The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-09
A Young Crusoe.
BY CHARLES CLIFTON ROYCE
iGolden Days.

A Young Crusoe.
BY CHARLES CLIFTON ROYCE
lGolden Days
Mother, can not go to that place again
i hate the very sound Of itP"'
''But your father?"
she is very hard, to make me work at an
occupation l dislike. My inclinstions are
all so different from this. would like SO
much to continue another year at the sem
mary"
This was ended with sigh that was in
perfect keeping with the words.
But Will, dear, leaving yeur work as
you have to-day, without your fathers con-
sent is very, very wong. You can not help
but know that yourself, and"
ats not right. either, to force me into a
trade detestl' broke in her nearer indig-
nantly.
"Stop, VIII, stopl not another world"
said his mother, with frmness in every
tone that caused her son to feel only the
more keenly her displeasure. "Doing as
you have done is not the way to change
your fathers decision. He is your fathe,
WILL" she continued, tenderly drawing him
to her arms. "He loves you just as much
as L do. and is doing what he considers
best"
"But, mother, here am, seventeen years
of age yesterday, and yet l am. not to have
some say in my future life. l surely am old
enough to have some opinion in such an
important matter"
Talk it over with him again, and you
may be able to convince him To your way of
thinking
81 know his reply well enough, answered
the son, with cynical laugh. you have
been going to school ever since you were
seven years of age. ! never had more four
years schooling in my whole life. Am
any poorer for that? Some day you must
take my place IN the firm, and to do that
properly has not, or does not, require all the
education you can ask for, or l would not
be where l am to-day. To be fitted for this,
YOU must know the business; and TO acquire
that, you must go into the shop and learn it
practically That's what he'll reply"
Mrs. Denbeigh, unknown to her nearer,
hurriedly suppressed smile, and said:
"Return to the mills, my boy and to-
night both of us will talk it over with your
father. There, some person is calling me-"
and with a motherly kiss, Mrs. Denbeigh
returned to the house, that, standing on a
high elevation, looked proudly down on the
waters of Long Island Sound.
"Tkis is the way it always ends" he muir
INJURED, turning to the waters edge with a
disconsolate air. "I'll 60 to Franks and
have talk"
The idea appeared 10 give him no little
pleasure, for now his step was light and
buoyant, and the troubled look on his face
was gone.
Between Frank Stokes and our hero there
was friendship uncommon to one so young
in years. 1t was a friendship loving,
trustful and intellectual liken best unto
Pythias, if you will. Their very incon-
gruities, in obedience to that undefnable
law of opposities, only seemed to lend new
strength to their attachment to one another.
This, of course, was not unnoticed by their
companions, who not unappropciately
dubbed them damon and Pythias."
'Are you looking for Frank, Willkbcried
a little fellow rolling bali on the shaven
lawn in front of the Stokes house.
eyes, Charlie; 1 suppose he's in his
room?"
What happy, happy hours had they
realized in that sttic-room, decorated with
all the wild profusion of youthful
hand
"No; he went to the city to-day"
"All right; I'll go down to the boathouse,"
replied VIII, turning his steps to where a
small frame structure showed itself at the
foot of the lawn.
Will Denbeigh's story had been told
by his own lips. His father, as has been
explained, had been the maker of his own
fortune. With a copmon-school education,
he had sttainedall this. His son had had
twice the advantages afforded him, and as
he would one day succeed him in the mills,
he concluded his intellectual education to b
| finished.
Mr.. Denbeigh looked upon his sons dis
taste for the business as boyish within, and
so treated it.
"You will soon get out of the idea, Will, -
| he was wont to say. because Frank is go
ing to college, you naturally want to do the
same"
No boy had better and more loving
father than Will Denbeigh-a fact he we'll
knew, and it only served to make their
present misunderstanding the more distress
ing.
Wills usual temperament was one OF
those sunny, happy dispositions every
one loves to have around him. Lately this
had deserted him, and he now went about
with troubled face, pitiful to see.
"Ah," exclaimed Will, coming up to the
boat-h0use, Frank has been repalntlng the
Nancy But what does this mcan2" added,
somewhat astonished to find the little craft
was not fastened to the dock, Frank being
usually so careful regarding his property.
viii was not aware that Charlie had
found the paddock key, and in spirit OF
mischief unfastened the chain from its ring
Fortunately the tide had been low, and after
vsinly striving to push the boat into the
deeper water, the mischieyous youth had re-
turned to the house.
The Nancy could not have been more
than eighteen feet in length, and half thai
in beam. Originally adapted to rowing
Frank, with boys ready skill, had turned
it into the jauntiest little yacht on tn.
Sound. Altogether, she was neat craft
and with head-breeze few over the watel
like sea-gull. To be sure, her canvas wa
rather large for her size, but, with he