The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-05-16
QUARTER II.-(Continued.D


,..hot from under his head and passing
!, 70 Mary, said: Take 1t to Bill Bender
" W offered me shilling for it, and a
.lalinr will buy milk for Allie and crack.
-. FOR mother-take 1t.
40 Frankly" answered Mary, "you
-ond have no pillow; besides, I've got
..oo,bipg more valuable, which l can
,.J I've kept it long, but it must 60 to
S.o, us from starving'-and she held to
% '.r the golden locket which George
w,rosud had thrown around her neck.
"you shant sell that" said Frank.
Dyou must keep it to remember George;
,ra then. too you may want it more some
other time,
Mary finally yielded the point, and
,,tbering up the crumpled jacket started
n ouest of Billy Bender. He was a
toibearted boy, two years older than
Frank. whom he had often befriended
and shielded from the jeers Of their com
n,pons. lie did not want the jacket, for
WAS vast deal too small; and 1t was
univ in reply to a proposal from Frank
,bst he should buy it that he had casual.
+ offered him shilling. But now, when
he saw the garment, and learned why ii
WAS sent he il nedlately drew from his
OH leather wdltet quarter, all the
money he had in the world, and giving
1T. Mary babe her keep 1t, as she would
need it all
Half an hour after a cooling orange
was held to Franks parched lips, and
Mary sad Drink, brother; I've got two
more, besides some milk and bread" but
the ear she addressed was deaf and the
eve dim with the fast-falling shadow OF
death. Mother. mother! cried the lit.
lie girl, "Franky won't drink, and his
forehead Is all sweat
Mrs. Howard had been much worse
that day, but agony made her strong
Sprnging to his side, she wiped from
bis brow the cold moisture which had
50 alarmed her daughter, chafed his
hands and feet, and bathed his head, un.
til he seemed better and fell asleep
Fast the shades Of night came on, and
when all was dark in the sick room Mary
sObbed out, I'VE have no candle, moth
er and il | go for one, and he should
| de"
The sound of her voice aroused Frank
and feeling for his sisters hand, he said
Don't go, Mary: don't leave me-the
moon is shining bright, and 1 guess car
find my way to God just as WELL"
Nine-ten-eleven-and then through
the dingy windows the silvery moonlight
fell, as II indeed to light the way of the
early lost to heaven. Mary had drawn
her mothers lounge to the side of the
tTunde bed, and in state Of almost per
feet exhaustion Mrs. Howard lay gasp
Ing for breath, while Mary, as If con
scious 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 ant
kept from harm by the God Of the or
phsn, and that the sin of disobedience
resting on her own head might not be
visited upon her child.
After time a troubled sleep came up
on her and she slept until reused by 9
low sob. Raising herself up, she looked
anEiously toward her children. The
mOonbeams fell upon the white, PLACID
ise OF Frank, who seemed calmly sleep
ing, while over him Mary bent, pushing
OaCk from his forehead the thick clus
NrihS curls, and striving hard to smoth
e her sobs, so that they might not dis
turb her mother.
Does he sleep?" asked Mrs. Howard
anu Mary, covering with her hands the
lace Of him who slept, answered:
!. Iurn away, mother-don't look al
A'm' Frankly Is dead. He died with his
arms around my neck, and told me MOI
10 wake you"
MIS- Howard was in the last stages OF
assumption, and now she lay back, half
t"S,uthg upon her pillow. Toward day
Isn. violent coughing fit ensued, ant
S ,Ie Knew that she was dying. Reckoning
;nafy TO her side, she whispered, 81 an
,eavihs you alone in the wide world. b
Aua 10 Ella and our dear little Allie
saa go with her where she goes. MAY
uOd Keep and bless you my precious chill
s.n %en-and reward you as you deserve, my
tuV sentence was unfinished, and il
SSu'peaSaoIe awe the orphan girl knel
Ss. ."een her mother and brother-shud
Ius IN the presence Of death, anC
'D'u weeping to think that she was alone
CHAPTER III.
nus "uS' on the corner of Chicopee Com
uOn and undar tho Sbodou, 80 H. 80