Pity!
Pity him! How about pity for ME? I--I--"
His overwrought nerves gave way, and, throwing himself into the chair,
he broke down completely and, forgetting the manhood of which he was so
fond of boasting, cried like a baby. Captain Elisha turned away, to hide
his own emotion.
"It's hard," he said slowly. "It's awfully hard for you, my boy. I hate
to see you suffer this way." Then, in a lower tone, he added doubtfully.
"I wonder if--if--I wonder--"
His nephew heard the word and interrupted.
"You wonder?" he demanded, hysterically; "you wonder what? What are you
going to do about it? It's up to you, isn't it? You're our guardian,
aren't you?"
"Yes, Stevie, I'm your guardian."
"Yes, you are! But no one would guess it. When we didn't want you, you
wouldn't leave us for a minute. Now, when we need you, when there isn't
a soul for us to turn to, you stay away. You haven't been near us. It's
up to you, I say! and what are you going to do about it? What are you
going to DO?"
His uncle held up his hand.
"S-shh!" he said. "Don't raise your voice like that, son! I can hear you
without that, and we don't want anybody else to hear. What am I goin' to
do? Stevie, I don't know exactly. I ain't made up my mind yet."
"Well, it's time you did!"
"Yes, I guess likely 'tis.
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