Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-02-20

she had been able to do anything, and
Grandma Rugg was very harsh aho
severe with her in consequence. Tnere
were black and blue places on her
shoulders now where she had Deen
beaten, but Arch did not know It. MAJ
never spoke to him about her suner-
ings, because 1t distressed him SO, and
made him very angry with the ola
woman.
He went In and sat down on the straw
beside Mat, and before he knew II ne
was telling her about Margie Harrison
He always brought all his Joys and sor-
rows to Mat now. Just as he usea "
carry them to his mother.
The girl listened intently. the spots
on her face growing deeper and wider.
| She looked at the bluebells wistfuliy'
| but would not touch them. Arch OF
fered her a spray. She shook her head
sadly.
mo-" she said, they are not for me-
Keep them, Arch. Some time. l think.
you will be rich and happy, ana nave
all the flowers and beautiful things you
wish"
"It 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.
'I thank you, but shall not be there'
you know. l think l 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
ly" said the boy. clasping her not
hands in his. You must not think OF
going away! What should l 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 l should want you TO.
But love you better than anything else
| in all the world. And 1t is better that
I should die. A great deal better. Last
night | dreamed 1t was. Your mother
came and told me SO. Do 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 to
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 II do go away, I want
you to think kindly OF me. and-and
goodnight. Arch-dear Arch. l 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. He could not remain there. The
/ Ulu WOUlhH "ss NIoSS'l Nhdl ever. anu
taough he gave her every penny OF his
earnings. she was not satisfied.
So Arch took lodgings in another
part OF the city, quite as poor place.
but there no one had the right to gruE-
BILE at him. Still. because she was some
relation to Mat, he gave Grandma Rugg
full half Of his money. but he never re-
In
necessity demanded.
In his new lodgings he became ac-
quainted with a middle-nged man who
represented himself as n retired army
officer. His name was John Sharp-a
sleek, keen-eyed, -tongued in
dividual, who never boosted or blus-
tered. but who gave people the idea
that at some time he had been n per-
son OF consequence. This man attached
himself particularly to 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. jeweled hand, made his
flesh creep. like the touch OF SER
pent.
But Mr.. Sharp had an object to gain.
and set himself resolutely to work to
carry his point. He made himself nec-
essary to Arch. He bought him books
and taught him in the evenings. when
neither were engaged otherwise. He
had been we'll educated and In Arob ho
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 Arcb's
parents by old Mr.. Trevlyn. He snapped
at the story as dog snaps at bone,
But he was cautious and patient. and
1t was long time before he showed
himself to 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
hnd that his friend was a housebreaker
and highway robber.
Long before he had formed a plan
TO rob the house of Mr.. Trevlyn. 1t
was field that promised we'll. Mr..
lrevlyn, with the idiosyncrasy Of age,
had invested most of his fortune in dia-
ihonus, and these he kept In a chamber
IN MS house. His chief delight con-
sisted In gloating over these precious
stones. Night after night he would
sit handling his diamonds, chuckling
over mis- wealth. and threatening i'm