Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-11-03


exchanged between us, the last time [
saw the wrapt, dreamy look in my broth
er'x beautiful eyes.
'tWhen we reached the landing in front
of Glen Cove (your grandfather's place.,
We found a party of young men waiting
on the bank for us. They We're wild
fellows, all of them, except William Or
naond, who was my brothers most init
mate friend.
'Hallo, boys!" they cried; "why
you've been forever in getting here.
We've waited hours and hours for you.
"sWhat's up?' asked Charles jumping
out of the boat.
"sFun's up! cried Will Estabrook,
the widest of thereckless band. Were
in for a jolly time tonight. Maggie
Dorsey the avern-keeper' daughter, you
know, is going to be married to ALI
Grimes. They're going to have a rous-
ing ball, and old Dorsey says if we grace
| the occasion with our aristocratic pres
ence, he'll give us special oyster sup
| per. Hurry up. We have a good mile
to walk, and it's late. You've just time
to dress. Of course old Sober-sides
| chat was my nickname) couldn't be
bribed to such an ungodly assemblage.
"'I don't know about going myself, ,
/ Charles answered, because my father is
opposed to our going to Dorsey's at any
| time. He thinks it's low hole, and il [
! go to a ball there, he will find it hard to
overlook it a a..ii.
/ "'Just listen to the good little boy!
Will went on. DO as you're bid, SON.
ny, and It papa says no, why, no it has
to be. I've always thought nineteen was
old enough to take care of himself The
governor tried to get the whip-handle on
| me, but soon let him know that he
needn't trouble himself about my goings
| out and comings in. Well, if you're
bound to play the obedient and d,1tiful
little boy, we'll go on. $685. ="
~ My brothers face crimsOned as Esta-
brook spoke, but he said, indiferently:
F N"' 1t decide to go, I'll be ready III a
few minutes, and then he entered into
the house.
/ aJqeeS' / followed him, for / knew perfectly
that to taunt him with the: exercises of
our fathers authority was to make him
rebel against it. Father was a very
stern man in those days, and Charles
was no new thing to evade them When
I VIC iCdSLOl OuI JCOII, ue SIlttl Du0
- think I'll go to Dorsey's tonight, ,
he said. : I won't say anything about it
TO father, for he always has lecture
| ready whether I'm right or wrong. L
won't stay more than AN hour, just to
show the fellows L can do as [ please
sometimes ....s -.
| .st Don't CO. [ said. You know that
father is right in calling Dorsey's an in
famous hole. It's miserable drinking
and gambling shop, and the people who
stay at the tavern you wouldn't notice,
if you met them on the street. Besides,
| the boys are evidently intending to have
a spree. g Will Eastabrook has drank
more than is good for him already
And l suppose you think / shall
get intoxicatedtoor he criedimpatiently.
t "Ah, / know it. More than once
| since our return from school, my
| brother had c1ept up to our room about
midnight, not drunk, perhaps, but with
a flushed face and unsteady steps. I
don't think he had any real appetite for
liquor, but his easy, pliable nature left
him at the mercy of every temptation.
! The subject was never mentioned be-
| tween us. 1 was ashamed even to men
ton my suspicious to him. Oh, how
weak, how despicably weak I was, for
had [ prayed and pleaded with him
from the first false step, who can say
what might have been averted p
Eyes, I'm going, Charles said, deeid-
eddy, beginning to dress. Halo, Or
mond, is that you? Come in. I'm not
quite ready yet, but I'll not keep You
waiting many minutes.
81 haven't come for you, Ormond
said, gravely, nor am [ going myself.
stay at home. The boys have been drink
ing already, and there's no knowing
what mischief they may do. Besides
lar blackleg, as everybody knows, and
the tavern is sw W; with gamblers
from Almont. They say they've come to
pluck the green geese in this neighbor-
hood
g. Et tn Brute!' said my brother,
laughing; SO you're joining forces with
Hal there, to convince me that I am one
of the goslings that will fly into the
trap. Thank you, but I'm going all the
same. [ hate trouble, you know, and
it's easier for me to go with the boys for
an hour or SO to the tavern, than to ex-
plain to them why I can't go. Rather
humiliating, too, to say can't take care
of myself. Well, I'm ready. Good
night. But, [ say, Ormond, stay with
us tonight. I'll be back before you go
to bed and tell you all the news, and,
humming tune, he ran down the steps,
leaving uslooking at each other uneasily.
"'I don't like his going,' Ormond
said, 'Those boys will get into mischief.
He said no more about it. We tried
to talk Of other matters, but it was a
vain effort. Two hours, three hours,
passed. We sat at the window looking
and listening. 3E"t a
":I can't endure this suspense, Or
Inond said at last, jumping up. I'm GO
ing to Dorsey's to see about Charles.
"'Just what was thinking of doing,
L answered, rising, too.
'' No you had better not go, he said.
Charles may be, he hesitated. well,
he may think If he sees you, that you are
/ N him o,,1 41,o4 I'LL L. L..