The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-11-29

, WhO hAS DEEN lELLlNO 1nESE rALSE
HOODS?"
her from behind the curtains, which were
let down: "Mahala, that you, dear?
waited here because Stupid seemed FESTIVE
Sorry to give Mr.. Doble so much trouble. :"
AS Mahala took her seat beside her sis
ter Lefty flung her thin young arms about
her neck and gave her a long hug and a
lingering kiss, and Mahala felt tear up
on her cheek.
"Why, Letty-so glad to see me as all
that?" she cried.
Lefty shook the reins and drove on, but
Mahala heard her sob.
"Why, darling" she said, "has our old
Stupid been FESTIVE enough to brighten you
after all his quiet years?' The girls an
swer was strange one.
"Mahala, he hasn't. I only said that
I didn't want to drive up where folks
could see me because my face is all swollen
up with crying. Stupid poked along just
as usual, but it wouldn't surprise me if he
had run away. Black Peter bit me this
morning. Bit and scratched me- and 1
haven't seen him since. Mahala, it
wouldn't astonish me if you were to take
out a dagger and stab me to the heart. 1t
would not"
"Sister Lefty" said Mahala, 81 am
afraid you think we shall not be as dear to
each other after I am married. 1 believe
that is what is upsetting you. But there
you are mistaken, darling. You will only
gain brother"
ga brother'' repeated Lefty, and broke
into a fit of hysterical sobbing.
"What is tits mother ill-or-or''-
"Mother isn't sick"
"No, it's not that
"Father?" whispered Mahala.
"Father has his health, said Lefty.
"And you are here, it's not you. 1t
must be Enos. Oh, Lefty, it is Enos!"
walled Mahala. envy darling brother, my
own dear boy-tell me-"
"No," said Lefty. 81 almost swore
wouldn't until you got home. 1 guess
you feel bad enough to expect anything,
now, if that's what they mean by prepar
ing people. They said could prepare you
little. guess have"
They were now in sight of the Pynchon
homestead. The afterglow of the sunset
was a soft, primrose yellow. The old
house, situated on high elevation, and
the bare and graceful branches of the elm
trees about it lay black against the yellow,
as Lefty drove up to the gate and jumped
out upon the stone block.
If terror could have killed her, Mahala
must have dropped dead before she reached
the porch and saw figure emerge from
the darkness of the house. 1t was her ia
ther and she fell into his arms unable
even to ask question.
you've told her, Lefty" he said re-
proachfully.
81 haven't, pa. prepared her, and this
is the result, !" responded Lefty, bursting
into tears But Mahala was already able
to stand on her feet and be led into the
parlor. If she had had any doubt that the
calamity was serious, this would have con-
WINGED her of it-th:s solemn entrance
into the best room.
"Trouble has come upon us, daughter"
said the old man.
81 have guessed it. Enos is dead?"
gasped Mahala.
"No, child" said the father. "The trou-
BILE that has come to this house is not the
trouble that death brings. Mahala, your
brother has betrayed them that trusted
him. He has robbed the bank and is off
with the hard earnings of widows and or
phans Enos-our Enos-is traitor and
cowardly thief"
But at that Mahala sprang to her feet.
eff an angel should tell me that" she
cried, "I'd know it was lie. Whom have
you been listening to, father? Who has
dared say such things of the son you know
so we'll to be good and upright?'
The old man turned away, sat down be-
side the table, folded his arms and hid his
face in them. Mahala, with flashing eyes
and burning cheeks, turned to Lefty.