Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-03-19
l hurried to nv boarding-place, got


to Basirs home. 1t was Lighthouse a,
the foot of the mountains, two mile:
above Chrysalis, on the bank of the
brook. The boy had pointed it out one
day as we went shooting.
The night was one of the widest
had ever known. No sane man would
venture upon the plains in such storm
unless duty imperatively called him tc
do so. / hesitated to sally forth even
toward the mountains, where 1 had
landmarks to guide me, but my desire
to speak kindly to the scholar l had
wronged prevailed. l could find
my way home, reflected, by the sound
of the tumultuous brook. -.--
Basil himself opened the door for
me. He almost shrank back as he be.
held his teacher. l took his hand cor.
daily, and asked for his mother. He
led me into the room. On its floor
were spread, in place of a carpet, bear
skins and buffalo-robe. Antlers
adorned the walls. Abedstead was in
one corner. and there were few COM
mon chairs and deal table. In a
rocking-chair sat. Basil's mother. a
woman of about fifty years of age. The
son introduced me. and as greeted
her l could see that had intruded upon
sorrow. No doubt the boy had deliv-
cred the harsh message had sent. and
he and his mother were in deep dis
tress
l sat down in front of huge wood
fire that was blazing and cracking on
mud hearth. l talked of the snow
storm, but the thoughts Of the silent
woman were on something else.
Mrs. Stout, l spoke to your son this
afternoon with great severity. l
thought l had reason to do so, but l
now think l was unnecessarily bitter.
No boy who is willing to work ought
to be discouraged. ! do not know
what to think of Basil. He seems to
study most industriously, but he seldom
knows his lessons. He is one of the
best boys in school, but almost despair
of teaching him anything that ought to
satisfy you, him or myself. .- %
Basil is good boy" said she.
'Why does he not learn his lessonsp"
l asked. d.
81 can not tell" ...-..
els he dull?'' -1.tt
Not at helping his mother. There
never was handler boy, nor a better
Ever since his father went away Basil
has been like man about the house,
Il thought Mr.. Stout was dead"
mo. He is in Montana. He went
shere when things began to get dull
here. The mines We're worked here,
you know. before the Bustlebury dis
trict was discovered"
The Chrysalis district is prosperous
now" said.
Eyes. But there was time when
no one could make anything here, and
my husband was afraid of sinking all
he had laid by. So he went to Mon
tana.'
'.How is he pleased with the mines
there?''
''At first he wrote that they were
good. and that he was making money
fast, but afterward he met with misfor-
tunes and lost nearly everything. Then
he prospered again, and wrote that he
would come home in the fall, but he
was taken sick in August, and we've
been very anxious about him for four
or five months. Basil's like home
sick girl, for there never was boy
fonder of father than Basil is of his.
He's the only child, and Mr. Stout al
ways treated him like companion,
and the boy was like the fathers
shadow wherever he went And now
he's so troubled about his father that
he's not himself He wanted to start
right off to Montana to take care of
him, but my husband gave him strict
orders. whatever happened, to stay
with his mother, and he sent word that
good friends in Montana would take
care of him. But the troubles on the
boys mind day and night. 1t would
>ill him, believe, if his father should
die
Basil. my boy" said 1, holding out
nv hand to him. ''forgive your teacher
:or being so unkind this afternoon"
His eyes filled with tears as he took
ny hand. He could not speak.
Your words hurt him, sir, for he
has taken a very great liking to YOU"
Mrs. Stout told me OF the trials she
md her son had endured in the absence
If her husband.
AFTER Mr.. Stout had suffered those
osses. more than year ago. said
he. there was time when he
couldn't send us any money for three
months. Basil just turned hunter and
isher. and what he shot in the mount
lins and caught in the brook fed us,
md brought in money enough to keep
Is from want
l began to think of returning to my
odgings 1t would be late by the time
should reach them.
Mrs. Stout was silent again. The
fitness within allowed us to notice the
ury of the tempest.
II must gor' said l. rising. /
"You mustn't think of going back to |
own tonight, sir. s--Fs !
NO" said Basil, Il will kindle fire
n the other room. Mr.. Nicholas. ana
n the morning it'll be easier to find
our way"
As he said this, there came loud |
APP at the door.
'.Some one is lost in the storm" said |
BASIL.
He opened the door. A man en-
cred, clothed in fur and covered with /
now. We saw he was the driver of |
40 nf kLo ~ov Laf |,