The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-11-30
nearer home so could look after him lit

nearer home so I could look after him lit
tle."
81 think all sisters want their brothers
under their WINGS replied Phil, with q
laugh. "Bess, now doesn't want me to
go to the city to work
care you thinking of going?'' quickly
asked Mandy Spencer.
"Yes-that is, Ed said he could get
me position f.
Mandy dropped her sewing, and with
flushed cheeks and sparkling eye said ve-
hemently: "Please don't go then, Phil
for Bess sake and mine.
"Why-what-''
"Well, because-we'll miss you, and
then you II be happier here. Ed is not do
ing as well as you think, and
"Tm not SO sure of that. He seemed
to have plenty ofmoney with him last week
But | suppose he gave it to you for a
birthday present
Birthday present? Oh, did you remem-
Der that my birthday was last week ? I'm
SO glad. thought"
'Didn't Ed remember it?''
Mandy bent over her work and made no
reply. She was too loyal to make any con-
fession that would reflect upon her brother
When they parted few minutes later
she took Phil S hand and said earnestly:
"Please do not leave Bess-and me- We
should miss you so much, Phil
Phil walked home in an uncertain state
of mind. Somehow his desire to go to the
city had cooled down and the sight of two
anxious faces made him hesitate.
tEd. is about as selfish as ever" he
acknowledged. GA fellow with all of his
money who doesn't remember his only sis
ter's birthday is a good deal-deal of "a
a.
He didn't finish the sentence, but he
knew pretty we'll in his own mind what he
meant. Suddenly he stopped in his walk.
A strangely unpleasant thought occurred
to him. Was he also selfish and thought
less because he ignored Bess's wishes and
desires? No; boy had to make his way
in the world-even if he did sacrifice the
old homestead.
Phil deferred writing his letter to Ed
for full week. Then something happen
ed that made it unnecessary. In one of
the city papers there was a small news
item tucked away in corner that greatly
excited the people living in Greenville.
1t was no less than an account of the arrest
of Ed Spencer for robbing his employer.
| Tho Iatoilo % ba o.ea xyoro not rr;uan
but one could read on the surface the old
story of temptation, weakness and final
failure. Phils heart nearly stopped beat
ing. He could not show the paragraph to
Bess and in his heart he hoped that no
one in Greenville would see it.
But this was foolish wish, for within
twenty four hours the news had spread all
over the village and the farming section.
Phil thought of Mandy How would she
take it? How would Bess take it if he
were the prisoner?
"Oh, Phil, suppose it had been you p
exclaimed Bess, when she heard the news
Then, blushing deeply, she threw her arms
around his neck and stammered: "But,
of course, know it couldn't have been
YOU
Nevertheless she sobbed rather nervously
for few minutes until Phil was tempted
to say:
II don't know, Bess. II might
have fallen, too. Who knows?"
'sNo, no." protested Bess loyalty.
Phil picked up his hat and strobe toward
the door.
"Where are you going p she asked.
81 am going over to see Mandy" was
the reply.
Without further explanation of his sud-
den resolve he walked across the fields until
he reached the Spencer home. Without
waiting tor any formality, Phil entered and
caught the girl curled up in heap, with
her sewing scattered in hopeless mass
around her.
"Mandy p he said softly.
She raised dull, red eyes to his.
Mandy" he repeated, "Tm going to
the city,"
"Oh, Phil p she cried.
"Im going, he continued, "to see
what | can for Ed Then I'm coming
home to stay
eff Ed had only stayed" she moaned.
"He will come back in time Phil
replied.
The girl raised her head and laughed
Historically. eyes; now he will come
home,' she said wildly, "and nobody will
have anything to do with him. He won't
be able to get work again and we've
shall have to move away"
Phil twisted his hat nervously, but his
voice was clear and firm when he spoke.
"He will always be the same to me-,
Mandy, and if-if he'll work on the old
farm with me, he Il never lack employment.
I'm going to stay on it, and keep Ed, too.
Maybe in the end it will be good thing
for both of us. Well make better farm
ers for the-the experience.
! Something like hopeful expression
entered the stricken girls eyes.
"Phil-if-if you could bring him
home now, I-you know they re not going
to prosecute him. Mr.. Barrows has dis
charged him, but he will not have him i'm
prisoned for the-the-"
81 understand" Phil replied. 81
shall bring him home right away, and we Il
run this farm together.
The door suddenly opened and Bess ap-
peared on the threshold.
"Bess p
Mandy
And the two girls were sobbing in each
others arms Phil looked on with wet
eyes, and then whistled softly.
~ guess" he said finally, with two
such sisters, Ed and I ought to keep
straight. If we don't, we deserve some
thing worse than thrashing, and I'll be
the one to do the licking
"Why, Phil, what are you saying? de.
manded Bess wiping her eyes. "You' We
been talking to yourself, while we've
we're"
HActinp like two silly school Girls -