"Will stood by me, and listened to all the talk. Then, as I angrily left the house, he ran after me and had to be carried back by force. I was frightened at the violence of his temper, and, to soothe him, said,—
"'If you'll go back, you may play soldier with my gun.' I had fired it off in the early morning, and left it standing behind the door.
"I soon repented of my anger, and was ready as usual to blame myself. I will be more patient, I said, over and over again. I had always trusted in my own strength, and of course had failed. I turned back and entered the house. Will was alone. Stella, not expecting me, had left him by himself, for a punishment. He looked guiltily in my face, and I said, Come, let's make up and be friends. I'll teach you to be a soldier.'
"I took the gun and playfully aimed it at him, knowing it was not loaded. Alas! alas! There was a loud report, and Will, my poor little Will, fell to the floor.
"My aunt and Stella rushed to the room and found me with the gun in my hand, dumb and immovable with horror. With a shriek I shall never forget, Stella caught Will in her arms; but when I approached she waved me off, calling me a murderer, and shouting again and again, 'I will never forgive you,—never! Never!'"
"Aunt Sarah helped move Will to a bed, sent for the doctor, and then, beckoning me into another room, shut the door, and said,—
"Harold, tell me truly. How did it happen?'"
"Somebody loaded the gun after I went out. I thought it was empty. I wish it had killed me, instead of my brother.' Six feet tall as I was, I laid my head on the table and sobbed like a child.
"'You must get away from here,' Aunt Sarah said, putting her hand softly on my head,—the first caress I had had for years. 'Stella is wild with anger. Will is dyin and she will say you murdered him.'"
"'Where shall I go?' I cried. 'I'm an outcast, like Cain; and yet the moment it happened loved my brother better than I ever did in my life.'"