The Hero of Hill House

the right thing in his absence, and would be constantly bringing themselves into reproach. That his father could manage them

light when he received a letter from his father, saying he had obtained work that

tin. Again came the vision of his mother and her desire that he keep the children together. He pitied the poor little things to be left to the merci

e packed and sent as well as the bedding and clothes. It was a big undertaking, but was finally accomplished. It was with a feeling of reli

om, and men were making money fast and spending it just as fast. It was a gathe

er a while, but for the present he had a house five miles away. The country was wild and the neighbors few, and Austin saw that he would not be

pelled to remain at home, for he would not go away where he could not keep in touch with the children. But there was plenty to do at home. They wished to farm the next year, and he could prepare the ground this fa

t, for his father was often gone till late and then came home partly under

you lying around home all the time? Why do you not get out and m

t home nights with the children. Besides I

nyway, and you could just as well get out and make something. Go hire yourself to one of

elf that if that was all the thanks he was to receive for keeping

nd; but when they observed how young he looked, each one asked concerning his age. W

f a job?" asked his

ould hire me beca

they would have believed you if

n, and I do not like t

I am getting tired of it, and mean you s

y, and Austin was again at his chopping, and no more was said till another rainy spell. Then his father attacked him even more roughly, de

rtain, for this was pay-night. He had no doubt but that his father was drinking and gambling with the other fellows in the little town or, worse yet, had gone with som

ere neglected his father might lose his job, then where should they be? Touching Harry, who lay at his side, he said, "Harry, wake up and get ready to go with me to see about the engines; Papa did not come home last night, and we shall have to tend the

ich wet and chilled them through and through, yet the boys journeyed with light hearts, for so buoyant are the spirits o

he engine still, but with little

of voices. They were off from the main road a long way, and in a part of the country where they hardly expected to see any one on this rainy day. Looking in the direction from which the voices came, they saw two men approaching, driving a single horse. At closer range one of the men proved to

o hold him up, and his boys had to hold him to keep him from falling into the machinery while he repaired the engine. It seemed to Austin at this time that he utterly despised his father. He wondered if he could ever feel toward this reeling,

e with only a small yard cleared in the brush, and was as desolate a location as one could imagine. Yet t

ke of their mother oftener than usual. Even they wondered at all

eemed to him that he could not stand it another day. He longed to get away, to be forever from the presence of his father, but he could not leave the children. Wh

n the children, and they were no longer submissiv