The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-06


y out having a good wish
as they started.
"But hope you won't stay late. l
mean very late. The days are so long,
and it's good to have you come
home"
1t was Hetty who said this.
"Poor little Het," said Frank, as he
turned for farewell smile at the two
faces at the window. "It's too bad
this race on the ice came just today
"Yes, it is" assented Rob.
"When she's been shut up in the
house SO long. And this the first
day she could get out"
eyes," said Rob again.
ssLook here" said Frank, stopping
short after they were out of reach of
the eyes inside the window. "S'pose
we give this up, and give Hetty her
frolic."
.Pshaw," exclaimed Rob, half
angrily. Cali the boys are going to
be out and it'll be regular tip top
time. Give it up just to take out a
little grill"
Hetty had had a long illness and
was just able to go out. For several
days it had been arranged that on
this Saturday afternoon she was to
be wrapped up and the boys were to
take her on a sled over to the house
of Uncle Harry, half mile away.
The little girl had looked forward
to it with such delight as those know
who have spent many weary weeks in
the house.
Then had come the regatta.
Of course all the boys in the coun-
try around would expect to be there.
And equally of course Hetty, being
an unselfsh little girl, said at once
that she would remain at home SO
that her brothers might go.
81 wouldn't care Bit" went on
Frank TO his brother as they walked
on, "if Hetty wasn't SO nice about it.
If she'd cried and made fuss, as
most girls would, I'd have just told
her to shut up. But she didn't"
Rob remembered, though, the trem-
BILE of the lip with which his little sis
ter had insisted that the boys should
not give up their sport for her sake, so
he didn't make any reply except to
quicken his steps, which had slowed
as Frank had hesitated.
"You don't mean," said Rob, pres
emily, "that you'd really go back
now"
II will if you will" said Frank,
stopping short. II don't mean but
what l want to see the regatta-aw-
fully-but-"
swell, that's just my fix" said Rob,
stepping On with resolute face. 81
want to see it awfully-and I'm going
to see it. Hurry up, now"
With one or two swift runs to vary
the fast walking, the mile was soon
covered. They were early. 1t was
scarcely past noon, yet there were al
ready numbers of people gathering
on the lakeside.
What gay scene it was. The ice
boats stood decked with bright rib
bons which whirled and danced in
the breeze. The ice was alive with
skaters flying this way and that
while on the bank sleighs and cut
tiers, with merry parties and jingling
bells, drove up and down.
But, Notwithstanding all, there was
a weight at the hearts of our two
boys. Rob was by no means inclined
to be unkind to his sister. Take
them as a family, they were most
united in loving care and thought for
each other. A large sleigh full of
little girls drove bv. They were
Hetty's friends, and how Rob would
have rejoiced in seeing her face among
them. But it was inside the room in
which she had been prisoner for SO
long, probably, still looking from the
window from which she had waved
them a farewell.
Then before him arose a day on
which the dear face had lain on a
pillow and no one knew whether it
~ould ever be lifted, to gladden. those