The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-07
STEVIE'S HOME.

but, poor laddie, he had never had his
wits and never would. Master Edward
was almost grown then, a tall, splendid
fellow, as good as he was handsome, and
the pride of his mothers heart. From the
first almost I saw what would come.
Christie was just made for Master Ed
ward. As thsy grew up mistress saw it
too.
Master Sterile had queer way OF his
own. Sometimes he would travel all day
back and forth from the house to place
he called his home. 1t was just sort of
cave in the hillside mile from mistress
place. He had fixed it up with shells and
odd things and had chair and table in
it. There he liked to sit in summer time,
and Master Edward has often brought
him home late in the evening, almost by
force. Not soul in the neighborhood
would have hurt anything in Stevie's
house, not the widest boy of them all.
The most of them were just bit afraid Of
him, and the place was Stunned by the
little ones and not sought by any.
Just at that time Stevie staid home
more. used to tell Christie, laughing,
never guessing what would come of it,
that she had three lovers-Master Edward,
young Squire Thorne and Stevie.
'tAnd Stevie is the fondest,'' said I.
Then Christie would laugh and say, "Poor
Steviel''
mind well the day that Edward told
me how he liked her, and she came in to
show me the engagement ring on her fin
ger. I was as pleased as could be, for
Squire Thorne had seemed to be going to
cut Master Edward out now and then,
and I'd not have liked that.
1Ir 1%rr1 81
married, miss said, land maybe will
now
1T seems likely" she said, and won
der now that could have felt SO certain
about it as I did and never had q fear
when trouble was SO near.
1t was while we were talking that Stevie
came in and sat down close to US. Pretty
soon he took hold of Christie's curls and
pulled them softly all about her face.
'fIts pretty hair, and you are pretty.
Christie" he said. "Do you know what
am thinking?''
''No, Stevie, - said Christie.
"There's SO much talk about marrying
in these days that think I'll marry my
self, said Stevie
''Who is the bridep' said ], humoring
him.
Christie said he "and we'll live to-
gether in my house. Won't we, ChristieP''
'tNot quite that said Christie "But
I'll marry your brother Edward, Stevie,
and Well all live here together, and shall
be your sister. Won't that be as well?''
NO." said Stevie. Its better my
way And all that evening be was in his
worst mood.
But who needed daft Stevie? There were
other things to think of, especially when,
for all he heard of the engagement, Squire
Thorne kept calling on Miss Christie the
same as ever, and Master Edward grew
angry, and there was quarrel between
the lovers. I fretted over it, but it was
made up at last and the wedding day set.
All the things were made ready, and the
day came, and went bright and early to
Miss Christie's room to wake her, but she
wasn't there. She was nowhere in the
house, and search as we might we could
not find her. At last news came that
Squire Thorne had also gone off in the
night in a hurry, leaving no word behind
him, and what should any one think but
that Christie had played Master Edward
false and gone with Thorne.
1t was woeful day, and I never shall
forget it. But Master Edward bore it like
a man, and mistress only said, "We'n
never speak of her again, Jean" AS for
Stevie, we told him nothing. Later in the
day he came back from Ibis home'' and
ate his supper. He seemed to know that
something was wrong, but he asked no
questions and was still, and sat muttering
to himself long while. It was late au-
tumn and growing colder every day, but
he kept going to the place he called his
home as though it had been summer
perhaps because it was so dull and sad at
home. All the happiness seemed gone
with Christie, and mistress did not heed
him as she would another time, SO he took
cold and began to cough. And then, when
he was on his back, too weak to stand up
even, he kept rambling on about Christie,
Christie, until he made our heads ache,
for though we thought her SO bad we had
loved her dearly, all of US.
It was Christmas time when he lay
a-dying. We were all about his bed, when
of sudden he looked up and said: "Send
Ned away. I want to tell you something"
And Master Edward turned and walked
out of sight. not thinking there was aught
to tell, and we, never guessing what was
coming, went nearer.
s'What is it?" said his mother.
''I'm afraid Christie is cold,'' said he.
s'She's well enough" said I.
"No,'' said he; f'she's cold. The snow
is on the ground. I meant to take her my
great cloak, but I can't go so far. She's
in my house, you know. That's what
don't want Ned to hear. He said she
must marry him. 1 didn't like that, and
SO when got up early and found her in
the garden 1 took her to my house. When
we got there, told her she must stay.
She laughed at first, and then she tried to
go. 1 held her so sho shouldn't-tight by
the neck with both hands. She screamed
at first, but pretty soon she stopped and
lay down. I think she is angry, for she
won't speak to me. She pretends to be
asleep when talk to her. But she does
xrhat 7 Sav a0d staVs fhnrn Take NV
cloak and cover her and don't tell Ned
And those were the last words he said
Before he had half finished them Master
Edward was gone-gone straight to the
place Stevie had called his home, an awful
place now, that none of the village will go
near.
They found her-all that was left of her
Stevie never meant to kill her-no one
thinks that-but ne had done it all the