The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-03-05

LMML
But where would Charlie stay9 Mr..
Norton said he would be welcome
there, but she knew he did not like
Charlie, perhaps because he thought
Mary liked him, and Charlie was 40
unsteady and wild. She could not
blame him for fearing to give his
daughter to him, as he would doubtless
have to do if they were thrown much
together.
This was now q new anxiety for
Ellie, She had been the cause of fore
ing Charles COMPANY into an unwel-
como home, and perhaps destroying its
peace. For several days after getting
Charles letter she was so distressed
and low-spiritcd that Mary found her
n very uninteresting companion.
II am sure, ELF" she said, "you
are not o~verjoyed that Charlie is COM
ing, for you seem in the depths of de-
spair."
Il do feel so, " said Ellie, II have a
prcsentiment of trouble, and feel there
is no way of escape"
Il wonder what brought father
back so soon," said Mary, going to
the window. Il see him coming from
town"
Mr., Norton got down from his horse
and came up to Ellie, saying:
Il have bad news, Miss Ellie, but
you must not let it shock you. Think
it best to tell you at once, so that you
a take any steps you think necessary.
But l am sure l don't know what to
do"
"What is il, Mr.. Norton2' asked
Ellie, thinking Of John, more than of
Charlie.
Charlie Dabney was arrested the
moment he set foot on the platform at
the depot, and is in Jail, " he answered.
cit is that hateful Lon Clayton, /"
said Mary, trying to hide the tears she
did not like for her father to see.
"You know he was bailed out, Mr..
Norton said to Ellie, land now the
time is up"
And John not here, oh, what will
he dor cried Ellie, in great distress.
81 will write to Bertha and tell her
to come, said Mary. Il know from
what she wrote me that she can say
something TO help Charlie, " and there
upon, she sat down at oncc and wrote
Bertha the letter that we read about
in the last chapter.
1t reached its destination after many
delays, for the mails were at the mercy
of the lawlcss, as well rs everything
else.
All that while Charlie was lying in
his cell in great bodily as well as men
tai pain He had been wounded in his
side before he got his furlough, and it
had only imperfectly healed. Now the
fever was raging again, and amid all
his discomforts he was almost hopeless
and weary of living.
"Would Ellie or Mary come to him9''
he wondered.
After several days there was a step
on the door sill, and the next instant
Flies hand clasped his, and she was
bathing it with tears.
"Oh, Charlie, l ] have been sick and
could not come sooner, and you are
sick, your hand is hot with fever"
"Oh, little sister," he said, feebly,
"Iwish the bullet had found my heart,
but it did not, that is left to ache on,
in its loneliness.
Loneliness, no, no, your little sis
ter is here, and ready to do anything
for you, and, Charlie, here is Mary"
Dear, good Mary" he said, taking
her hand and smiling family, but hi:
eyes turned to Ellie again with that
sad, pathetic look in them.
"Where is mother2" he asked.
How could she tell him that his
mother shared the home of the mar
who of all others had proven himself
the direst enemy to him. But when
she told him he did not seem to mind
it, nor care so much for the vengeance
he had wished for his enemy.
His greatest trouble was that John
could not come. That strong, brave,
brotherly spirit had stood in between
him and every storm since he could re.
member. He had grown used to carry
ing every burden to him and leaving il
with him, but this, the heaviest, most
grievous of all, he was forced to carry
alone, With a great yearning his heart
cried for John in this extremity, feel.
ing that his own strength was made
quate to the demands upon it.
"When the day of trial comes, Ellie,
will you come and stand by me2 Joh1
can't come"
Eyes, I will, and perhaps John car
come, too, said Ellie.
"No, no, don't try to deceive me, hi
is a prisoner, but for that, I would no
doubt his being here, the bravest, dear
est, best brother a mar ever had -
His voice trembled with feeling.
Charlie" said Mary, "all of u
will stand by You, and you will b
cleared, and all will come right"
ut may be this fever in my veins
but, somehow, it seems to me, every
thing has always been wrong with me
and never will be right in this world
Will they in the other2"
Eyes, said Ellie, "if you can lear
to say, Thy viii be done,' then al
will be right in THE other world an
this one, too"
"Elf, since I got this wound and
have suffered SO much it has come t
me s forcibly how ignorant l hay
been all my life not to know that lif
is nothing unless we can learn self-foI
getfulness and get willing to lay ouI
selves on affairs Of sacrifice. What !