Connecticut western news., 1903-04-23


 itation. Have you got the cartridgesT
 "Yes. They're in my pocket, but they are joggling horribly. Do pin fire car tridges go off of their own accordT'
 Don't know Take the revolver if you are afraid and let me carry them"
 I'm not afraid" Maisle strode for ward swiftly, hand in her pocket and her chin in the air. Dick followed with a small pin fire revolver.
 The children had discovered that their lives would be uncomfortable with out pistol practice. After much fore thought and self denial Dick had saved 7s. Cd, the price of badly constructed Belgian revolver. Maisie could only contribute half crown to the syndi- cate for the purchase of a hSndred car tridges. "You can save better than I can. Dick" she explained. 'I like nice things to eat, and 1t doesn't matter to you. Besides, boys ought to do these things"
 Dick grumbled a little at the ar rangement, but went out and made the purchases, which the children were then on their way to test. Revolvers did not lie in the scheme of their daily ian who was incorrectly supposed to stand in the place of a mother to these two orphans.
 Dick had been under her care for six years, during which time she had made her profit of the allowances supposed to be expended on his clothes, and, partly through thoughtlessness, partly through a natural desire to pain-she was . widow of some years, anxious to marry again-had made his days bur densome on his young shoulders. Where he had looked for love she gave him first aversion and then hate. Where he. growing older. had sought little sympathy, she gave him ridicule. The many hours that she could spare from the ordering of her small house she de voted to what she called the home training of Dick Heldar. Her religion, manufactured in the main by her own ? intelligence and an ardent study of the Scriptures, was an aid to her in this matter.
 At such times as she herself was not
 
 left him to understand that he had heavy account to settle with his Crea- tor. Wherefore Dick learned to loathe his God as intensely as he loathed Mrs. Jennett, and this is not a wholesome frame of mind for the young. Since she chose to regard him as a hopeless liar, when dread of pain drove him to his first untruth he naturally developed into liar. but an economical and self contained one, never throwing away the least unnecessary fib and never only plausible. that might make his life little easier.
 The treatment taught him at least the power of living alone-a power that was of service to him when he went to a public school and the boys laughed at his clothes, which were poor in quality and much mended. In the holidays he returned to the teach ing of Mrs. Jennett, and, that the chain of discipline might not be weakened by association with the world, was generally beaten on one count or an other before he had been twelve hours under her roof.
 The autumn of one year brought him a companion In bondage. long haired, gray eyed little atom, as self contained as himself, who moved about the house silently, and for the first few weeks spoke only to the goat that was her chiefest friend on earth and lived in the back garden.
 Mrs. Jennett objected to the goat on the grounds that he was un-Christian, which he certainly was. "Then," said the atom, choosing her words very de- Hberately, 'I shall write to my lawyer peoples and tell them that you are a very bad woman. Amomma Is mine, mine, miner'
 Mrs. Jennett made a movement to the hall. where certain umbrellas and canes stood in rack. The atom under stood as clearly as Dick what this meant. "I have been beaten before" she said still in the same passionate voice. T have been beaten worse than you can ever beat me. If you beat me, l shall write to my lawyer peoples and tell them that you do not give me enough to eat. am not afraid of you" Mrs. Jennett did not go into, the hall, and the atom, after a pause to assure herself that all danger of war was past, went out to weep bitterly on. Amomma's neck.
 Dick learned to know her as Maisie, and at first mistrusted her profoundly, . for he feared that she might interfere with the small liberty of action left to him. She did not, however, and she volunteered no friendliness until Dick the holidays were over the stress of punishment shared in common drove the children together, If 1t were only to play into each others hands as they prepared lies for Mrs. Jennett's use.
 When Dick returned to school, Maisie whispered: Now I shall be all alone to take care of myself, but'-and she nod ded her head bravely-"I can do 1t. You promised to send Amomma brass collar. Send 1t soon." A week later she asked for that collar by return of post and was not pleased when she learned that 1t took time to make it. When at last Dick forwarded the gift she forgot to thank him for 1t.
 Many holidays had come and gone since that day, and Dick had grown into lanky hobbledehoy, more than ever conscious of his bad clothes. Not for a moment had Mrs. Jennett re- faxed her tender care of him, but the average earnings of a public school Dick fell under punishment about three times month-filled him with contempt for her powers.
 "She doesn't hurt" he explained to Maisie, who urged him to rebellion, ..and she Is kinder to you after she has whackcd me-" Dick shambled through the days unkempt in body and savage in soul, as the smaller boys of the ochool learned to know, for when the ...-a..,.e ........A him ha NEnflld hit them