Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-02-01
"How dare you talk so to me-,

StclHiS. HOW UdTG YOU Talk SO 10 iCtA
boy?'
= only said the truth. ,father.. Y gu
always brought me up to speak the
truth, and to avoid hypocrisy and de-
ceit. I'd scorn to 90 away unbeknown
to you, and make believe didn't mean
to 60. for | do; and l tell you so open
ly and plainly shall go if Heaven
spares my life!''
You shall notr' Ben Anderson,
face was alight with sudden fire, and
there was hard ring in his usually
quier voice.
''We will wait and see.' Ralph an
swered, unflinchingly-
The winter slipped away and the mat
ter was not again referred to between
them. Ralph was apparently contented
and happy, joining with eager zest in
all the WATER sports gotten up by the
young people, entering with his charac-
teristic impetuousness into both work
and play, and his father congratulated
himself on having conquered the re-
bellious spirit of the boy. ''There is
nothing like unyielding firmness in deal
ing with one of these passionate na-
tures,'' he said, with feeling of intense
self-satisfaction.
= 1t never occurred to Ben Anderson
that the boy had his own stubborn will.
His theory was that obedience was the
first law of u child. The natural in
stincts and intuition were to be crushed
out. if they run counter to the judgment
and wishes of the parent. Years and
experience fitted him to Judge what was
best and most proper for the child, and
he considered it his solemn duty, as
signed him by Heaven, to thus bend
and control the future life of the child
by deciding for him. With his rigid
idea of ''responsibility,' it will be read
lily seen that Ralph's chance of choosing
for himself was eXtremel y small, unless
his choice Glanced to coincide with his
fathers plans. Ever since the morn
ing, when, after a night of feverish
anxiety, his motherhad stolen softly out
and whispered with a proud smile that
"Myra had got fine, great boy" had
his resolution been taken as to what that
boy should be if God spared him to
sometimes as if he m ght be booming the
feared necessity would force him to
abandon his long-cherished plans. but
now there was no necessity. 1t looked
hither expressly to open the way for the
realization of his desires. And if some
times a faint longing for the land OF his
nativity stirred vaguely in his heart,
and old memories came, this thought
.comforted and strengthened and en-
'couraged him: Ralph could be farmer
without sacrificing his chances for COM
fort and independence, for the home in
the West gave promise of at least that,
if not of eXtrayagant wealth.
One gusty March night he came
home from Cherry Valley, and though
it was, dark, and had been for a good
half hour, there was no light anywhere
visiblein the house, and no sign of life
about the place. A vague sort of pre-
sentiment seized him, and he. hurried
into the house. His wife, sprang up
hastily as if from sleep, and called his
name in a quick. startled voice.
''Why Myra, why are you sitting
here in the dark? / feared something
had happened" he said. in relieved
tone.
She came forward through the dim.
uncertain dusk, and laid her hand on her
husbands arm.
80 Ben-where has he gomez" she
cried, in faint. dry whisper, that
sounded strange and unearthly in the
silence and gloom. sH
He caught her arm in grasp so
fierce that a slight cry of pain escaped
her.
TO BE Continued