The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-01-04

Against the dim light OF the room arGS
outlined the figure Of his lcite.
it? Havo you fortune?" Frank shook
his head and twisteda shoulder. "What
have you done that is worth the doing
then?''
"Nothing that I intended to do,
Dick, was the grave reply.
eyes, 1 imagined that. You have
seen them, have you, Frank" he added
in softer voice.
Frank blew great cloud of smoke
about his face. and through it he said,
Eyes, Dick, have seen id sight
more than deserve to see. F."
ooh, of course, know that, my boy!
But, so far as | can see, in another d.
rection you are getting quite what you
stairs; you are here. -
He paused, was silent for moment,
then leaned over caught his brothers.
arm and said III low, strenuous voice:
Crank Armour, you laid hateful lit
tie plot for us. Itwasn't manly, but we
forgave it and did the best we could
But, see here, Frank, take my word for
it, you have had lot Of luck. There
isn't one woman out of 10, 600 that
would have stood the test as your wife
has stood it. Injured at the start, con-
slant neglect, temptation"-he paused.
"My boy, did you ever think of that-ot
the temptation to awomap neglected by
her husband? The temptation to men,
Yes, you have had lot of luck. There
has been q special providence for you,
my boy, bu5 not for your sake. God
doesn't love neglectful husbands, but ]
think he is pretty sorry for neglected
wives.
Frank was very still. His head drop
ped, the cigar hung UNDECIDED in his fin
gers for moment, and he said at last;
'Dick, old comrade, I've thought it all
over tonight since came back-every-
thing that you've said | have not
word of defense to make, but, by heav-
ell, I'm going to win my wife's love if
/ can, and w len do it L II make up for
all my cursed foolishness See if /
don tt"
THAT sounds we'll, Frank, :" was the
quiet reply. II like to hear you talk
that way. You would be very foolish if
you did not What do you think of the
child?"
"Can you ask me what think? He
is a splendid little fellow "
Take care Of him then. Take good
care of him. You may never have an
other" was the grim rejoinder.
Frank WINGED. His brother rose, took
his arm and said: LET US go to our
rooms, Frank. There will be time
enough to talk later, and l am not so
young as l once was. :"
Truth to say, Richard Armour was
not so young as he seemed few months
before. His shoulders We're a little
stopped; he was grayer about the tenn
pies The little bit of cynicism which
had appeared in that remark about the
care of the child showed also III the lines
old, true, honest look. But a man can
not be hit in mortal places once or twice
in his life without it being etched on
his face OF dropped, like pinch of aloe,
from his tongue.
Still they sat and talked much longer,
Frank showing better than when his
brother came. Richard gone gray and
tired. At last Richard rose and mo-
toned toward the window. 'See,
Frank he said, sit is morning. "
Then he went and lifted the blind The
gray, smpurged air oozed On the glass.
The light was breaking over the tops of
the houses a crossing sweeper, early to
his task or holding the key OF the
st4eet, went pottering by, and a police.
man glanced up at them as he passed.
Richard drew dow.l the curtain again.
"Dick, said Frank suddenly; You
look old, Iwonder if have changed as
much?'
Six months before Frank Armour
would have said that his brother looked
young.
"Oh, you look young enough, Frank,
was the reply, but l am good deal
Older chan ! was five years ago. Come,
/ let us go TO bed -
Many weeks afterwa4d Az anxious
! family stood about the cot of a sici4
| child.
The family doctor had just left the
/ room. Marion, turning to the father
and mother said fsGravbopa will I,a lilo