The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-11-17
GLOW sharper than a serpent's to ,th
To have Il thaukless child -

4. He raised one strong, brown han
with an inpatient gesture.
$50 you are ready to take sides wit
father against me!' he exclaimed, hi
voice full Of suppressed passion.
Mrs. WashDurn sighed.
"Oh, dear. What can l say to you:
she cried, appealingly.
You can say that you believe l an
a scape grace, If this is what yo,
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 tC
follow them in the face of opposition
merely requested father to let me
study for profession, and he fired
up on it, and said that his trade had
brought half a dozen children up
from infancy, feeding and clothing
them, and that his trade was good
enough for his boys. Bah! AS though
had no right to look above a car
rage shop because l was
born in one"
Harry spoke with intense bitterness.
Wheeling abruptly, he would have left
the house ut once. But slender form
stood in the doorway, and two deep
blue eyes met his III 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-
tious response. Then. in a lower tone:
I'm going away, Pet. I've borne
this life as long as l can"
Petronlla Wayne-the orphan child
of distant kinsman Of Mrs. Wash
burn-reached both hands upward.
and placed them upon Harry's shoul-
ders, which were almost as high as
she could reach.
"Please don't go!' she said. plead
ingly.
A rift Of white crossed her cheeks.
But her words did not cause the eyOun3
man to waver in his purpose.
thought it 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 l was the black sheep of his
fock-because of those boyish pranks
Of mine, l suppose. hate to go, |
though, with you blaming me-"
His manly voice showed signs of |
breaking, and he turned away his face
to hide the signs of emotion which he
could not keep back.
Il do not blame you. Harry. Per-
haps it is best for you to 60. Only-it
will be very lonely for me. That is
ull."
The girl spoke quite bravely. Harry
dared not trust himself to speak again.
Bending quietly, he kissed the quiver-
Ing. upturned lips of Petronilla, leav-
Ing one of his own tcar-drops upon
her cheek. Then he pushed almost
rudely past her, and strode out into
tne gray. MIST morning.
Fet watched him out Of sight Then
she saw Deacon Washburn, tall and
grim, coming up the path.
larry has gone, Uncle Joseph" she
said, as the man ascended the steps.
well. he'll have chance to try
nghtin' 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 a week. like
enough. and own that he's rarnt q
leSson.'
But Harry did not "come back in a
week. nor in a month. A year passed
win no tidings from the black sheep.
Ihen there was steamboat disaster
on one of the great rivers. and among
tne list of the killed Deacon Washburn
read the name of his son. There was
oeep sorrow at the cottage after that,
ana gloom settled upon the hearts of ,
It's inmates.
Slx years passed. {
Deacon Washburn's younger sons. l
zoe and Charlie. married. and settled
uown to humdrum existence within {
uaiI mile of their fathers roof tree.
but Petronilla Wayne renamed 9
win her benefactors. Mrs. Washhurn
lad become too feeble and tremulous v
% attend to the household duties, and t
me Drunt of them descended upon !
refs strong. young shoulders. So.
'ne went on with the simple routine
u honsework. trifle wan and sad d
yea after the news of Harry's death. v
one day a new misfortune came to c
mem. The deacon's carriage shop, c
WIN ali 1t contained. was burned. s
hd While attempting to extinguish II
ue names, the deacon himself was Sc o
'erely injured. There was chance p
or his life, the doctor said, but his, Il
'hys.cal labors could rever be re. h
umed s