The Penn's Grove record., 1896-10-30

en. The quiet dignity Of the girl, who
had remained behind to do all the WORT
and bear all the burden, seemed In
some subtle manner to deprive him OF
any romance that might have attached
itself to him. She ignored his half
proffered hand, and, turning into the
little passage led the way upstnirs.
Stephen Leach followed silently. He
was rather large for the house. aud
especially for the stairs; moreover. he
had a certain burliness Of walk, such
as Is acquired by men living constantly
In the open. There was a vaguely pain
ed look in his blue eyes. as If they had
suddenly been opened 10 his own short
comings.S His attitude toward Joyce
was distinctly apologize.
When he followed the girl across the
threshold of their mothers bedroom the
old lady was sitting UP In bed, holding
out trembling arms toward the door.
Here Stephen Leach seemed to know
better what to do. He held bis mother
in his arms while she sobbed and muir
INJURED out her Joy. He had no words.
but his arms meant mora than his lips
could ever have told.
1t would seem that the best part Of
happiness Is the sharing Of 1t with
someone else. Joyce" was the first
distinct word the old lady spoke,
Joyce, he has come at last. he has
comet Come here, dear. kiss your
brother. This is my first bombay lit
tie Steve
The young man had su-.k upon his
knees at the bedside, probably because
it was the most convenient position.
He did not second his mothers pro-
posal with much enthusiasm. Alto
gether he did not seem to have discov-
cred much sympathy with his sister
whom he had left In her cradle.
Joyce came forward and leaned over
the bed to kiss her brother while the
old lady's hands Joined theirs. Just
ns her fresh young lips came within
reach he turned his face aside, so that
the kiss fell Oh barren ground on his
tanned cheek.
Joyce" continued the old lady fever.
ishly. Il am not afraid to die now, for
| Stephen Is here. Your brother Will
take care of you. dear. when I am
gone"
1t was strange that stephen had not
| snoken vet. and IL was inst ~
well, because there are occasions in life
when men do wisely to keep silent.
He is strong" the proud mother
went on. II can feel II. His hands are
large and steady and quiet and his
arms are big and very hard
Tho voun. man tra,, rnr,ah. .na
s,hr,,ttaa rsora,n - an. -. ~
yorto,n
nya.n ~ s.,a az .a
grow to be a big man. His little fingers
were so strong--he hurt me sometimes.
What a great mustachel l knew you
had been a soldier. And the skin Of
your face B brown and a little rough.
What is this? what Is this, Stephen,
dear? Is this a woundT
Yes" answered the prodigal, speak
Ing for the first time. THAT lie a sword
cut. / got that in the last war. / am
a colonel In the Gillian army, or was,
before / resigned"
The old lady's sightless eyes were
fixed On his face as II listening for the
echo Of another voice in his deep, quiet
tones.
Your voice is deeper than your faith
er's aver was" she said, and all the
while her trembling fingers moved low
ingly over bis face, touching the deep
cut from cheek bone to jaw with soft
Incu3rH.This-mnst have been very
near your eye, Stephen. Promise me,
dear, no more soldering"
II promise that" he replied, without
raising his eyes.
such wa. rho home com,ns ~ tba
nrodIeal After ali he arrived NJ tbe
right momen n tba aftarnoon When
tha house was raadv II sometimes
does bappen 90 in real life and NOT only
m books There Il . oraat deal hat
might he altered IN this world but
sometimes Nv a more chance things
come about RIGHTLY. And vet there was
something wrong. somethine subtle.
which the diving woman,s dnlIer senses
failnd IN dptarf Har cOp her Staphan
was ouiat and had moi mucb 10 sav for
himself He annarentlv had the hab,t
of tak,no things as thev came There
was no enthusiasm. but rather a re-
straint. in his me more esneciaIIy
toward Joyce.
The p,rl noticed ii. but even her ANAL
experience Of HUMANKIND had tauuht
her that large. ~fair-skinned men are
often thus. They are not .de ceux oui
s'expliquent,s but go through life pla-
cidly, leaving unsad and undone many
things which some think they ought to
say and do.
AYter tna arzt eyc,,amen, NJ me ra.
tnrn was ovar Il haca ma g,arinvlv an.
narent that stanban bad arrived inst In
time HIS motber fall ,nto : bapny
sleep bafora sunset ana when the &C
five Young doctor cama ! little later
in tbe aven,ng he sbook his head