Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-11-26

brother. 1t was not strange she had no
idea of his habits.
George looked at his small sister Gu.
riously; then, under an impulse he
could not explain, he drew her nearer
to him and said:
"Bess, I'm bad fellow. was drunk
last night! Drunk do you under
stand? And I've nearly killed mother!"
Bess was aghast at the confession.
She put out her hand again.
"Oh, no, Georgev Then with swift
revulsion of feeling she drew back and
said, "How could you, with father feel
ing as he does?"
And little Bess, who was a creature
of very impulsive emotions, sat down
crying on what she supposed was
cushion, but which was Georges tall
hat, accidentally covered with one end
Of a comforter which had slipped off |
the bed. Bess was very plump little
creature, and as she picked herself up
and held up the hat George angrily ex-
claimed:
you're always smashing my things"
But the next minute he was sorry for
the words.
Bess retreated toward the door, quiv-
ering under the injustice Of the charge.
At the door she halted. She had some
thing of Clara's passionate temper, and
once in awhile she let even her adored
brother George feel it, small as she
was.
George Hardy, If you think more of
your old stovepipe hat than you do of
your sister, all right. You'll never get
any more Of my months allowance.
And If do smash your things don't
come home drunk at night and break
mothers heart. That's what she's
crying about this morning-that and
fathers queer ways. Oh. dear, don't
want to live; life is so full Of trouble!'
And little 12-year-old Bess sobbed in
genuine sorrow.
George forgot his headache a minute.
"Come, Bess, come and kiss and
make up. Honest, now, didn't mean
it. I was bad to say what did. I'll
buy a dozen hats and let you sit on
them for fun. Don't go away angry.
I'm SO miserable"
| He lay down and groaned, and Bess
went to him Immediately, all her anger
vanished.
"Oh, let me get you something to
drive away your headache, and I'll
bring you up something nice to eat!
Mother had Norah save something for
| you. Didn't you, mother?''
Bessie asked the question just as her
mother came In.
Mrs. Hardy said "Yes'' and, going
up to George, sat down by him and
laid her hand on his head, as his sister
had done.
The boy moved uneasily. He saw
the marks Of great suffering on his
mothers face, but he said nothing to
express sorrow for his disgrace
"Bess, will you 60 and get George
his breakfast?" asked Mrs. Hardy, and
the minute she was gone the mother
turned to her son and said:
George, do you love me?''
George had been expecting some
thing different. He looked at his moth
er as the tears fell over her face, and
ali that was still good in him rose up in
rebellion against the animal part. He
seized his mothers hand and carried
1t to his lips, kissed it reverently and
said in low tone:
Mother. am unworthy. If you
, knew
He checked himself, as If on the
verge of confession. His mother wait
, ed anxiously and then asked:
wont you tell me ALP
mo; can't"
George shuddered, and at that mo.
ment Bess came in bearing tray with
toast and eggs and coffee. Mrs. Hardy
left Bess to look after her brother and
! went out Of the room almost abruptly
!, George looked ashamed and after eat
ing little told Bess to take the things
! away. She looked grieved, and he
said:
: Cant help 1t. I'm not hungry. Be
sides, don't deserve all this attention
/. Say, Bess, is father still acting under
his impression, or dream, or whatever
q it wasp
b Eyes; he u.s." replied Bess with much
o seriousness, land he is ever so goot
g now and kisses mother and all of u,
f goodby in the morning, and he Is kint
o and ever so good. l don't believe he Il
o In his right mind. viii said yesterda!
d he thought father was non campus
>. meant us, and then he wouldn't tell M
o what it meant, but guess he doesn'
e think father is just right intellectual
4 ly."
z Now and then Besas got hold Of a BIZ
n word and used it great deal. Sh
d said intellectually" over twice, an
l. George laughed a little, but it was /
d bitter laugh, not such as boy of hi
age has any business to possess. 81
le lay down and appeared to be thinkin
q and after awhile said aloud: 20, !
IL II wonder II he wouldn't let me hav
10 some money hile he's feeling tina
re wayY' } 4. ST H. .=,5% i
er '"Who? ?" queried Bess. father 81
l. what! You here still, Curiosity
Le Better take these things down stairs"
- George spoke with his ''headach
q Tone as Clara called it. and Bes
q: without reply gathered up the TIA
~ things and went out, while George col
timed to figure out IN his hardly 81
y sober brain the possibility Of his {.
g Their letting him have more money Wit