The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-03-02
The Disinherited Son.

"He has made hIs own bed," saiC
Major Martindale, land he must liz
on it."
Major Martindale folded up Ger.
tain obnoxious letter, as he made thiS
mental remark, and laying it on s lit
tie gilded letter.raek beside him, II
company with tsilor's bill, a tickei
to some forthcoming amateur concert,
and a printed circular concerning ''in'
suranee policies" wentdeliberately or
with his breakfast.
He was handsome elderly gentle.
man, slightly bald, with bright brown
eyes, straight Roman features, and
one of those square, firmly-molded
mouths which betoken decided ten
dency to have ones own way. And
as he drank his coffee, and daintily
manipulated his French rolls, broiled
birds, and fresh strawberries, served
in a garniture of their own fresh
leaves, he unused over the contents oi
this same letter.
"It's q great mistake to allow ser.
want to bring in ones correspondence
at meal-times," reflected Major Mar.
tindale. "It's almost certain to in
terfere with ones digestion. PllneveI
read another letter at breakfast time
What could possess my son to go and
get married in this abrupt, nonsen-
sical sort of way 2 Says he feared il
would be impossible to gain my con-
sent.i Well, he had good reason fol
his fears. He'll find it still more i'm.
possible after marriage than before
He knows my ideas, and il he don't
choose to conform to 'em, it's his
business, not mine.n
And SO, after finishing his straw.
berries, and daintily cleansing his fl
bert-nailed fingers in q ruby-colcrec
finger-bowl, Major Msrtindale wrote
three words on thick gray sheet o.
note paper, inclosed it in an envelope
affixed q stamp, and gave it to the
servant to post. And the three words
were these: "COlsider yourself disin-
herited,"
That was the way Ia which Msjol
MartindaIe disposed of his only son
Not that he did not love Harry
the bright, frank boy, who was al
that was left of mis- young wife, thu
ore romantic dream and tender mem
Ory of his life-time-but ne liked hi
own way better. And it is surprising
how obstinate q man can be when hI
once turns his attention to the busi
ness.
"D.slnherited o, Harry And fol
me %
Mrs. Harry Martindale. a pretty
blue-eyed woman, With light hair tina
shoWered itself around her face like
sunshine, little dots of dimples in he
cheeks and chin, and round fresf
mouth like baby's, looked piteously
un into her husbands face as sh'
spoke.
Harry Martlndale shrugged hi
shoulders /; the momentary clouC
passed away from his face, as he an
swersd, bravely:
ttNever mind, Ariel. We can afford
you and I, to be independent Of
crusty old gentleman's money. II
see about that clerkship in Sc. Louis.
"Half the world away from me
Harry"
'Tt won't be for long, pet. Cheel
up! I'll send for you when get wei
established, and we'll have littl'
bird's-nest of home, without asking
any favcrs of my father"
Ariel smiled through the dew-drop
that sparkled in her eyes. She wa
easily consoled. A girls heart q
eighteen is blessedly elastic.
Major MaItindale elected to go 1
Atlantic City for the hot weeks tina
season. Why, he did not especiall.
particulsrize to himself. Saratoga wa
dull at Newport one was half 8 mil
away from the beach ; Long Brancl
had palled upon his fastidious taste
Sc to Atlantic City he went, rathe
enjoying The very perceptible nets an
snares spread for him by the variou
widows, old maids, and gushing dam
sells who were there engaged in tn
great misunderstanding campaign.
AT wonder il they think l am
fool" said the Major, as he strolle
on the beach with q cigsr in hi
mouth.
But one day the Major found him
self forced to give up picnic on &C
count of a strange and unusual feel
ing of lassitude and lAnguor, and tn
+. next be was in bed.
TFThis looks serious" said the Majo
> to himself. ''I've heard of low feve
7 hanging about, but I never though
of it's attacking me !h
The doctor came twirled his watch
chain, wrote prodigious Latin pre-
= scription, and shook his head.
People made haste to vacate tn
= rooms in the immediate vicinity @
No. 90, and the Major began diml
= to comprehend, through mist ths
was slowly gathering around b
brain, that it was likely to go har
with him.
"I will stay and nurse him, doeto
have hsd q fever, q year or tW
! since, and do not fear it, and al
handy with such people"
"But, my dear, you've no idea VIII
You are undertaking"
"Yes, 1 have" answered the soft
: low tones sand we must not /,
Y him die for want of proper csre."
\ ''Is your aunt willing%
"Quite So"
stTnen you may try; but, take n
n word for it, you'll back down at Il
end Of the first week"
Major Martindale heard these wor'
Y suppose as it were, out OF the cloud
as be might have heard the thund
t of the waves on the beach outside,
, the ringing OF the'church bells, wit
$ out at all connecting them with hin
self. Strange what 3 world of dream
D and shadows his soul and brain hs
entered into.
But one day he came back out
the darkness and the immensity an
the restless whirling to and fro of Il
waves OF life, weak and white, ar
= helpless as baby.
d And there, sewing by the windol
4. sat q aofk-nuod nrornn III IN !