The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-04-22

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hardly believe his own ears; but as he
took it all mas he comprehended what
his son contemplated doing, he was in
high dudgeon; he ~unconsciously closed
his teeth very firmly and clenched his
right fist tightly. He could hardly re-
frain from bouncing upon his son then
and there and giving him a sound drub-
bling, but he decided that it would be
wise to hear the boys talk out, and learn
all their plans, and then confront them.
But as Philip talked on, Raymond's teeth
were less firmly closed, and when Philip
said in a half sad tone, "I doubt if my
father loves me at ALL" a dozen differ
emit feelings strove for the mastery.
"Don't love him?" he repeated to
himself, 'the ungrateful rascal ! Haven't
1 been scrubbing along savingly IS pos
sible, and privately putting little sums
into the savings bank so that l could
send him away in q year or two, and give
him a better chance for an education
than l ever had? Haven't I often said
to my. friends that he was one of the
most faithful, trusty boys in the world,
and that 1 could leave home at any
time, day or night, and never worry
about things as long as he was there
to take care2 If he does doubt my
love, up to this time l have loved him
and have been proud of him. haven't
been very demonstrative about it, to
be sure. I never thought it wise to pet
and praise children. Perhaps 1 have
been a little too unsocial and straight
laced with him. Maybe I'd better not
let them know that I've heard this talk
about their running away; but l shall, of
course, do something to prevent their
going. I'll go up to the house and think
over what course to take"
And Peter Raymond crept away from
the barn as though he were a sneak-thief,
and then hurried home as fast as he
could, not once thinking of his bride.
He had hardly got seated in his usual
place in the big armchair before Philip
came in. Philip expected his father
would say, gruffy: at is high time
that you were in bed," And so he was
taken by surprise when his father said,
gently:
"Won't you hand me the almanac
before you sit down, Philip 2"
Philips mother raised her eyes from
her sewing, and glanced at her husband
as though she wondered what had called
forth such unusual gentleness. Ray
mond opened the almanac at September,
and, after glancing down the page, he
turned to his wife and asked: els to-
day the third or fourth Tuesday of the
month";"
"The fourth" she replied. "To-
morrow is the last day of the month"
care you quite sure about it?" he
queried. eff you are correct, 1 am 6
week behindhand in my reckoning. I've
had SO many things crowded upon me
lately, I've hardly known which way tc
turn first. 1 promised Mr.. Skidmore
hat I would take that ~two-year-old
heifer away that 1 bought of him before
the first of October. She must be go
home tomorrow"
Philip got up to go to bed. Raymond
said:
"Don't hurry, Philip; I'm thinking
howto get that heifer home. 1 believe
will take you down there early in tn,
morning, and leave you to drive her up
1t is nine miles there, but you can com,
backleisurelyandfeed alongsidet the road
You'd like it as well as to stay at HON,
and work, wouldn't you PHILIPPE"
eyes, sir"
Philipreplied in an absent-minded way
He was in a quandary. Perhaps he ha,
better stay at home a little longer AM
see if things didn't more agreeabl
to him. Maybe he had judged his fathe
a little too harshly-Clinton Dexter coul,
come to the barn at midnight to NEE
him, and
Philip was arrested in his cogitation
by his father saying:
"I have 80 many cares, 80 many thing
to think of, that L a hardly keep trac
of my children'sages. I believe, Philip
your birthday comes the thiytieth of Ser
TENDER, doesn't it?"
eyes, SIR"
"And SO you will be fifteen years oil
tomorrow. Well, well, it does beat a
how time flies. Fifteen years! ]
doesn't seem more than half that tim
since you were a baby, Let me see.
believe I promised to let you go to Har
ford this fall, didn't I? We shall b
half way there when we get to Skid
more's, and, seeing tomorrow is you
birthday, perhaps we had better keep Oh
don't know as we have any better tim
to leave. We can take an early start
have breakfast at half-past five, and &c
off by six, and by nine, if we have goo
luck, we shall be there. We can sta
there till three o'clock in the afternoon
and you wouldn't be late home. 1t wi
be good light tomorrow evening-ther
is a good moon now. Well, you may
well go to bed and get all the sleep 70
can. 1 shall call you at four o'clock"
Philip started the second time to g
but just as he got his hand on the late
his father said:
"Wait a minute, Philip. If you ha
some n to keep you company frol
Skidmore's and help you to drive ii
heifer, wouldn't mind staying till nearl
night before we left the city. PerhaI
Clinton Dexter would be willing to wal
up from there with you and help driy
her, if he could go with usto Hartford an
spend the day. If you think that /
would, and you would like to have hi
go, you may run over to Mr.. Dexter
and tell him that if. it is convenient ft
him to spare Clinton I would like to ha,
him go to Hartford with us tomorrow
and walk home from Skidmore's wit
[ you in the evening. And be sure an
tell Clinton, if his father consents to h
, going, that we will call for him as ear
as six o'clock"
Philip said !: "Yes, SIR" and took L
j; his hat and went into the hall ; but b
fore he got to the outside door his faith,
called out
, "One thing more, Philip. 1 left n
: bride hanging on a bar post down /
} the sheep barn this afternoon. If you
come back across lots and bring it u
t it'll save going for it in the morning.
intended getting it myself when I can
home from Mr.. Dexter's, but it slippt
my mind"
"Lucky thing it did," Philip said
himself as he stepped out of the doc
self he had come round that way hon
I guess he wouldn't be in quite so gent
a mood tonight. He would have give
me Hail Columbia right and left al
Clint would have Jared worse than I, f
49, L.. ELL. Ill -