Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-07
CHAPTER VII.
AN ANXIOUS PARENT.

AN ANA1OOS fAhENl.
Now at that self-same hour, at Greystone
school, Dr. Shaw sat alone in his study. Tie
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 hell
A maid servant opened the door.
"Has Mr.. Cuthbert come inl"
mo, 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 e1-
ample. The doctors soul rose in resentment.
How could he reprimand unpunctuality in
another, if his son, the schools exemplar, as
his father had striven to make him in all
things fagrantly omitted the first OF virtues
to the disciplinarian'
Anger, being excited, must find vent some
how; and Dr. Shaw fell to pacing the room
actively, mediteting thoughts harsher than
reproof, to be delivered when Cuthbert
should appear.
For quarter of an hour this idle activity
endured, with now and then a pause be-
tween, that his ear might strain ct the blow
ing wind.
Then he pulled the bell rope again sharply.
"No, sir, Mr.. Cuthbert amt come in yet"
"How do you knows"
"His slippers amt in the rack, SIR"
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 busyness 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,
"win you be pleased to tell me if you have
seen my son since he left the house this eve
ning!"
"No, sir, not since he left the house."
"That is very strange, Mr.. Saunderson."
as not he returned yet, sirs"
"He is not It's past ten o'clock, and his
usual, I should say his prescribed, hour is
nine, as is known to you, Mr.. Saunderson-
Mr.. Saunderson Of course looked at bis
watch. II am mortified by this unaccount-
able behavior" continued the doctor "There
is nothing that should detain him. Does it
not strike you as very singular, Mr. Saun'
dersona"
"Why, sir, it is somewhat odd, perhaps"
reioined Mr.. Saunderson, 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.
II repeat" exclaimed DR.. Shaw, "that there
is snothing that should detain him. He knows
the rules, and this defiance of discipline, this
Defiance 1 say, Mr. Saunderson, isis"
Well might he stammer and stop in such a
strain of lip reasoning. He looked eagerly
at the door, and drew out his watch for the
twentieth time.
"Sir, this procrastnation cannot be mere
npunctualty-there must be substantial,
reasonable cause for his delay" observed
Mr. Saunderson, rattling his rs.
~ think so, sir-I think So"
"If agreeable to you, l should be 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 My
son has shown himself restless lately. There
have been signs of impatience il his be-
havior, as though our discipline fretted him.
This conduct tonight must mean a resolu
ton toto free himself from the traces-he
must think it manly to defy us, sir. 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 forEearance in
matter of this sort is my son."
Surely, sir" cried Mr. Saunderson, with
rich roll of the @r" in sir 'you do not con-
slider that he has left you.'
"Left me! What has put such 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 recollect himself and ap-
prehend his own meaning, "it seems to me
a 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"
~ do not understand you, Mr.. Saunder-
son. Pray step this way and oblge me with
YOUR meaning" exclaimed the doctor, with
excitement half suppressed in his manner;
and, closing the study door, he said in
sharp voice: "Mr. Saunderson, if you can
throw any light upon my sons absence de-
sre-I have to beg you will do So"
81 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
uneasy under the discipline of this school is u
GOOD reason to account for his present loitsr-
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 un-
easy" replied the doctor.
81 believe, sir, your son covetS larger
sphere of action, DR.. Shaw"
"TIe has admitted this to you, Mr. Saunder-
son."
"Well, sir, he has"
"And when, pray"
"Well, sir, if the truth must lie told, this
afternoon"
"But if understand you rightly said the