Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-05-16
CnArrER II.-iconllnueA.l

Hf sAst EAauhf VuHluk tue otu biul
Jacket from under hls head and passlnl
II to Mary, said; Take II to Bin Bende
--he offered me a shilling for II. and
shilling win buy milk for Allie aud crack
srs for moihes~-take e."
mo. Frankly" answered Mary, "yoI
would have no pillow; besides, I've 90
something more valuable, which / cai
sell. I've kept |, long. but Il must so Il
keep ua from atarflug"r-and she held Il
view the golden loeket which Gsorg,
Moreland had thrown around her neck.
You shan't sell that" said Frank
You must keep Il 10 remember George
and then. too, yon may want Il more som,
other time"
Mary finally yielded the point. ant
gathering up the crumpled jacket utartet
In quest OF Billy Bender. He wAa
klnd'hearted boy. two years older thar
Frank, whom he had often befriendct
and shielded from the jeera Of their com
pAnions. He did not want tho jacket, fol
u was a vast deal too small and IL wal
only In reply to proposal from Franl
that he should buy Il that be had casual
" offered him a shilling. But now, wheI
he saw the garment. and learned why Il
was sent, he " medlRtely drew from hIi
old leather walie. q quarter, all the
money be had In the world, and glyin,
II t. Mary, bade her keep II. as she woul(
need II all.
Half an hour after q cooling Grange
was held to Franks parched lips, ant
Mary said, Drink, brother: I've got TIVE
more, besides some milk and bread" buj
the ear she addressed was deaf and tn,
eye dim with tho fast falling shadow oI
death. "Mother! motherp cried the lIt
tle girl. "Franky won't drink. and hll
forehead Is all sweat"
Mrs. Howard had been much worse
that day. but agony made her strong
Springing 10 his side she wiped from
his brow the cold moisture which had
40 alarmed her daughter, chafed biz
hands and feet, and bathed his head, un
I'll he seemed better and fell aslecp
Fast the shades OF night came on, and
when all was dark Ia the sick room Mary
sobbed out, I'VE have no candle, moth
er, and II go for one. aud he should
die
The sound of her voice aroused Frank,
aud feeling for his sisters hand, he said
Don't SO. Mary: don't leave me this
moon u shining bright. aud guess car
find my way TO God Just as we'll"
Nine--ten ~eleven-and then through
the dingS windows the silvery moonlight
fell. ns II indeed TO light the way OF the
early lost to heaven, Mary had drawn
her mothers lounge to the side of the
trundle bed, aud In state of almost per,
feet exhaustion Mrs. Howard lay gasp.
Ing for breath, while Mary. as If con.
sclous OF the dread reality about TO oc.
cur. knelt by her side. Once Mrs. How
ard laid her hands on Mary's head and
prayed that she might be preserved and
kept from harm by the God OF the or.
phAn, and that the sin OF disobedience
resting on her own head might not be
visited upon her child.
After time troubled sleep came up.
on her and she slept until reused by a
low sob. Raising herself up. she looked
anxlously toward her children. The
moonbeams fell upon the white, placid
face OF Frank, who seemed calmly sleep.
ing, while over him Mary bent, pushing
back from his forehead the thick clus.
tering curls, aud striving hard TO smoth.
er her sobs, so that they might not dis.
turb her mother.
Does he sleep7" asked Mrs. Howard.
and Mary, covering with her hands the
face of him who slept, answered:
Turn away, mother-don't look at
him. Frankly is dead. He died with his
arms around my neck. and told me not
to wake you"
Mrs. Howard was In the last stages of
consumption, and now ahe lay back, half.
fainting upon her pillow. Toward day.
light q violent coughing ft ensued, and
she knew that she was dying. Reckoning
Mary to her side, she whispered. ~ am
leaving you alone In the wide world. BE
kind to ella and our dear little Allie,
and go with her where she goes. May
God keep and bless you my precious chill.
dren-and reward you as you deserve, my
darling"
The sentence was unfinished, and In
unspeakabie awe the orphan girl knelt
between her mother and brother--shud-
dering In the presence OF death, and
then weeping to think that she was alone