Norston's Rest

ainst the old people who had been so long waiting for him. His sharp and rather handsome features were clouded with temper a

it out; one of the men told me that brute of a horse had got home with his leg

with her beseeching eyes. Then she was about to approach the young man, but one of the dogs snapped

had him in training. He's been in a grand fight over yonder, and kille

ich her husband had risen. The old man started forward, but before he could shake off the hold of his

's the only place for such curs. Mother, mother, I say, get up; the whelps are

dropped into his father's chair and stretched his limbs out u

and I," said the old woman, with a qu

if the old man had a hand

o father ever thought more of a son, if you would only do something to please him n

l come when I a

h bitter emphasis. "I almost wish for death now. Wha

ll forget his idle ways, and be a blessing t

g with him when his back is up," said the young man, stretching him

over her son, g

her, Dick. He was pla

keep me tied down

love than I felt like talking about. Your mother and I haven't ma

man, amazed by his unusual gentleness. The lines that

de it a little more pleasant at home? One must have som

he best of it now. As your mother says, a well-to-do man's only son should make something better of himself than a farm drudge; so we won't qua

with an air of bravado, "No fear, n

p, and you will find it hard managing the lass: let him see you wi

street and sell the game-chickens, if they crowd mother'

hen you bring the lass home, mother and I will have a bit of

earnest,

ink h

ou, fa

mother shall take her own

on the wet marks of the dogs' feet on th

pleasant laugh, which had noth

worse. I don't take to hard work, but the other thing suits

rse, angry clang, as if wrathful that the mor

one of the candles a

Dick, you can kiss me good-night as you used to when I went to tuck up your bed in the winter. It'll seem like

ds with his father in a hesitating way; but altogether his manner was so

d on the hearth with the other candlestick in her hand, while her husb

who was half ashamed of his concession. "But I have no idea of taking anyth

houlder, as he put the shovel in its corner, he saw

e you crying

so tha

her lips. The candle she held was darkened, and she saw that the wick was broadening at the top

raid of?" said the farmer, wondering

o the heavy wick. "It seems

ornfully, snuffing out the corpse

e horny fingers closed on the corpse-li

ps this thought came over him, for he patted her arm with his rough hand, awkwardly enough, not being given to much display of affection, and told her that

umpling up their wicks," he said, philosophically: "so come

were full of tears, and her hand quivered under the weight of the candlestic

s. Notwithstanding her terror occasioned by the snarling dog, she might have slept well, for the scene that had threatened to end in rageful assault had subsided in unexpected concession; but the funereal blackness in that candle comin

s, she mounted the stairs and entered the chamber where the young man lay in slumber so profound that he was quite unconscious of her presence; for neither conscience nor tenderness ever took growth enough in his nature to disturb an animal want of any kind. But the light

cheek resting on his hand, which, in her tender un