Evening star., 1928-04-28

Mrs. khzstSth SleShofn HNsNeai
sSn,s note Her novel. 'Cranford,f de-
plciipg village life, is classlcl
NV mother was twice married. Her
frSt husband died before my half
brother was born and left my mother
nothinS. She finally married my father
IN order TO have n home 10 1--we IN ana
to provide for the boy whom came 10
hate.
AFr half-brother's name was Greg
orv NV mother laviShed such aftec-
flon on him that my father. a SuhStan-
tial farmer of the district. became very
Jealous of him When my mother Ian
r,lished and died, at the time l was
born. my father blamed It, unrcaSon-
ahlv on Crcgory l was a weak baby
and had the best Of everything ana all
kinds of care and grew up TO expect H.
Meanwhile. Gregory was neglected.
abused and i'll treated and grew up
6ul,srd and awkward od-for-nothing.
That is to say. every one thought
CreSorv iull, and SO he seemed to be.
He would not do his school work We'll,
and the master finally became so olS-
SlSte6 with him that he sent hm nome
asking my father TO put him at some
simple task not beyond his poor powers.
I was a star scholar ano iSeo oy every
one. The contrast early mace ME
very superior person, ! am aiT1e,
60 Crecorv was made kind OF shep-
herd under old Adam. who was nearly
nast his work. think old Adam was
fhe first person who had a good opinion
~ Grerorv. He insisted that my brother
had good qualities. though he did not
rightly know how TO bring them out.
Aud for knowing his way about that
Wild section known as the Fei& oio
Adam said he had never Se@> a lad Llke
him.
one Winter. when was about Is and
Gregory 10. I was sent by my father
on an errand 10 a place about Z mlieS
distant by the road, but only 4 by
the Fells. He told me to go and come
bv the road, but I was through early
and decided TO try the FellS, through
which was quite sure l could ma my
way.
But night came on and It began TO
snow. Though / thought L took tne
right turn, I must have been mistaken.
Soon I was hopelessly lost. and colo, LOT
the snow was falling faster ana raster:
I was growing numb and sleepy. tried
To move about. but dared not go far, for
fear of the precipices which knew
abounded in certain places on the FeIis.
Now and then stood still and Shout
ed I began to review my Lie ana
think how people would miss me. wnen,
IN a pang OF agony. ] gathered my
strength and called out once more IN q
long. cespairing cry. To my surprise, l
heard a cry-almost as long ana as
wild as mine-and my heart suddenly
began to beat fast and loud. I could
not reply for minute or two.
Just then dog haxs,ed. Was 1t
Tassie's bark-my brothers collie? She
was an ugly enough brute, with white.
fll-looking face. that my father always
kicked whenever he saw 1t. partly Tor
its own dement's and partly because 1t
belonged to my brother, On such occa-
s:cns Gregory would whistle LaSsie
away and 60 of and sit with her alone
Yes. there again. It was LaSsie's
bark! Now or never! lifted up my
voice and shouted, 'Lassiel Lassiel"
Another moment and the great LasSie
was curving and gamboling with de-
light around my feet and legs. cried
with gladness as 1 stopped down and
patted her. A gray figure came out OF
thick. close pressing darkness. 1t was
Gregory in his cloak.
But even Gregory seemed to be lost.
for he was relying on the instinct OF
I,assie TO bring him home. And I was
weak and weary, so that We had a
struggle to follow the dog in the gloom.
I was SO numb and sleepy that wanted
TO lie down and go to sleep, but Greg
0ry knew that meant ! might freeze TO
death He pushed and pulled me along
as much as he could.
II can 20 nc farther said at last
fn q drowsy tone. remember / sud-
denly became dogged and resolved.
Sleep I would. were 1t only for tive
minutes II death we're to be the con-
sequence. nevertheless, I would sleep.
Gregory stood stiIl. ''It is of no use, ="
he said. as IL to himself we are no
nealer home than We were when we
started. 80 far as / know. Our only
chance is In Lassie. Here, roll UP in
nv cloak, lad, and lie down on this
sheltered side of this big rock. Creep
close under 1t, and I'll lie beside you
70 try and keep us warm. Have YOU
anything which they would know at
hone?"
I gave him my pocket handkerchief
Creeory took IL and tied 1t around Las
sfe'g neck. 'fFiie thee, Lassie." he cried,
ssfaie thee laomel" And the white faced,
fll-favored brute was of like a shot in
the darkness.
remember nothing more. except tf1al
I crept closer 10 Gregory for warmth,
until I opened my eyes IN a warm,
lighted room. I was IN my own little
bed at home. ] am thankful 20 say that
my first word was Gregory"
A look passed from one 70 another
Ny fathers stern old face gtroye In
vain 10 keep It's ste-nncsg. His mouth
cuivered, his eyes filled with tears.
II would have given him half my
land--I would have blessed him as my
sen--I would have asked him to forgive
my hardness Of heart. before he should
die Ike that" said my father.
heard no more. A whirI came
through my brain, catching me back 70
death. ] came slowly 70 consciousness
weeks sfserward My fathers hair was
white when recovered ard his handa
shook as he looked into my face,
We spoke no more os Gregory. We