"I had my gun at home, and Will used to beg Stella to let him go with me. He was continually saying that he would be a soldier when he was a man. He used to look after me as I went out with my gun over my shoulder. I gratified him a few times firing at a mark, and then I allowed him from the window to see me load my gun. "One morning,—oh, how vividly every circumstance comes back to my mind! even the fragrance of the white rose-bushes, and the pretty hedge all in bloom,—I was unusually aggravated by poor Stella's unreasoning jealousy, and I answered with some hard words. I reproached her with having made my life miserable. I told her I came home resolved to be loving and patient. I reminded her that we were orphans, and ought to love each other; and then, as she called me some undeserved names, I retorted angrily that I was the eldest, the proper guardian of the family, and that I would use my authority to take Will from her to prevent his being ruined. "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.'"