Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-10-22
A BLACK SHEEP.
BY HARRY LOCKWOOD.
How sharper than serpent's tooth
To have thankless child ~

fore her, tall, dark, with blazing eyes
and tirmly-compress lips.
He raised one strong, brown hand
with an impatient gesture.
80 you are ready to take sides with
father against me-" he exclaimed, his
voice full of suppressed passion.
Mrs Washburn sighed.
"Oh, dear What can l say to you"
she cried, appeallngly.
You can say that you believe am
scape- grace, if this Is what you
have in your mind. OF course there
is no blame anywhere except with me.
Joe and Charlie are saints, because
they haven't spirit enough to draw
lines for themselves, nor resolution to
follow them in the face of opposition.
| merely requested father to let me
study for a profession, and he fired
up on it, and said that his trade had
brought half dozen children up
from infancy, feeding and clothing
them, and that his trade was good
enough for his boys. Bah! AS though
I had no right to look above Il car
riage-maker's shop because l was
born in one"
Harry spoke with intense bitterness.
Wheeling abruptly, he would have left
the house Mt once. But slender form
stood in the doorway, and two deep
blue eyes met his in a glance which
was full OF mingled sympathy and ap-
prehension.
what is the matter, Harry" ques-
toned the girl. a ring Of anxiety in
her sweet tones.
Another flare-upw was the senten-
'I'm going away, Pet, I've borne
this life as long as | can"
Petronilla Wayne-the orphan child
Of a distant kinsman Of Mrs. Wash
burn-reached both hands upward.
and placed them upon Harry's shoul-
ders, which We're almost as high as
she could reach.
please don't go!' she said, plead
ingly.
A rift of white crossed her cheeks.
But her worda did not cause theyoung
man to waver in his purpose.
do not demonstrate, Pet I've
thought 1t all over, and made up my
mind what is best. l haven't been a
dutiful son at home-I have brought
disgrace upon my fathers name. He
said so this very morning. He said,
too, that | was the black sheep Of his
aock-because ef those boyish pranks
Of mine, suppose. hate to so,
though, with you blaming me-"
His manly voice showed signs Of
breaking, and he turned away his face
10 hide the signs Of emotion which he
could not keep back.
II do not blame you, Harry. Per-
haps it is best for you to CO. only-it
will be very lonely for me. That is
Rll."
The girl spoke quite brayely. Harry
dared not trust himself to speak again.
Bending quietly he kissed the CULVER
ing, upturned lips of Petronilla, leav-
ting one of his own tear-drops upon
her cheek. Then he pushed almost
the gray, misty morning.
Pet watched him out of sight. Then
Ihe saw Deacon Washburn, tall and
grim, coming up the path.
Harry has gone, Uncle Joseph" she
said, as the man ascended the steps.
"Well, he'll have chance to try
hghtin' his battle alone-that's all I've
got to say" was the hasty response.
Then he added. pulling viciously at his
grizzled beard:
Hell come back in week, like
enough, and own that he's rarnt a
esson"
But Harry did not "come back in n
week." nor in a month. A year passed
With no tidings from the black sheep.
Then there was Il steamboat disaster
On one of the great rivers, and among
the list of the killed Deacon Washburn
read the name of his son. There was
deep sorrow at the cottage after that,
and gloom settled upon the hearts Of
Its inmates.
Six years passed.
DEACON W dSIJulI > younger SOlS,
Joe and Charlie, married, and settled
down to humdrum existence within
half a mila of their fathers roof-tree.
But Petronilla Wayne renamed
with her benefactors. Mrs. Washburn
had become too feeble and tremulous
to attend to the household duties and
the brunt of them descended upon
Pets strong, young shoulders SO,
she went on with the simple routine
of housework, a trlhe wan and sad
lyed after the news of Harry's death.
One day a new misfortune came to
ihem. The deacon's carTiage-shop,
with all it contained, was burned.
and while attempting to eXtinguish
the flames, the deacon himself was Sc
gerely injured. There was a chance
for his life the doctor said, but his
physical labors could never be re-
sumed.
| Misfortunes never come singly. Be-
fore Mr.. Washburn was able to leave
the house, former resident of the