Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-03-17
IlII M IlII
Chapter M--Continued.

The scared, timid voice of his little
sister came to him through the keyhole.
He commanded her to go away, to leave
him alone to die. Then they would all
De sorry. Besides. he added, quick to
recognize a peril that might befall her,
She would get a good scolding or worse
if their aunt caught her communicate
ing with him. The little girl
stood her ground for a few mo
ments and then went away. He was
better for her visit. however. He was
not alone in the world and friendlcsS,
after all. Mary was his. and he be-
longed to her. He would live for her
that he might in the end die for her.
1t was then that his volatile. imag-
NATIVE brain began to build romance
out of his predicament. He imagined
himself confined in a dungeon by UNI
scrupulous conspirators. from whose
clutches only the most heroic actions.
the most glorious stratagems would
serve to release him. In the midst of
these exalted reflections. his aunt
came to the door and unlocked it, bid
ding him to come forth to his supper.
IT was not a romantic way out of his
difficulties, u ii was a pleasing sum-
mons. after all. His vengeance could
wait-till after supper at least.
Mrs. Blagden uttered a short gasp of
dismay on catching Il glimpse of his
dirty. blood-stained face.
Go n wash your face at once,' she
commanded. You are a perfect fright.
Chetwynd? Go at nee and get that
horrid blood off your face! Not a
mouthful do you get until you are per-
fectly clean. Brush your clothes, too.
Don't let your uncle see you looking
like this. He would be shocked"
Here was fresh indignity. a new in
Justice. The boy looked squarely into
HE lIlnf'S nVaC for a n1ntonnf md chn
must have felt the unspoken reproach
and amaZement in his glance.
II don't want any supper said Eric
surlily.
Was you face, do you hear me?
Your uncle will attend to you later on.
My goodness, to think that a child as
young as You are should have 1T in his
heart to shed blood. wantonly, cruelty.
as you nave done!"
Eric f1ared up. "Oh, it's not Chetty's
blood. It's all my own."
"Your own? Why, you little rascal,
you know o cut Chetwynd with your
knife. He says so. There's a horrid
knife? Give it to me at once! Heavens
knows what we are to do with you. You
will kill somebody. mark my words"
To her surprise. Eric INDUCED in q
broad grin. He vas gratified to learn
that one of his kicks had brought the
pioOu lIOul C~HelyWuQS Iean SHIN.
You wicked thing!" cried his aunt,
aghast in the face of what she was
pleased to regard as m%alevolent glee.
He lied. Aunt Rena, if he said /
pulled a knife on him." cried the boy
hotly. Il never"
"Chetwynd does not lie," she inter-
rupted. make yourself ~presentable at
once. Pastor Presbrey will speak to
you after supper. Heavens knows that
something must be done"
He n little Mary ate their supper
in the pantry, while Chetwynd, nurs-
ing a throbbing shin bone sat beside
he minister at table and talked Of his
afternoon with Virgil.
To illustrate the contrariness of hui
man nature, the scion of the house OF
Blagden, down in his heart, envied his
late adversary the JOY of eating in the
buffers pantry. while he was obliged
to sit up and be agreeable to the sane
timonious toady in the long frock coat
and immaculate cravat. That is to say.
he envied him until the conversation of
his elders drifted to the recalcitrant
lad In he pantry. Then he was glad
that he was there. Moreover, when
the meal was over. and the clerical an
petite satisfied for the time being, he
announced to his mother that he was
going to stay in the library and hear
what Mr.. Presbrey and his father had
to say to Eric and Mary when they
were hailed up before them for the
Judgment that was to be passed upon
them before they went to bed that
night.