Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-08
CHAPTER VII.


boys were long since gone to bed; the ushers
were congregated in living room set apart
for them.
Closing his book he drew out his watch--a
fat dial that popped like cork from his fob
and sat erect to inspect it. Half-past nine
exactly; observing which he pulled the bell
maid servant opened the door.
"Has Mr.. Cuthbert come ins'
"No, sir"
Now, the proper hour for Mr. Cuthbert to
return from his evening spell of an hour and
half was nine O'clock Punctual to the
moment latterly he never was; but before
this night never had he delayed his return by
half an hour
This was liberty, This was bad ex-
ample. The doctors soul rose in resentment.
How could he reprimand unpunctuality in
another, If his son, the schools exempar, as
his father had striven to make him in all
things, fiagrantly omitted the first of virtues
to the disciplinarian'
Anger, being excited must find vent some
how; and DIR. Shaw fell to pacing the room
actively, meditating thoughts harsher than
reproof, to be delivered when Cuthbert
should appear.
For quarter of an hour this idle activity
endured, with now and then pause be
tween, that his ear might strain at the blow
ing wind.
Then he pulled the bell rope again sharply
"No, sir, Mr.. Cuthbert amt come in vet"
"How do you know!p
"His slippers amt in the rack, sirn
Now passed another short time
The doctor looked at his watch, opened the
study door, and listened
Anger was melting into alarm A tremu-
lous BUSINESS of memory kept him breathing
quickly And, above all things. his heart
yearned for his son.
As he stood, with head inclined, to bring
his ear to full reception of all sound with
out the house, Mr. Saunderson came from
the ushers room, humming snatch of song
The doctor turned to look at him
"Oh, Mr.. Saunderson," he exclaimed,
twill you be pleased to tell me if you have
seen my son since he left the house this eve
ningl"
mo, sir, not since he left the house"
THAT is very strange, Mr. Saunderson"
rs not he returned yet, sir?'
"He is not. It's past ten o'clock, and his
usual, | should say his prescribed, hour is
nine, as is known to you, Mr. Saunderson. "
Mr.. Saunderson of course looked at his
watch. Il am mortified by this maccount-
able behavior" continued the doctor There
is nothing that should detain him. Does it
not strike you as very singular, Mr.. Saun-
dersonfp
"Why, sir, it is somewhat odd perhaps,"
i,ejoined Mr.. Saunderson, a little too diplo-
matte to pledge himself to an emphatic
opinion before he had acquired larger
knowledge of the doctors views of the sub
ject.
Il repeat" exclaimed DR.. Shaw, "that there
is smoothing that should detain him. He knows
the rules, and this defiance of discipline this
defiance, ! say, Mr.. Saunderson, ISIS
Well might he stammer and stop i'll such
strain of lip reasoning. He looked eagerly
at the door, and drew out his watch for the
twentieth time.
"Sir, this procrastinaton cannot be mere
unpunctuality-ther must be a substantial.
a reasonable cause for his delay" observed
Mr.. Saunderson, rafting his RS.
II think so, sir-I think So.
"If agreeable to you, ] should lie happy
to walk to the town and make inquiries
"No, am obliged to you; not at this hour.
I'll not suffer myself TO feel anxious. NV
son has shown himself restless lately There
have been. signs of impatience in his be-
havior as though our discipline fretted him.
This conduct tonight must mean a resolu-
ton toto free himself from the traces-he
IuucU thlhh ~ MANY ~ heI1 us, SIT. But,
cried the fiery old man, ''my house shall be
locked up at the usual hour; the last person
in the world to merit my forLearance in a
matter of this sort is my SOM
Surely, sir, cried Mr. Saunderson. with
a rich roll of the II" in sir, you do not con-
slider that he has left your
LEFT mel What has put such a thought
into your mind" said the doctor, in sharp.
febrile whisper, and his eyes shone under his
white eyebrows
"Why, sir" stammered Mr.. Saunderson.
who wanted time TO recolect himself and an
prehend his own meaning, lit seems to me
strange thing, sir, that you should bolt
your door upon your son, Dr. Shaw, unless
you believe that he does not mean to come
home, sir"
Il do not understand you, Mr.. Saunder-
son. Pray step this way and oblige me with
your meaning" exclaimed the doctor, with
excitement half suppressed in his manner;
and, closing the study door, he said in a
sharp voice: "Mr. Saunderson, if YOU can
throw any light upon my sons absence de-
sire-I have to beg you will do So"
Il really can throw no light upon it, sir
none whatever" replied Mr.. Saunderson.
"You may be pretty sure that he will re-
turn home presently, sir. That he should be
Sn
good reason to account for his present loiter-
ing. And there is no doubt, DR.. Shaw. that
he is uneasy, sir said Mr. Saunderson. with
nod at the doctor, who, at the first words.
had looked up and stood listening, with his
head ON one side.
"You are right Mr.. Saunderson; he is I'm.
easy" replied the doctor,
II believe, sir, your son covets larger
sphere of action, DIR. Shaw"
"He has admitted this to you, Mr.. Saunder.
sonp
"Well, sir, he has.
"And when, prayp
"Well, sir, if the truth must be told. this
afternoon"
"But if ! understand you rightly. said the
old man, with pale smile which proclaimed
many other things than the ease Of mind il
was intended to depict, nothing escaped hin,
TO warrant you to suppose that be does not
mean to retITn-to-nightln
NO sir; can recall nothing to that effect
nothing, DR.. Shaw"
"Thanll you, Mr.. Saunderson need keen
you no longer. / am obliged to you for your
company. Good-night to you, sir.u Mr..
Saunderson bowed and retired. The doctor
looked at his watch Twenty minutes to
eleven. He rang the bell angrily.
as the house locked upln
Not yet, sir. We're a-waitin' for Mr..
Cuthbert"
Lock up and get to bed, all of your cried
the doctor, fiercely. And the bristling of his
eyebrows, and the fire in his eyes, dispatched
the girl from the room sn bound
He seated himself at the table. with his
elbows upon it. and his face in his hands
He heard them holt and chain the house
door, and the slippered tread Of the masters
as they went whispering upstairs Now
4 through the silence moaned the wind, with
rattle of dry leaves eddying, ard the thresh-
/ ing of the chestnut boughs.
Presently rose the old man and drew the
/ curtains from the window, whereby the shine
1 Of the lamp would be visible to the furtherest
\ bend of the glimmering road; returned TO his
chair, and with his watch on the table under
/ his eye began vigil
This was an onl5. son that had gone forth
and not yet returned.