The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-08-29
The lads bright, handsome face grew

panse of ripping waves, for Fairview,
where his mother lived, was seaboard
village. It was not fashionable resort,
by any means, but kind of fishing
hamlet, where persons of small means
and quiet tastes came for their summer
holiday.
"I'm full seventeen, and am Just rust
ing away here" he continued. 81 could
do better for mother and myself any.
where else. But I'm nothing here but
waiting-boy for that tippling, red-faced
Monkton. What a drunken beast he is,
with his bottle of whiskey every dayl
And I'm to fetch it to him, and be sworn
at if he's out OF temperi Mothers al
ways talking to me about my furious
temper, and it is violent, 1 know, but
somehow old Monkton makes me bad all
over whenever go near him."
"What are you doing there, you lazy
rascal2" shouted horse, cracked voice
from an upper window which overlooked
lying. "I sent you after my whiskey an
hour ago, and there you are yet. Better
be off, or I'll make the place warm for
you!"
The boy sprang up, his face crimson
with rage and modification. The furi.
Gus temper his mother deplored had
mastered him.
$50 after your liquor yourself !" he
cried. "I'm ashamed to be packing
your drinks through the street. It's a
disgrace to mothers house to have a
tippler like you in it, and won't be
your lackey any longer"
Col. Monkton for few minutes
seemed dumb with astonishment. But
| mis- first impulses when he recovered his
| senses, was to hurl large water-pitcher
at the boys head.
| It missed him, but, striking against
the trunk of the tree, was shivered.
At the noise, two gentlemen who were
| boarding at the house put their heads
out of their windows, and Mrs. Courtney,
fastening through the front yard, en-
deavored to lead her son into the house.
"Eor my sake, my boyl she cried,
in an agony.
He unclasped her hands, and shook
his fist at his antagonist, his eyes. blaz-
ing with rage.
"Yes, I repeat, you're disgrace to
any decent house-wIth your oaths and
vulgar words, and drunken ways. II
you were not an old man, I'd horsewhip
you ont of it!
"Im go in now, mother. I've said what
1 had to say.
eyes, MOTHER" he repeated, when
they were in her room, "he is disgrace,
and you know it, if he is the only one
who pays literally for his board"
| "Couldn't we have got rid of him
without all this trouble?" said the
mother, still trembling and unnerved
by bhe scene. go Tom, Tom after all
| ~ r-.-- - t-i---- - .~--~L ' oolf-
control, is that ungovernable temper OF
yours always to master you ?"
Tom hung his head.
"But, mother" he said, "I couldn't
stand the names he called me. sup
pose the Courtney blood is not quite
out Of my veins, if we do keep boarders.
You see now it's best for me to leave
here. I'm nothing but servant, and
an ill-used one at that. Any stout,
strong boy can do all have to do, 1t
will be best for you, too, mother, in
every way, if you'd only think SO. I'll
make money for you and then you
won't be always dreading that shall
get you into trouble by my temper"
Mrs. Courtney shook her head sadly.
"You won't leave your temper behind,
my boy, I'm afraid. But perhaps you
are right. I may have kept you here
too long. But oh, Tom, it's so hard to
give up all have in the world"
She was widow, and he was her only
child. In his delight at his mothers
consent, Tom was utterly unconscious
of the pain it cost her to give it. He
was riotous in his expression of delight.
He clasped his arms around her neck
and kissed her careworn face.
NANNY mine," he cried. "you've
made a man of me Look upon our
fortune as made. You shall play the
lady once more, and wear velvet and
lace as IN the old times-that is, when
my ships come in.
"Oh, you needn't smile They're
bound to come in some day, for I've
made up my mind to succeed, and you
say yourself / never fail when / try.
Yes, you've saved me, for there was
murder in my heart when that old ruffian
abused me. don't think anything he
could say now could move me-"
"You don't eh, you young vagabond2"
cried the well-known hoarse voice and
turning, Mrs. Courtney and her son
saw Col. Monkton standing on the
threshold, with large horse-whip in
his hand, and his red face purple and
swollen with passion.
"Can't be moved by anything say,
ell ?" And the colonel advanced into
the room. Perhaps, young sir, some
thing I can do will move you. I'll
teach You to insult gentlemen l''
And before Tom Courtney fairly took
in his meaning, a cutting lash descended
upon his shoulder.
With cry like that of furious ami
NAL, Tom threw himself upon his an
tagonist. Col. Monkton was an old
man, but tall, and being still powerful,
the struggle was violent one.
The screams of the widow brought the
other gentlemen from their rooms but
when they entered, Tom had freed him
self from Col Monkton's grasp, and
pushed him violently against the wall,
upon striking which, he had fallen
heavily on the floor, where he was now
lying in an unconscious condition,
breathing with strange sound.
"You've killed him, I believe" said
one of the gentlemen who had been ex-
amining the fallen man. cat least, I
think he's dying. Here, Miles, run for
the doctor. He's at the next cottage" I"
$40 my boy my boy |" moaned Mrs.
Courtney, wild with terror.
Bewildered, and hardly knowing
what he was doing, Tom fled from the
room.
"You've killed him!" rang in his ears
nc ba ran tnuar rda tho haocb Was ha