The Able McLaughlins
"Likely I'd bring him out with you!"
"Oh, we'll be happy now, Wully!"
But after a minute she stirred uncomfortably. He felt her face grow grave.
"Where was it you saw him, Wully?"
"In a livery stable."
"In a livery stable!" she repeated. "Dying in such a place!" Dying seemed not so sweet a word now.
"But why didn't he send word home before? Think of Aunt Libby, Wully!"
"He came in on the train last night."
"Oh!" she exclaimed, enlightened. "He wanted to get home alive!"
"What's the matter of him?" she asked again.
"Hemorrhage," said Wully, as shortly as it was possible to speak. He wouldn't tell her how he had seen that snake lying bloody, dirty, sunken helpless on a bed of straw. He urged his horses on.
She looked at him. He turned away from her troubled eyes.
After a while;
"Look here, Wully!" she faltered.
He gave her no encouragement.
"After all, he was Aunt Libby's baby!" she sighed.
"After all!" he sneered. He meant to silence her. She spoke again.
"Aunt Libby was always kind to me, Wully!"
He wouldn't answer her. He knew what was coming.
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