登陆注册
14731900000071

第71章

Besides, during this busiest time of the year, when the crops were getting started, there seemed to be little opportunity for social intercourse. At least, so it seemed on the Atterson place.

They were a busy and well contented crew, and everything seemed to be running like clockwork, when suddenly "another dish of trouble", as Mother Atterson called it, was served them in a most unexpected manner.

Hiram was coming up from the barn one evening, long after dark, and had just caught sight of Sister standing on the porch waiting for him, when a sudden glow against the dark sky, made him turn.

The flash of fire passed on the instant, and Sister called to him: "Oh, Hiram! did you see that shooting-star?""You never wished on it, Sis," said the young farmer.

"Oh, yes I did!" she returned, dancing down the steps to meet him. "That quick?""Just that quick," she reiterated, seizing his arm and getting into step with him.

"And what was the wish?" demanded Hiram.

"Why--I won't ever get it if I tell you, will I?" she queried, shyly.

"Just as likely to as not, Sister," he said, with serious voice. "Wishes are funny things, you know. Sometimes the very best ones never come true.""And I'm afraid mine will never come true," she sighed. "Oh, dear! I guess no amount of wishing will ever bring some things to pass.""Maybe that's so, Sis," he said, chuckling. "I fancy that getting out and hustling for the thing you want is the best way to fulfill wishes.""Oh, but I can't do that in this case," said the girl, shaking her head, and still speaking very seriously as they came to the porch steps.

"Maybe I can bring it about for you," teased Hiram.

"I guess not," she said. "I want so to be like other girls, Hiram! I'd like to be like that pretty Lettie Bronson. I'm not jealous of her looks and her clothes and her good times and all; no, that's not it," proclaimed Sister, with a little break in her voice.

"But I'd like to know who I really be. I want folks, and--and I want to have a real name of my own!""Why, bless you!" exclaimed the young fellow, "'Sister' is a nice name, I'm sure--and we all love it here.""But it isn't a name. They call me Sissy Atterson at school. But it doesn't belong to me. I--I've thought lots about choosing a name for myself--a real fancy one, you know. There's lots of pretty, names," she said, reflectively.

"Cords of 'em," Hiram agreed.

"But, you see, they wouldn't really be mine," said the girl, earnestly. "Not even after I had chosen them. I want my very own name! I want to know who I am and all about myself. And"--with a half strangled sob--" I guess wishing will never bring me that, will it, Hiram?"Never before had the young fellow heard Sister express herself upon this topic. He had no idea that the girl felt her unknown and practically unnamed existence so strongly.

"I wouldn't care, Sis," he said, patting her bent shoulders. "We love you here just as well as we would if you had ten names! Don't forget that.

"And maybe it won't be all a mystery some day. Your folks may look you up. They may come here and find you. And they'll be mighty proudof you--you've grown so tall and good looking. Of course they will!"Sister listened to him and gave a little contented sigh. "And then they might want to take me away--and I'd fight, tooth and nail, if they tried it.""What?" gasped Hiram.

"Of course I would! " said the girl. Do you suppose I'd give up Mother Atterson for a dozen families--or for clothes--and houses--or, or anything?" and she ran into the house leaving the young farmer in some amazement.

"Ain't that the girl of it?" he muttered, at last. "Yet I bet she is in earnest about wanting to know about her folks."And from that time Hiram thought more about Sister's problem himself than he had before. Once, when he went to Crawberry, he went to the charitable institution from which Mother Atterson had taken Sister. But the matron had heard nothing of the lawyer who had once come to talk over the child's affairs, and the path of inquiry seemed shut off right there by an impassable barrier.

However, this is ahead of our story. On this particular night Hiram washed at the pump, and then followed Sister in to supper.

Before they were half through Mr. Camp suddenly started from his chair and pointed through the window.

Flames were rising behind the barn again!

"Another stack burning!" exclaimed Hiram, and be shot out of the door, seizing a pail of water, hoping that he might put it out.

But the stack was doomed. He knew it the moment he saw the extent of the blaze.

He kept away from it, as he had before; yet he did not expect to pick up any trail of the incendiary near the stack.

"Twice in the same place is too much!" declared the young farmer, glowing with wrath. "I'm going to have this mystery explained, or know the reason why."He left Mr. Camp to watch the burning fodder, to see that sparks from the stack did no harm, and lighting his lantern he went along the line fence again.

Yes! there were the footprints that he had expected to find. But theburning stack was even farther from the fence than the first one had been-- and there were no marks of feet in the soft earth on Mrs. Atterson's side of the boundary.

同类推荐
  • 君臣上

    君臣上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 仙传外科集验方

    仙传外科集验方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Alkahest

    The Alkahest

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 观自在菩萨随心咒经

    观自在菩萨随心咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 维摩经略疏垂裕记

    维摩经略疏垂裕记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 绝境

    绝境

    为了总结近年来的文学成就,见证固原的文学历史,编辑出版一套“文学固原丛书”,则是固原的文艺工作者共同铸就的全景式的心灵读本,其文化价值和社会意义显而易见。该丛书的出版,必将对丰富文化固原建设增添光彩。
  • 最强孩子王

    最强孩子王

    五个三十多岁的中年大叔,偶然的机会,群体穿越回了小学时候。到底这五个大叔以成熟的心态和超时代的记忆会做出什么牛事儿呢?且听我慢慢道来。
  • 末世之神奇空间

    末世之神奇空间

    苏染是个重生归来的幸运儿,坐拥空间,末世前便收集了大堆物资。可是为毛末世的经验老是不靠谱!这是哪儿跑出来的精神病?这个大众空调又想干嘛!当交友废碰上啰嗦妹,当高冷妹纸碰上暖男男神。会在末世碰撞出怎样的火花?
  • 界客栈

    界客栈

    东方人称他客栈西方人称他酒店兽人称他酒馆外星人称他补给站一个各大星际文明开始交流贸易的年代,一个位于各大平行宇宙间的自主空间,一个刚继承了一家客栈的东方年轻人,会发生些什么呢
  • 旧时光,一顾无秦

    旧时光,一顾无秦

    我青春里的那股柠檬的清香,就像是你时刻为我准备的白开水,已成为了一个习惯,让我怎么戒掉?我曾说:顾秦,许我时光忘记你。让我抹掉属于你的记忆,将你悄悄的留在旧时光中,我用了一支笔,虚构了一个故事,述说了整个青春——一个属于我们的青春。可是后来我们为什么还要相遇?
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 烙印武士—不死的咒言师

    烙印武士—不死的咒言师

    米德加尔特王国,英雄7年,伊卡鲁斯港,消失于海上半年之久的古德荣号再次出现,船上一片狼藉,破落不堪,船员已经大部分失踪,只留下几具奇异的尸体。同晚,在酒吧喝酒的破落佣兵索斯为保护酒吧老板一家与蔷薇骑士团发生争斗,被骑士团随行的元素使封困,不得不释放法力保命,暴露了自己曾为为血魔伊斯利效命的烙印武士身份。索斯逃到港口,偷偷登上正要出航的克瑞米号,结识了船长赫利斯一行。在航行的途中,克瑞米号遇到了一艘救生艇以及已经丧命的船员,金饰品以及通往魔沼海中的一个名为尤安岛的海图。迫于水手的压力,赫利斯不得不改变航线,照着海图朝着尤安岛驶去,索斯却隐隐感觉到,此行一定会遇到不可预知的险境。。。
  • 水晶龙棺

    水晶龙棺

    每年黄河都要清淤。不知道今年是福还是祸。。。。【求收藏,万分感谢!】
  • 社会主义协商民主与参政党建设

    社会主义协商民主与参政党建设

    黄利鸣、宋俭、王智、杨建国著的《社会主义协商民主与参政党建设》以贯彻十八大精神为主导,从中国政党政治协商的历史演进、协商民主与社会主义协商民主、政党协商与社会主义协商民主、政党协商与参政党实践,以及加强参政党建设完善社会主义协商民主五个方面,探讨中国政党政治协商的渊源以及在社会主义协商民主的语境下政党协商的理论与实践,旨在探求当代中国政党协商发展的合理化路径。
  • 逆世小邪妃

    逆世小邪妃

    “小东西,你已经勾起了本尊的兴趣,想这么就逃走吗!”他邪魅冷酷的看着她,语气冰冷而霸道。“不好意思,我对老年人没兴趣。”说完扭头就走。一场穿越,第一杀手变成了被妖魔追杀的十岁小娃娃!等等?!大魔头追杀她也就算了,为什么还喜欢她?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】