“Yes, I believe so. Let us ask him when we see him again about his family, and especially that brother. I believe he would tell us all we wish to know.”
“Will,” said Mother Hilman when again she had opportunity to speak to her neighbor’s hired boy, “Nettie and I have been speaking about your family. Did we understand you to say that your father and the children are living in town now?”
“Yes, ma’am. The girls keep house for Father.”
“And where is the brother of whom you spoke the other day?”
“Austin? Oh, he did not come with the rest, but remained at his old job. Father, you know, has not been here a great while, and the children came only a month ago.”
“Who was with the children while your father was away?” asked Mrs. Hilman with keen interest.
“Austin. He is like a mother with them. Austin is a queer fellow, not like another boy I know in the world,” and Will looked up with an expression that invited confidence.
“What makes him so different?”
“It is his religion mostly. He is just like an old person, does not care to go anywhere but to church and Sunday-school. He seems to enjoy staying at home with the children, and does so months at a time. I should die if I had to tie myself down as he does, yet he seems as cheerful as any one,” said Will frankly.
“Perhaps your brother has been converted.”