The Hero of Hill House

ess. Many thoughts pressed in upon the boy as he contemplated his father's long absence, but the thought that gave him an answer was that if he refused, the home might be broken up. He seemed to see

see if I can not get straightened out so that I shall be more fit for wor

r the children. Mr. Moore was a brother to the children's mother and had the same noble principles as she had. He would gladly have taken the entire care of the children, but he thought it was their fa

said his uncle after one of his visits. "He manages th

on a mere child is a mystery,"

hen and a row of babies like he is

ve. He was doing the one thing that would keep the children together, and was encouraged

was true, for in the month that he was away, nothing of enough importance for comment occurred. The days went by as evenly as if the father had been there. But if Henry Hill thought that his mind would be more settled by his absence, he was disappointed; for as soon as he was again

elf incapable of caring for the children. She had always done that, and he did not know what they needed nor why. It would be better both for him and the children to be away from this dreary, grief-laden spot. But he could not take the children with him, and

efore?-he would take Lila and Doyle to his mother's, and Austin could manage the rest. That was just the thing, and no one could find fault with the arrangement, at least no one who knew Austin. And reasoning thus, he had his plans all made be

he said one morning at the breakfast-table. "You can stay on here with the other children, and can g

ldren away, and we shall have no home; that would grieve Mother," mused the boy. Because Austin hesitated in answering, his father continued to explain his plan. "If I find a good job I shall get

bare his path looked before him he could not explain, and intuition told him it would be useless for

the two younger children with him, went to a distant State, leaving Austin and his

ustin had not told any one. Had his uncle John known this, he would have been more than angry with his brother-in-law. Henry Hill had not left sufficient means with Austin for the care of the children. He had needed a neat sum for his fare and had taken almost all from the family purse, promising to send somethin

low them to work what they could also. All of them together would be able to support themselves till their father found work and should help them again. With Austin to decide w

t. He did not wonder that the older boys had gotten out to do for themselves. Though he had to rise early and work late to kee

just the thing. With the wages of the children they would not need much from him, and he would have more for himself. There was no need of Aus

h Mr. Hill explained at length to his parents how nicely Austin was getting along, he could not make them

the children?" his mo

g after them," wa

that boy with the care of the chi

a while back and everything was running along all right

an do it," was the sharp reply. "I will send for them as soon a

ring those children here?" she

re helping him, and they are getting on s