Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-05-26
TIE ONLY SON.
BY MRS. JANE WEAVER.

Mn. Harcourt sat alone in his stud "
The walls were crowded with bookcases
filled with the massy tones oftbe law; his
table was covered with papers of impor-
tance; and pile of notes, which had just
been paid him by client, lay close at his
elbow. The costly lamp that hung above
his head threw its light full on the upper
part ct his face. bringing the massv brow
out into bold relief, and giving additional
aernness to his cold and inhexi5le features.
All at once he rang the bell. .
SIS master James arrived % said he
sharply, when the servant entered.
eyes. sir"
"Show him in, them"
In few minutes the door of the study
opened again, and the lawyers only y son
stood in the presence of his father. He
was youth of about seventeen, fair and
manly to gaze upon, but with that look of
dissipation in his countenance which mars
even the nobl.st beauty. An expression
of feminine softness and irresolution in his
face, contradicted the proud and seli-willed
glance of his dark, glowing eye. He
seemed, indeed, TO judge from his looks, TO
be wholly creature of impulses.
$50 you have been in another scrape,
sir" said the old man harshly.
The youth bowed his head and bit his
lip.
ut cost me four hundred dollars 10 pay
for the carriage that was broken, and the
horses foundered in your drunken trolic.-
What have you to say to that, sir"
The young mans eye wandered irreso-
lutely around the room, without daring to
meet his fathers face. Nor did he make
any reply.
"How long is this to last 2" said his pa
rent, in more angry tone. "Have moi
told you, again and again, that would dis
own you if these things went on? You
are disgrace, sir, to me-a blot on my
name. Thank God your mother did not
live to see you grow up"
The youth had been evidently nerving
himself to bear his fathers rebukes, with
as much indifference and coolness as posi-.
BILE; but at the mention of his mother.
name his lip quivered and he turned away
his head to hide the tears that gathered ir
his eyes. Had that stern, irritating ole
man known how TO follow up the chord he
had struck, his son might yet have beer
saved but he was hard, correct man, un
accustomed to making allowances for difie
renee of character, and he resolved to drive
his son into obedience by the strong arm o
parental authority.
"You turn away to laugh, you rascal, dc
you," said he enraged. "You believe, BE-
cause you are my only child, / will no
disinherit you. But l would cast you off
you were ten times my son and ! mad
up my mind to-day to tell you, at once, II
90. There is pile of notes--fve hundre,
dollars-l believe: take it; and tomorrow
l will make it thousand, before you de
part. But, remember, this is the last nigh
you shall spend under my roof-the las
cent of my money you shall ever touch.
| When his mother was alluded to tn
youth had almost made up his mind to ste
forward, ask pardon Tor all his evil course
and promise solemnly hereafter to live
life of strict propriety: but the sharp an
angry tone in which Mr.. Harcourt pursue
the conversation, and the words OF banish
ment with which il closed seemed 10 max
him irresolute. He colored, turned pale
and parted his lips as if about to speak
then he elapsed his hands half in supplica
ton but the cold, contemptuous look {
his father checked him and he remained 81
lent. The angry flush however, rose agai
to his cheek, and became fixed there.
"Not word, sir" said the father. 81
is too late for pleading now. Don't b
both blackguard and coward. tol
you il you ever got into such . discrsdiis
ble difficulty would disown you. But th
warning did no good. 'Yon must reap
yo,, have sown. Will YOU 20 :"