The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-13
$50 were my brothers," said willy

$50 were my brothers." said VIII,
loyalty
She looked at him with a quick sym
pathy. IT know" she murmured. "Mr
Rivers told me. And all in one year. Il
must have been dreadful"
Eyes, 1t was. But 1t was worse wher
my mother died.
mother died. And I miss her SO now
Don't your"
Eyes. i was fifteen"
They were both silent. The weight Of
their piteous memories was on both
young hearts, and vet in each was g
sense Of companionship, of the sympa.
thy of common pain. The tears gath.
cred slowly in the girls eyes; she put
her hand up her sleeve, but withdrew II
empty, and the young man, taking out
his own handkerchief. which had surely
seen hard usage, looked disconsolately or
it before rendering the freshest corner
IT'S pretty mussy, but 1 lost the 9TH
ers," he apologized.
And you have pockets, too! I lose
handkerchiefs to an APPALLING extent"
$50 do l." 1t was wonderful how many
things they had in commandments
opinions most delightfully."- human of ALL
faults. He felt emboldened to say that
1t must be great comfort to have a
sister; he had always wanted one.
They're a good deal OF a nuisance.
most boys think said she, but I don't
know why. / know l shouldn't have
been a nuisance to my brothers and
should rather like to have had one. We
might have been pals
His eyes sparkled; he felt that he was
about to make a proposal as daring as
II was original: but he made it, clutch
ing the lever under his hand more firm
ly in his agitation, vet not hesitating.
IF we are going to play things, why
not play you are my sister IT would
be easier than being two boys. You see
/ should all the time be afraid of for
getting somehow and saying something
unbecoming, or too rough, If We played
you were a boy"
She had more sense of humor than he,
although she was scarcely less innocent;
she laughed. saying, Most boys are
rough enough to their sisters Besides,
don't know you well enough"
you know me better than any one
i'm the world does" he answered grace
ly. Their young eyes met and darted
away. He thought how lovely her eyes
were. Not so much in color or form.
perhaps, but in expression. He wished
that he could see them that way again.
But she had turned away. He was
worried lest he might unwittingly have
offended her. He knew (for his French
tutor had told him) how easy IL is for
a man to blunder clumsily into a wom-
ans fine reserves and sensitive modesty:
it was a great relief to have her turn
swiftly toward him again and smile as
she said, But you don't know met
Maybe not: I'm asking you to give
me the chance"
''Oh. Is that why? Just to amuse
you"
You know better" said he. "for at
least you know me-"
That was disagreeable OF me-" she
admitted penitently. Il do know better.
Please forgive me-
Then you will play it," he said eager
ly. You know ! did what you wanted.
1 promised to win the cup"
His first CLEAN Of masterful daring did
not displease the girl: possibly, ii OBJ
gratified her. But you must be
good and win," she said, conceding the
point in the immemorial feminine fash
ion which would always march out of
a surrendered keep with flags flying.
ct will be good and win,'' repeated
Willy obediently.
There fell little silence, during which
they had glimpses of soft green woods,
Of distant harvest fields and OF the
simmer of sunlit waves. Vagrant odors
Of new-mown hay were waited to them
when the breeze stirred. An orioles note
rose out of the dim forest paths, poig-
nantly sweet Presently the lad spoke,
not so much frightened at his own au-
dacity as amazed at his lack of fear.
Since you are playing my sister, do
you mind telling me your name? Did
he say Buchanan
NO; Bruce-Hadden."
His face lighted as he exclaimed boy
ishly, II knew l had known you, And
7 have-at least, I've seen your picture.
You are Oswald Graham's cousin jean"
Yankee friend at Elton, the one who
fought him because he said things
about America"
And jolly well licked I was. too"
said Willy gaily. Il didn't even know
how to put up my hands; he made a
gorgeous mess of me. And then he
hunted me up and took it all back. OF
course we We're chums after that. /
was going to visit him in the holidays,
out
But he was drowned, trying to save
child
He did save her. He always did
what he set out to do. And if had
,nly been there"
swim like a duck"
Its the only sport I'm not a muff