Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-08-08
THE GOOD-FOR NOTHING.

II
Richards main fault is that
he's just good for nothing" and Josiah
Broadbent tapped the ashes out Of his
pipe in q very responding way.
don't believe that, Josiah. Nature
does not put such grand dome over
q fine face for nothing" Richard has
not had a fair trial, that is all about it. -
The subject of this conversation sat
at an open window at the other end of
the long parlors, and as the two older
men looked toward him he raised his
eyes from the book IN his hand to fol
low the upward flight Of a white-Winged
flock Of pigeons. Rational, full deep
set eyes, and bright, keen face, sur
rounded by soft, light, curly hair. Most
people would have looked at such q
face in Il man with dim doubts and
forebOding. Richard was q stray soul
in stray body in that plain matter-Of
fact family. None Of the BrOadbents
had ever been the least like him. Yeo-
men, woodstaples, spinners and weav-
ers, great hard headed, hard-fisted York
shire men. What kin to them was this
bright, clever youth, who looked like Il
knight just stepped out of fairy
book?
At first Richards love of learning had
rather amused his household. Old Jo-
siah was not averse to seeing his son
carry off all the honors Of his school,
and when people spoke of the lads at
tainment, and of the promising career
before him. he thought of course they
meant that Richard would greatly in
crease the business of BrOadbent u
Sons, and perhaps III the end get into
parliament.
But Richard showed no disposition
for business, and after 4 year Of fruit
less and aggrayating efforts to find
something he could do in the works,
the trial had been abandoned. His
elder brothers, Stephen and Mark. were
very fond of this lad. who was ten years
younger than either of them, and whose
beauty and bright ways had been their
pride for twenty years. Indeed.
Richards mother dying at his birth,
these bic brothers" had adopted
. little Dick with al their hearts, and
when he complained that the smell and
noise of the works made him i'll, Ste
phen had spoken very decidedly to his
father about forcing the trial further.
There's plenty o brass i Leeds
bank to keep him. father, and Mark and
| can well fend for oursel's. Let the
lad he. He's none like us"
And Josiah, having also q tender
spot in his heart for his youngest son,
had sighed, and left Richard very much
to his own devices. But every now and
then he wanted his grumble about the
lads shiltless, good-for-nothing ways,
and this night he had had it to his chief
friend, the Rev. Samuel SOrley, rector
Of lis parish
Mr.. Sorley knew Richard better than
either his father or brothers, and he was
clad the subject had been opened.
" Josiah he said gravely, "tell
Stephen and Mark that | want Richard
for four years. You can give him q
thousand pounds or not, Just as you
trust me, but ut the end of that tune /
think III prove Richard Broadbent no
fool"
What wilt do wi him, Samuel?
Send him to OxfordY
Thou must ask no questions, Jo-
seph. I'll have the lad entirely at my
own disposal"
Then the two men looked toward
Richard, again, but he had left his seat,
and was strolling off towards Saurham
Park. They walked to the window and
watched him, and his father lifted the
book he had laid down, and with a
mixture of contempt and indignation
threw it aside.
AT this moment Stephen Broadbent
entered the room and said, angrily
= Father, Dicks off to Saurham wood
again; I'm willin' enou' to let Dick play
the fool i our house, but dang me if he
shall NEEDLE i t. squire's."
What does thou mean, Stephen p
mean that our Dick an Miss
SaurhGm have gotten some love nom
sense together. | know it. | tell thee
how; jim Hardness going home from
t works has seen them most livery
night. Now | went have it.
Father and son were both equally
angry and distressed, but this circum-
stance so favored the rectOr's PROPOSE
ton that it was eagerly seconded by
Stephen, and was regarded as settled.
Then the rector put himself in Rich
ards way and met him just at dark
outside Saurham Park. He was man
accustomed to look well after his par
ishioners and their children, both tenn
porarily and spiritually. and therefore
Richard was neither astOnished nor
offended when he said:
"WhO have you been walking with,
Dick? Tell me the truth, my son."
with Agnes Saurham. sir"
The light of love was still in the
Young fellows face, and the rector
could not help noticing how handsome
he was. He did not say TO him " You
have no right, Richard-the young lady
is far beyond your station. " You are
going to make deal of trouble" and
SO on. On the contrary, he praised
Agnes beauty and worth, and then
showed him how lawfully the squire
might refuse her hand to any man I'M
til he had done something to prove him
self worthy of it.
What can do, sir 81
Il will tell you, Richard"
And then the old man took the young
ones arm and talked so solemnly and
SO earnestly that Richard caught hi.
enthusiasm and whatever Mr.. Sorley'S
plans were, he entered heartily into
them.
"You shall have every help tina
money can give you, Richard, only
mind, / will have no love-making, anC
YOUR proceedings shall be kept a Sc