Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-06-12

iz6AEE@t
cUTHBERT M DIR. SHAW.
Cuthbert raised his eyes, but they fell in
stantly. Still he answered quickly:
II don't grow weary of it. Why do you
challenge met Has a single murmur ever
escaped me-"
"What! Is discomfort to be expressed by
nothing but groanss Give me leave to tell
you that O man can murmur with his face,
sir, without opening his mouth. Pray, under
stand that-murmur with his face, SIR"
"Well," said Cuthbert, with a little droop-
ing of the head and a reluctant manner, II
will say that if I did not know how near your
wishes concerning me lay to your heart, l.
l."
Here he shrugged his shoulders, smiled
family and fell silent, beating the ground
softly with his foot.
"Pray finish your sentence You would
correct a pupil, I hope, for stammering,"
broke in the irritable doctor.
With an expression in his eyes which made
| it very difficult to tell whether he was quite
as much in earnest as his speech represented
him, Cuthbert exclaimed. with a certain fas-
tidious emphasis:
II think no young Englishman who reads
the papers but must sometimes feel a gener-
Gus ambition to share in the glories and
perils of the deeds which British soldiers and
sailors are enacting in all parts of the world"
The doctor stared; his face hung between
a scowl and a grin; then he burst out sharp
ly:
"The world is before you! 1t is only your
own legs hinder your generous ambition.
What else stays youp
"Your wishes"
The doctor sneered.
"Or I had better say my duty, said this
young fellow, in a soft voice, looking for a
moment at his father, and then turning his
eyes aside and biting his lip.
-"Duty!" cried the doctor, sarcastically.
care you stopped by the duty you owe me.
or the duty you owe yourselfs If you want
to illustrate fine thoughts, give NE something
better than brave words for proof. If your
fathers calling is too low a pursuit."
slow, sir!"
II said low"
"Indeed, then"
"Hold your pirate! How dare you inter-
rupt me, srl I say that if your fathers
calling is too low a pursuit to satisfy your
vaulting mind, why, shake off the mean
burden, loosen your wings, and leave your
duty behind you. Tut! tutr' he cried, mo-
tioning with his hand; IF those are your
~fancies, I'll not balk your qualification OF
them, trust mel It is nothing, of course, he
continued with a bitterness he could not coll
ceal, though he would imagine his s~atirical
smile a good mask, "ths.t for twenty years
should have been sturdily plodding on in
hope of leaving you a established mar Of
sound report and name, narrowly holding
my earnings, with the blessed help of you,
dead and sacred mother, that I might give
you an Oxford training; nothing my vigor
Gus toll, my slow and painful reaches to com
potency, of which what should you know
beyond what you have CLEANED from you,
poor mothers tales of our early struggles
Pshaw! get you gone, my dear! There il
glory abroad, ndeed!-murder, lust and fire
Now go and add your mite to the general
destruction, by the demolition of your
fathers hopes!"
This was high tragedy rant. Something t.
make a modern laugh. But old gentlemen
used to spout somewhat in this way in thost
days; and sons who called papas "sir" listened
respectfully to stronger stuff than this, a!
you may see in the comedies of the age anC
learn from the tales of your grandfather:
|. Father" cried Cumberland there sho'
into his face a sudden expression of deep ap
peal that made its beauty as touching and a.
soft as a woman's-"you arc not just to me
I do not wish to leave you. l glanced very
lightly at my fancies. Fancies they are
most trifing; without influence, indeed. I!
there is anything in my name that causes
you uneasiness, l will reform It,"
P,,t opoo mana hio Laa,, ,1o~oo ,.,o,,k <lo,,r,
ward, and the keen gaze of his fathers blacl
eyes assuredly belied their owners sagacity
il he did not detect that something stood be
tween him and his sons honesty.
Yet, d~ivining no other reason that his sor
was marting under youthful impotence o.
, dull routine, he stuck like a man to the skirt
of Cuthbert's OWL suggestions.
II don't say" he remarked, in a softenei
manner, "that the business Of educating
r boys is not tedious. But after all, name m,
: the calling that has not something objection
able"
II have said that I am content to remain
as I am"
SIS hat really sol"
"Truly so."
Yet you are not yourself" said the doc
tor, gazing doubtfully at his son; "some
thing is amiss. Just now Juvenal was unde
4 your nose and-let me see the book"
Cuthbert handed him the volume.
. "Well, it is Juvenal; but that is mere luch
a for you never looked at it. What distract
' you9"
The young fellow folded his arms and n
manned silent, slowly swaying his foot.
. II date this change in you from the day
your return from London" continued d.
, Shaw, drawing from his pocket a small gil
snuff box, and taking a pinch ready to appl
when anger should set him shifting. II pu
money into your hand for the holiday, an
trusted to your discretion to make it a chea
n purchase of enlarged views. What did yo
do in London7 I need not ask you. Yo
Y have told me-you went sightseeing-and
= believe you"
Cuthbert bit his lip.
% THAT is enough, sir-I believe you" co,
10 tinued the doctor, answering with emphas
d the brief glance that Cuthbert threw at hin