Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-05-19

comforting to say. The outlook was
dark.
Kit might. in fact would have to stay
there in their little cabin home with her
| little ones. There was no room for her
mt her fathers. for already widowed
daughter had come back there with four
children.
A younger brother would have to come
and stay with her-it was the only way.
| She might go and stay at Mollie's-
only-there was Neil.
1t was about 10 O'Clock when Neil
Weidman raped at his brothers door.
Marks face showed something of what
he was suffering when he opened it.
Neil! Come in
Cant; I'm in hurry. l was on the
draft, but had the cash all ready, so sent
it in yesterday. I hear you are on, too. "
Il am; and heaven knows how | can
be spared. but could not raise fifty
dollars. much less three hundred" His
voice broke little.
"Well. l came to tell you l will go in
your place. GOodby."
Neil"
Mark sprang forward. graspinS his
brother by the arm and fairly dragging
him inside.
"There. don't make any fuss about it, y
muttered the young man. You can't be
spared can. 1t will make no difference
to any one whether live or die
| Mark had bowed his head on his hands
and was shaking with emotion. Kits
voice from the other room called feebly
to know what the matter was. Mrs. Bell.
1,.,I
hours. taking the little boys with her.
Springing up again. Mark opened wide
the middle door, saying: 1T is Neil. Kit
tie. and he offers to be my substitute.
Come in here. brother, do"
Haven't time this morning, Mark
Give my respects to Mrs. Weidman.
may be in again before leaving His
hand was on the latch.
please. Neil. come here
1t was Kits pleading tones. and before
he realized what he was doing the young
man stood by the bedside looking down
into the face of the one woman he had
loved. 1t was five years since she had
told him she was going to marry Mark
and in all that time they had never spok-
en--had rarely met.
"Oh. Neil. you are too good-you can
not mean it,"
II mean it," he said, coldy.
Through it all he had never suffered
as he did now. to see how willing she was
to have him sacrifice himself for Mark.
1t was moment of supreme bitterness,
yet in spite of himself he fingered to
gaze for perhaps the last time into the
sweet face.
c,,H
ing his hand she passed it to her lips.
sobbing:
"You are so good, so noble. If it were
not for the children we could not consent
to your going.
IF only we could raise the money. but
we have little to sell and there is no one
to buy what we have"
II have made up my mind and should
go anyway, now. There i, nothing to
keep me-"
'But, Neil. this is too much," said
Mark. who had now sufficiently recovered
himself to comprehend the situation. IL
cannot let you go. but if you could look
after things here some and see that Kit
did not suffer, ! could go easier. There
is only Joe to do anything"
mo Use talking. Mark, am going; and
now. good-by all
He almost snatched his hand from
Kits clasp. and was gone
"Molic, am going to the war;
Coin to the war. Neil! Why.
thought you'd sent on the money"
Eyes, so | did; but Mark was on the
draft, too, nd we couldn't nohow raise
another three hundred nd he can't he
spared from home Mt this time o year:
SO I'm going in"
I'm his place." interrupted MoIle. OK
citedy.
Neil nodded.
"Wcll, if | ever s'poscd I'd live To soc
you give your life for Mark, after he cut
you with
There there. Mollie, Now, about
things here on the place"
why. | am sure don't know: s'pose
Dick and me can manage. though | shall
have the most of il to do. If Dick is my
husband. | must say AS I've said before.
the Moseys are mighty poor managers;
but. Neil, hate awfully to have you 90.
They talked a long while. but Mobile
never dreamed of the terrible battle her
brother fought out with himself that dull
November day.