Part 7 (2/2)

”An accident done a-purpose!” spoke up Rufe, angrily ”Zeph Peakslow threw her out of a swing,--the meanest trick! They're the meanest family in the world, and there's a war between us I' my chance to pay off that Zeph”

”Rufus!” pleaded the little invalid froe, ”you know he could never havehim off, Rufus!”

”Cecie is so patient under it all!” said Mrs Betterson ”She never utters a word of coht to have With my sick baby, and my own aches and pains, what can I do?

There are no decent house-servants to be had, for love or ent, syirl! Our little Lilian, here,--poor child!--is all the help I have”

At thatput away the supper things, and gone to the spring for water, ca pail

”It is too bad!” replied Jack ”You should have help about the hard work,” with another ht to; and we did have Sal Wiggett a little while this summer But she had never seen the inside of a decent house before About all she was good for was to split wood and ood this is!” said the invalid, drinking ”I was so thirsty!

Bless you, dear Lill! What should we do without you?”

Jack rose to his feet, hardly repressing his indignation

”Would you like a drink, sir?” said Lill, taking a fresh cupful froht smile

”Thank you, I should verywater fro for me”

”Why, Lilie!” said Cecie, softly, ”you should have offered it to hiht to offer it to lance at the lounge

”You did right,back the cup He looked fro boys, and wondered how they could witness this scene and not be touched by it But he only said, ”Have these young men too much Betterson blood in them to dress the fawn, if I leave it with you?”

”We'll fall back on our Dalton blood long enough for that,” said Wad, taking the sarcas venison will do Cecie so ood!” said Mrs

Betterson ”You are very kind But don't infer that we consider the Dalton blood inferior I was pleased hat you said of Lavinia's native refinement I feel as if, after all, she was a sister to be proud of”

At this last display of pitiful vanity Jack turned away

”The idea of such a wo that she ht he

But he spoke only to say good by; for just then Link ca the y, while Link, at his mother's entreaty, put on a coat, and made himself look as decent as possible

Then Jack drove away, pro the htful Lill, ”we ought to have got hiht of it,” said the sick wo fit to set before hie supply of sauce which he keeps on hand! Mother, I wish you wouldn't ever speak of our Betterson blood again; it only makes us ridiculous”

Thereupon Mrs Betterson burst into tears, coainst her