; and "How
meant added Freddy. giving the table
leg vicious kick; for you see, Rob had
indiscreetly cohfded to them his secret
the day before. and they were looking
forward to the candy-pull as much as
he. AS for Esther, she was thoroughly
disappointed In Rob, and she had be.
gun to have such hope OF him; it was
too bad.
Dinner was half over when Rob,
flushed and breathing heavily, entered
the room. Such a chorus Of reproaches
greeted him from the children that
papa and Esther forbore' to add their
voices. - Ffz
you keep still till your opinions
asked" said Rob, goaded into this re-
proof by the children's gratuitous crit
icisms of his tardiness
"Yes, children, be quiet" said Mr..
Jordan. "You speak rather roughly,
my boy; but know that you are dis
appointed, and your sister and 1 are
almost equally So" 4est5z.t
Rob attacked the beefsteak in ST.
lence, and the rest of the meal was .
quiet one. Esther fingered after it
was over, half expecting some explana-
ton; but, beyond the remark that he
stayed at Joe's longer than he had ip-
tended, Rob vouchsafed none.
1t was the next morning that Joe
Simmons came over to the side porch
where Esther was sitting in her favor.
ite place behind the vines.
Good morning, joe" z4.fsE.A
"Good morning, Miss Esther. l.
| err"
II suppose you are after Rob. Ill
speak to him."
"No, no." Joe hastily interposed. II
was looking for YOU" II broke of q
morning glory which had gone to
sleep under the suns too ardent atten.
tions, and ground its purple juice into
his fingers. Esther, from long expert.
ence with boy ways, knew disclosure
of some kind was coming.
"Sit down." she said, pleasantly
"You have something to tell me, and
want to hear it." ,.4
"Well-er-Bob was over to my house
Yesterday afternoon, you know. We
had big time out in the barn, and +
kinder forgot about the baby. Ms
and pa had gone out, you know, and
left him to me-"
Uest you might think it piece Of
gross neglect on the part OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Simmons to intrust so precious, .
charge to SO youthful an older broth
er, it is we'll to state that the infant II
question was sturdy young creature
of two years) 4H pr sasa7f
"He-er''-another lunge at the morn
ing-glory vine-"got a-hold OF som'
green apples, and after awhile III
\ came out to us in the barn, yelling
awfully. First we didn't know what
was the matter; but we went into the
house and saw the pieces that he hadn'
eaten, and knew something must b.
done right off quick. Cholera morbus
YOU know, is so awful dangerous
couldn't think Of a thing to give hin
but whisky; knew they gave that II
lots of sudden cases; so while l hel'
Alfle Bob went after it." w
"My goodness! whisky" said Esther
her startled imagina alton picturing he
innocent brother ma king his way be
hind Objectionable screens Il hope n
thought to go to drug store" as..A 3
"Oh, yes'm," answ cred Joe, "he did
1t was bad enoug to go there after II
I'm temperance, you know-belong y
= the loyal legion; but knew the baby,
rot to have something. The clerl
told Rob he could get something bette
\ than whisky and gave him bottle o
medicine. We gave the baby dose o
1t, and. after awhile he went to sleer
Ma said Il told her all about 1t thi
mornlng) that it couldn't have bee
the apple that hurt him; he couldn'
have felt it so quick, and besides,
was ripper than it looked. But tel
YOU l was scared at the time. M,
"What came round for, Miss Esthel
was to tell you that this Is what mad
= Rob so late home yesterd ay l mad
him promise not to say anything abou
what kept him; but forgot then abou
the candy-pulling (you know Rob tol
me before, that he expected to hav
one). Ididn't find out till this mornin
that he was late for dinner. aske
Freddy, Ma said oughtn't to max
anyone keep anything from his folks
and that it generally wasn't wise
make such promises. But It was o.
nv fault. L hadn'twanted ma to hea
}of It. for fear she wouldn't trust m
again. s,s And then afterward ths
seemed Kind of sneaking, 80 l told he
myself. I hope you'll-er-fx it u
about the candy-pulling, Miss Esthe
i not SO that I can come, I'd feel tc
mean for that, but on his account
make it up for him, you know"
"Joe." said Esther, I'm glad you an
Roh are such friends That candY-pu