The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-06-01

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you that" .-. ....''. .....
"Why, what's the matter, Tom
Aren't you doing very we'll nowY" ..
"No. I'm nothing but greasy, be.
grimed laborer. But I'll make my mark
yet, or give up the ghost" .'
"Mercy don't talk SO. thought you
were very we'll satisfied"
Satisfied !" contemptuously.
cit is wrong to murmur against one.
lot. We ought to be thankful"
"Dont mention the word thankful
to me! Pardon me, mother, 1 don't
mean to speak unkindly; but-well
there's going to be change that's all. ;
"You don't mean that you are going
to leave Mr.. DunningY"
"No, no." .H .
"What was it about Mr.. Wentworth? p
ooh, 1 met him to-day"-Tom blushed
-"and he reminded me of how Dun
ming began as chore-boy, and of the
way he stands now. And 1 thought,
why can't one do it as we'll as another !
Why can't do it!"
Tom looked at his mother in defiant,
argumentative way.
I'm sure 1 don't know" she replied,
| SuOulOl
not deceive yourself by building air cas-
ties"
"I'll take care of that. But I've got
an idea that l mean to work out. 1t may
amount to nothing"
"What is it, Tom ?"
al can't tell you now. You know
that brains sometimes make more money
than hands. If I could only invent
something"
Mrs. Shelly shook her head doubtful
ly. Inventors are generally hair
Drained creatures"
"Not by good deal! You ought to
be ashamed to SANDER them. Think of
what they have done for the world"
Tom left the table with his meal but
half finished, and threw himself down
on the couch. Putting his hand in his
pocket it came in contact with some
thing that sent crimson flood to his
face. He rose hastily and went up to
his room. He lit lamp, and smiled in
exultation as he laid small object on
the table. 1t was Miss Lucy Wares
missing button. Yes, Tom had seen it
when 1T dropped, picked it up, and re-
solved to keep it as a remembrancer of
the tantalizing siren who had so be-
witched him. Some time, perhaps, he
would return it. He chuckled as he
thought of her discontinue, and her
blissful Ignorance of who was the pos
SCISSOR of the lost trinket. Then the fool
ish fellow gazed at it long and earnestly,
finally placing it in an inside pocket Of
his vest.
He went to shelf on which was
ranged u choice collection of scientific
works, took one down, and commenced
reading. But his thoughts refusing to
concentrate themselves on the subject of
the book, he finally flung it aside and
went down stairs. He astonished his
mother for the rest of the evening by
being unusually gay and vivacious. He
perpetrated fearful jokes, and both
laughed until the tears ran down their
cheeks, thus insuring q good nights
rest.
But change was coming, The next
day Tom bought pencils, compasses, and
drafting paper, and in the evening shut
himself up in his room. This was re-
peated the next evening, and the next,
and at the end of week his mother
learned to look no more for the pleasant
hours they had been wont to spend to-
gether after tea. Tom grew pale, and
his face assumed thoughtful, resolute
look. And soon he drew half of his two
hundred dollars from the bank and fitted
up little workshop in back chamber.
Here the sound of filing and hammering
was heard late into the hours of almost !
every evening. Tom was working out |
his idea, whatever it was and it was
plainly no child's play with him, but a |
game in which he had staked his ala |
battle for life or death. His earnest
face told this, always soberly meditative
now, and scarcely ever relaxing into a
smile. His mother noticed this; Mr..
Dunning noticed it; his friends noticed
it; but he discharged all his daily duties
with rigid fidelity, and gave short an
swers to expressions of concern. And |
thus the winter passed.
One August day Mr.. Dunning said
"Shelly, you are entitled to vacation,
and you look as though you needed it.
Go off for couple Of weeks. Your pay
shall go on the same"
Il don't want it now, sir. I'm all
light"
"Ah, but I'm afraid you are not all
light. You are pale and thin"
81 would prefer to work on for the
present." persisted Tom. "I may want
vacation before long. I'll ask for it
vhen 1 do"
"All right. Don't be afraid to men-
ion 1t. Only don't wait till the busy
For the next three weeks Tom stuck
ater than ever to his little workshop
venings, and often toiled there until
he wee, small hours were tolled out by
he lonely, solemn town clock.
At the end of that time he went to
Ir. Dunning with bright, almost happy
ooking eyes. Yet he had a jaded, ex-
austed air.
"Now, sir, want my vacation"
"WhewW said Mr.. Dunning. "We've
lst got in some big orders, you know"
"I can't help it, sir. l must have a
,eek."
"You must?" |
"Pm sorry, sir; but rather than not
ave it I'd throw up my place"
"Why, what's the row, Shelly? Any
ming going wrong?"
"No, sir. hope you will pardon my
ersistence, but can l go for week p
swell, yes" said Mr.. Dunning, re-
ectively, 81 suppose so. You ought
} have taken it in the summer, though.
Tut since you ask for only week, you
hall have It,"
That night Tom packed something [
cry carefully in small box, bade his
lOther oon1 Inv and startad Cor Wash |