Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-04-02
CHAPTER VI.


drought. The corn was ripe for the
harvest and the hedges were scarlet
with poppes. Everywhere an intense
heat and cloudlcss radiance brooded in
settled celm. making the toilers in the
fields long for cool breezes, or welcome
rain.
In the heart Of little wood, where the
last lingering rays of light slauted
through the fir bonghs, three children
w.re sitting in the enjoyment Of truant
liberty Before them was spread a
feast Of dainties-cakes. taffy, pears,
tarts-all those sticky and unwholesome
specimens Of confectionery in which he
juvenile mind delights.
Through an opening here and there n
glimpse OF the sea could be caught, and
sense of GOODNESS seemed to shut itself
in with the shading boughs and drOop-
ing branches.
This is first rate" said the eldest Of
thu group. a sallow-faced, Iarge-headed
boy-no other, N fact, than the heir and
hope of the Crumpletons before mention
ed, and who was generally called the
Major by his companions Guess old
Creeps will be looking ont for us consid-
cradle before he finds us this time
We'll. you needn't collar all the jam
tarts, said Cyril. perceiving that in his
elation at cheating the vigilance of his
venerable preceptress, the heir and hope
was unconsciously taking possession Of
the larger portion of the feast Leave
some for Jack and me-
Il don't like jam tarts," said little
Jack, who. after a year at school, had
dropped many of his babyish expressions;
they're SO greasy aud sticky. l like
fruit better"
Yes, but you're not going to have all
those pears" cried the Major making a
hurried grab at the three pears piled on
the leaf of an exerc book by way Of
dessert dish.
You leave those alone" cried Cyril,
emphatically. They're jacks. He
bought them with his own money. You
stick to your stale old jam tarts You
only got them because they were a pen
ny, and the pears were two-pence."
You said we'd share all the things"
demonstrated the Major, sulkily.
Very well, So we will. Jack can have
two pears. | don't want any; and there's
one for you"
The Major caught it eagerly as it was
tossed eontemptuously across to him, and
the three boys set TO work at their feast.
Wonder what old Creeps&short for
Crawiey among the boys-"will say when
she finds we've not been home for tea 2"
said the Major, presently, his voice some
what indistinct frou2 the amount of crust
stuffed into his mouth. Guess she'll
talk some when we go back | say.
OH F,ti I L. 4, 1
a kindness. You easily might if you
only would"
What is it?' asked Cyril curiously; the
humble tone of the suppliant was not
novel, but the idea of begg ing a kindness
was.
well, when that soldies. chap comes to
fetch you for the holidays this time. do
ask him to let you bring me TOO. It is
so beastly, stuck here ell the year
round"
Don't think Cap'in Gran; likes you"
said Jack, who did not relish the pro-
posaI, Says you're not a good oompan-
ion for Cyrrie or me-
Then you've been sneaking on me-"
cried the Major Indignantly. Not good
enough for Cyrrie! Bah. Cyrre amt
no better than | am
1T doesn't matter" sad Cyril quiet
ly. Il won't ask Captain Grant any such
thing. We see quite enough of each
other at school"
oh, all right" said the Major sulkily.
Its horrid mean of you, and you call
yourself NY friend"
mo. l don ." said Cyril. with that in
genlous frankness peculiar to the mind
Of carly youth. You call yourself mine
when you want to get anything out Of
me"
He rose and sauntered off to that open
space between the straight stems and
dropping boughs, which showed the sea
lying in smooth. unrippled beauty far be-
low the cliffs of the little headland Jack
followed. The Major fingered behind 20
gloat over the feast and carefully gather
up the fra 9meuts
Il wish be hadn't come" said little
Jack, linking his hand in his brothers.
Hes very dsagreeable. / like best to
be with you alone, Cyrrie.'
Little did the little brotherssknow what
this companionship was to cost them
\ few days later the Major induced
Jack to take shilling out of his money
box aud 20 with him to the home of one
Of the village boys who had a pair of
rabbits for sale. The boy had the fever
and the little Jack caught it from him.
When his brother thus became i'll, Cyrl
could not be induced to leave him. The
result was that. in spite of every care OF
the doctor, every effort Of Mr.. Grant.
both children died within a day Of each
other.
How shall l tell her? Great heaven.
how shall | tell herr"
That had been the burden OF Ivor
Grants heart through all the desolatr.
sorrowful days that INTERVIEWED between
the children's deaths and their mother's
arrival.
1t seemed all SO sudden and So awful
| Ills hasty summons. that week of agon-
| lied suspense, and then-then this dreary
| blank, filled only with the terrors OF a
| greater trial in prospect when he must
| face that desolate mother-ery and, sti-
| ding his own pain-made greater by his
| sorrow and loneljncss-teI her Of the
| blow that had fallen on her life.
Battling with his weakness. be had
| stood beside the coffin that held the little
| brothers-together in death as in life. 81
| he had ordered them to be laid in their
! last resting place. Battling with it as
! with some fierce foe struggling for Su-
| premaey over his life, SO he had watch.
| ed the earth fall over the closed lido bat.
tling with il still, he had erept there in