The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-07
THE GOOD.FOR.NOTHING.

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good for nothing" and Josiah Broadbent
tapped the ashes out of his pipe in very
responding way.
II don't believe that, Josiah. Nature
does not put such grand dome over a
fine face for nothing Richard has not
had 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 follow the
upward fight of white-winged flock of
pigeons. Rational, full, deep set eyes,
and bright keen face, surrounded by
soft, light, curly hair. Most people
would have looked at such face in a
man with dim doubts and foreboding.
Richard was stray soul in stray body
in that plain matter-of fact family. None
of the Broadbents had ever been the
least like him. Yeomen, woolstaplers,
spinners and weavers, great hard-headed,
hard-fsted Yorkshiremen, what kin to
them was this bright, clever youth, who
looked like u knight just stepped out of
fairy book?
At first Richards love of learning had
rather amused his household. Old
Josiah was not averse to seeing his son
carry off all the honors of his school, and
when people spoke of the lads attain
ments, and of the promising career be-
fore him, he thought of course they
meant that Richard would greatly in
crease the business of Broadbent IL Sons,
and perhaps in the end get into Parlia-
ment
But Richard showed no disposition for
business, and after year of fruitless and
aggravating 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 "big brothers" had
adopted "little Dick" with all their
hearts, and when he complained that the
smell and noise of the works made him
ill, Stephen had spoken very decidedly
to his father about forcing the trial
further.
"Theres plenty O. brass i Leeds bank
to keep him, father, and Mark and can
we'll fend for oursel's. Let the lad be.
He's none like us"
And Josiah, having also tender spot
in his heart for his younger son, had
sighed, and left Richard very much to
his own devices. But every now and
then he wanted his grumble about the
lads shiftless, good-for-nothing ways,
and this night he had it to his friend,
the Reverend Samuel Sorley, Rector of
his parish.
Mr.. Sorley knew Richard better than
either his father OF brothers, and he was
glad the subject had been opened.
"Josiah, 'he said gravely, tell Stephen
and Mark that want Richard four years
You can give him thousand pounds or
not, just as you trust me, but at the end
of that time l think I'll prove Richard
Broadbent no fool"
"What wilt do wi him, Samuel? Send
him to Oxford?"
'Thou must ask no questions, Josiah +,
I'll have the lad entirely at my own dis
posal."
Then the two men looked toward Rich
ard again, but he had left his seat, and
was strolling off toward Saurham Park.
They walked to the window watched him
and his father lifted the book he had laid
down, and with mixture of contempt
and Indignation threw it aside.
At this moment Stephen Broadbent en-
tered the room and said, angrily:
Father, Dicks off to Saurham wood
again; I'm willing enou' to let Dick play
the fool i our house, but dang me if he
shall NEEDLE j. t. squire's.'
"What does thou mean, Stephen
81 mean that our Dick and Miss Saur-
ham have got some love nonsense to-
gether. know it. 1 tell thee how.
Jim Hardness going homo from the
works has seen them livery night. Now,
/ went have it," .Nt
Father and son were both equally an
cry and distressed, but this cir
cumstance so favored the rec
tors proposition that it was eagerly
seconded by Stephen. and was re-
garded as settled. Then the rector put
himself in Richards way and met him
lust at dark outside Saurham Park. He
WAS man accustomed to look we'll after
his parishioners and their children, both
temporarily and spiritually, and there
fore 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