The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-09-19

Grandma Rugg was very harsh ano
severe with her in consequence. There
were black and blue places on her
shoulders now where she had been
beaten, but Arch did not know it. Mat
never spoke TO him about her suffer
ings, because IL distressed him so, and
made him very angry with the old
woman.
He went in and sat down on the straw
beside Mat, and before he knew it he
was telling her about Marsie Harrison.
He always brought all his joys and sor-
rows to Mat now. just as he used TO
carry them to his mother.
The girl listened intently. the spots
on her face growing deeper and wider.
She looked at the bluebells wistfully,
but would not touch them. Arch Of
fered her spray. She shook her head
sadly.
NO" she said, they are not for me.
Keep them, Arch. Some time, think,
You will be rich and happy. and have
all the flowers and beautiful things you
wish"
IF ever am. Mat, you shall be my
queen. and dress in gold and silver,
answered the boy warmly. and never
do any more heavy work to make your
hands hard"
You are very good. Arch" she said
II thank you, but l shall not be there,
you know. / think | am going away
going where ! shall see my mother, and
your mother. too. Arch, and where all
the world will be full of flowers. Then
l shall think of you, Arch, and wish
could send you some
Mat. dear Mat. don't talk so strange
lyr said the boy. clasping her hot
hands in his. You must not think of
going away! What should do without
you?"
She smiled. and touched her lips TO
his hand which had stolen under her
head. and lay so near her cheek.
You would forget me. Arch. mean
after a time. and | should want you TO-.
xit love you better than anything else
N all the world. And it is better that
l should die. a great deal better Last
night | dreamed it was. Your mother
came and told me so. 10 you know how
Jealous / have been Of that Margie Har
rison? | have watched you closely.
have seen you kiss a dead rose that
knew she gave you. And longed to see
her so much, that have waited around
the splendid house where she lives, and
seen her time and again come out 10
ride, with her beautiful dresses, and
the white feather in her hat, and the
wild roses on her cheeks. And my
heart ached with such hot, bitter pain.
But it's all over now, Arch. ! am not
Jealous now. love her and you-both
OF YOU together. If do go away. want
you to think kindly of me. and-and
goodnight, Arch-dear Arch. / am
so tired"
He gathered her head to his bosom.
and kissed her lips.
Poor little Mat. In the morning, when
Arch came down. she had indeed gone
away-drifted out with the tide and
with the silent night.
After Mats death the home at Grand
ma Riggs became insupportable to
Arch. lie could not remain there. The
old woman was crosser than ever. and
though he gave her every penny OF his
earnings. she was not satisfied.
50 Arch took lodgings in another
part Of the city. quite as poor a place,
but there no one had the right to gram
BILE at him. Still. because she was some
relation 10 Nat, he gave Grandma Rugg
full half OF his money. but he never re-
NAMED inside her doors longer than
necessity demanded.
In his new lodgings he became ac-
quaintcd with a middle-aged man who
represented himself as a retired army
officer. His name was John Sharp a
sleek. keen-eyed, smooth-tongued in
dividual. who never boosted or blus-
tered. but who gave people the idea
that at some time he had been a per-
son of consequence. This man attached
himself particularly 10 Arch Trevlyn.
With insidious cunning he wormed
himself into the boys confidence. and
gained, to a certain degree. his friend
ship. Arch did not trust him entirely.
though There was something about
him from which he shrank-the touch
OF his white iowclcd hand, made his
Hosh creep. l.Ac the touch OF SER
pent
But Mr.. Sharp had an object TO gain
and set himself resolutely TO work to
carry his point. lie made himself nee
essary to Arch. lie bought him books.
and taught him i'm the evenings. when
neither were engaged otherwise. lie
had been well educated. and i'm Arch he
had an apt scholar. Every spare mo-
ment of the boys life was absorbed in
his books.
BY and by Sharp learned the whole
history of tn wrongs inflicted on Arch's
parents by old Mr.. Trevlyn. lie snapped
at the story as a dog snaps at a bone.
But he was cautious and patient, and
il was a long time before he showed
himself 20 Arch in his true character.
And then, when he did. the revelation
had been made so much by degrees,
that the boy was hardly shocked to
find that his friend was housebreakeT
and highway robber.
Long before he had formed a plan
to rob the house Of Mr.. Trevlyn. 1t
was a field that promised well. Mr..
Treylyn. with the idiosyncrasy Of age.
had invested most Of his fortune in dia-
monds, and these he kept in chamber
IN his house. His chief delight con-
sisted in gloating over these precious
stones. Night after night he would
SIT handling his diamonds, chuckling
over his wealth, and threatening i'm
aslnary plunderers with destruction.
30 his servants said, and Sharp re-
peated the story 20 Arch with sundry