The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09

we met DIR. Winston, who asked US if
we'd seen anything of Robin.
ooh, he's around about here some
where" said Josh, handing me
piece of chewing gum from his
pocket. 81 daresay you'll find him
at home when you get there"
Eyes, l daresay," replied the doc
tor, but he waited as though he ex-
pected an answer from me, too.
But I kept still and lost one of my
grandma's "golden opportunities"
the opportunity to right a wrong.
That very night we went off to see
my only sister, taken suddenly i'll in
a distant city, and did not return for
six weeks. The first person met
then was Hugh Winston.
mo Robin here now, Dick" he
said, drawing deep breath; "lost
the very day you left. Yes, l knew
you'd be sorry, old chummie, and l
think Josh Barron is, too. Such a
dear little dog! and what will do
if he never comes back?D Hugh
turned away and pretended to tie his
shoe.
1t was pitch dark that night, and
could not sleep wink for the tick
ing of the clock; grandpa's clock it
used to be. He was dead and buried
now, and 1 wished that his clock was,
too, calling me "Dick- Dick. Dick
Dick!" from that lonesome corner on
the stairs. The very first chance l
had the next morning, | told about
Robin to grandma, and in moment |
wished that hadn't, for what do you
think she did9-took my hand and
made me stand with her beneath the
portrait of my grandfather!
"You are named after him." she
said; he seemed to look us through
and through, and her eyes filled with
tears.
"But, grandma, ought l to be a
tell-tale?"
'tOught you to be tell-tale, Rich
ard9 Did you turn face of panied
and sorrowful surprise on the evil
doer and go your way home without
worda No, you did not! But you
might have done even better than
that" Here the door opened, and
there stood Jane with strange and
startled look.
"What is it, Jane?' asked grand
ma. 81 am prepared for anything
now"
"It's Hugh Winston drowned,
ma'am," says Jane, "that splendid
boy! Fetched in to his mother; dead,
ma'am, with his sweet white face and
dripping hair, and Barry is here to
beg that you'll come"
Not another question did grand
mother ask, but said that | was to
drive her over and that perhaps Barry
would hitch old Bill to the buggy
for me. 1 asked Barry, and then,
fearing that he would talk about
Hugh couldn't stand that went
into the garden where 1 remembered
seeing some flowers over by the bee
hives. l thought I'd get some for
him. The flowers were like dear
little jonquils, only whittier and sweet
er, but the smell of the fresh, damp
earth ma lie me feel faint. Then l
heard dry stick snap, and looking
up saw Josh Barron's white scared
face over the garden palings.
Hush" he cried with a sort of
break in his voice, 81 say, it was
mean trick! letting boy do what
you'd scorn to do yourself, and say
ing never word. 1t was exactly for
that, to try you, that l gave Robin
away. I'd grown to like the dog, but
you gave me no excuse to get him
back, and you had a good chance,
too, when l pointed out the wagon
on Lees ridge. Hugh Winston is
drowned now, and who is more to
blame than your"
| stared at him, without a word.
"Who is more to blame than your"
What did that mean? My head felt
queer and dizzy, and my hands grew
as cold as ice. Then l heard Jane
calling me: Richard, Richard"
Why didn't she call me Dick as she
had always done? But l would be
glad to go to her now on any terms.
"Here is another spray" said Josh,
hurrying to hand over some flowers
he had gathered through the close
palings. l had to take them, he
looked so wistful, but l kept them
separate from mine, and when l got
into the buggy and told grandma,
she took Josh's flowers away from
me.
A little yellow dog crouched