Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-01-08


them was the young minister opon
whom-Tom asserted w1s cast.
ing gentle glances.
wait, Benr Tom called. :sGsinc
home? So are We The boys aSG Mr..
Morgie are here to do justice to Rene's
cooking. Fly up, and let's hear yor
crowr
Ben colored under the tan of past
summers as he awkwardly greeted his
friends. A sinking of the heart told
him how little reliance lie placed upon
upon his sisters promise, What if un-
tidy hearth and empty cupboard
awaited them?
He was sullenly angry at Toms
rashness. The moment gave him q
fash Of self-revelation. He was sensi.
tive to the opinion Of others; he was
proud.
eff home is as Rene usually keeps
it," he thought, "Tll leave it foreverv'
Outwardly he was shy and quiet.
''I'm glad to see YOU, boys he said.
"Im not ready to crow yet-not til:
after dinner. Cold Easter, Mr.. Morgie.
Do you think this snap has killed the
| fruit:'' S8
Florence had just completed the
preparations for her banquet and was
proudly surveying results when there
came a great stamping and laughing
| in the hall. The boys-and the
preacher! She pe4ped and retreated. a
demure, maidenly figure with dancing
eyes.
Tom stared. "IVhere's Rene?" he
demanded. Not gone. has she: Well!
What have you for dinner, Babe:'
Somewhat disconnected, he led his
guests into the iparlor. Zen stood
| where he had paused. He was looking
at the table, invitinsly draped in snowy
white, graced by his mothers pretty,
old-fashioned china and silver. Some
thing unsteadied the hand he extended.
"Di1 you fix it for me, Eabe:,' he
| asked, and Florence nodded confused,
! ", hanging her head. y
| II did the best I could,' she falter1d.
II didn't think about company but
| just of you.''
"Thank you, Babe. Let,s think Of
each other from now onszshal we :? I'll
do my part by you Md father: Ill
stand by you. COM, give me a kiss
for my birthday"'
| The new cook looked up into her
brothers face. She saw there some
| thing which made her shiyer raptur-
ously Ben was pleased with her; Ben
was happy! With a glad little gurgle
she went to his embrace, pressing rosy
| lips to his.
zone for MOTHER she whispered.
ooh, how proud sheN be if she could
see you, really, truly man, old enough
| to vote.'
Ben's birthday dinner was Il great
success Young people are merry over
little things. and after her first ccn-
fusion Florence entered into the illar-
ity of the occasion, not, however, for
getting her dignity as mistress OF the
board There We're toasts proposed
and answered. jests and friendly re-
partee.
| In the midst Of it all the door opened
suddenly, and Rene stood upon the
threshold.
Enjoyment spark1ed in Toms eyes.
80 Rener' he called Come in, Rene!
Better late than never! You. asked
us-or some Of us-to Ben's birthday
dinner, you know, and here we are!
So glad you've come! Will you have
bone-there isn't anything else left::'
The girl made gesture of dissent,
turning away her crimsoned face.
With an unintelligible nur1nur OF
greeting and apology she withdrew
carving with her confused impress
sion of happy young faces on each OF
. which was a look which made her
tingle sensitively.
u She had a bad half-hour alone with
herself, the sounds Of mirth comm: up
from below. Every sound was p stab
) making her vince and writhe. For she
was not. as she declared herself to be-
a monument of selfshness. She was
| but a thoughtless, pleasure-ioving girl
| who had not yet arrived at her moth
, er's moral stature.
The promise of the day before. which
had been given so lightly. had been
brushed aside for task more pleasura
/: BILE. Now it came to her that a prom
e Use. though made in jest, is sacred
] Ben naQ CruSCeu ueI, dCtcu upUu Iel
D word. She did not know how results
] had been accomplished. how he hat
b been spared from humiliation, but sht
d had failed him.
Then she thought of his quiet, III
r youthful ways. and her heart burned
II What a good brother he was, toilin:
e manfully at his fathers side, year in
o year out, 70 provide home comforts!
Y She put her face down on her arm
and wept little, then turned to a bet
Y ter penitence, the sorrow for wron
b which expresses itself in deeds.
VI It required some moral courage to 2
4 down to her brothers guests, and b
y her cheerful, girlish presence brighte
J. their social hour; but this she did, an
Ben was forgiving, Tom, for once
1t magnanimous. Nothing was done t
II. remind her she had failed in the HON
d the place where failures are hardes
to bear.
g And be it said, from that day, a
y. tbo,,oh E1ororca' iuifiafiOu wac Sill