San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-31

been anything else, SO / needn't say the same
OF her. But for q man who has one grain of
snse to throw up good place for the sake Of
pushing rubbishy invention, that's what ]
cail the oct of a fool, and Pm ashamed to
have such fool for my son. II you think
I'm going to spend my little savings to keep
you sut Of the work house. while you're
waiting for fortune that's to be made out
Of a tram car, you're fool for that, too. As
soon as ever you can't pay up wash my
hands of you, and quit the house. shan't
miss you; there's nothing your silly wife does
for me can't do better for myself"
Luke was in far too excited state to bear
this quietly, and answered with violence
which Gwen sought in vain to soothe. There
was terrible scene and at the end OF few
minutes the fair ediice Of home peace which
she had labored at so long and patiently, lay
shattered before her.
The hardest time of her married life fol-
lowed, for Luke, In state Of irritated deter
mination 10 succeed, was sorely tried by the
dilatoriness and procrastination OF everybody
whose approval and cooperation were neces-
sary to the bringing out of his invention, and
Reuben was more crossgrained than ever. 1t
fell to Ovens share to cheer and inspirit her
husband, to bear the freshly kindled fire Of
her father in-laws vituperation, and to make
her diminished allowance cover the most
necessary expenses.
At last the tram car was given public trial.
and from that day the tide slowly turned
Nobody hurried to take up the invention, but
still the capital to form a company was gradu-
ally subscribed, and Luke felt his way grow
clear and easy before him. A steady demand
sprang up for the Sparrow tram cars, and the
dividends rapidly rose. Luke was made much
of now, and on all sides manufacturers ana
spectators sent him orders for specific in
ventions, offering him large sums If he could
meet their requirements Some OF the re-
quests were absurd, but many presented
problems possible of solution, and the demand
for his productions preceding the supply,
Luke's work was freed from the anxieties of
the man who invents first and finds his mar
ket afterwards-if he can.
At home, it seemed at first as if his success
would widen rather than heal the breach be-
tween his father and himself, for Reuben
grew more silent and moody as his son went
up in the world During the days of anx-
ious poverty, while assailing Gwen with
ceaseless reproaches, he had exercised much
ingenuity in secretly supplying the wants of
the household; but now that the privations
of the young couple were at an end, he chose
to believe that they wished him dead or
gone, and when Gwen told him one day that
Luke intended to take larger house, the old
man broke out bitterly. They were getting
too grand for him, he said. The furniture
which he and his old woman had bought
when they married, and which he had
brought with him to his sons, wasn't good
enough for a fine new house, and he'd better
betake himself somewhere else with it.
Don't say that, father" said Gwen;
"wherever we go, your rooms shall have the
old things in"
80, of course! The old things are good
enough for the old mani" retorted Reuben,
unreasonably you'll stow me away in the
back rooms, and get new friends to suit your
new furniture. No, no! Pll get a room soms
where and have a woman in to look after me
Pm used to neglect"
"But, father" said Gwen, patiently pass
ing over a charge she had heard over and
over again, 81 want you more than ever
| now. You see, Luke wants me to be fit to
| talk to the gentlemen who come to see him.
and thought perhaps you'd teach me out Of
the books, 80 as l may know something.
Luke hasn't time, and don't feel as l could
get on without help. Besides, can't bear to
think of you living away from us now"
You're talking nonsense" said Reuben.
shortly and sharply. "Tve not been SO kind
70 you that you need set yourself against the
parting"
You are rare good to Peter, and when we
| were in a bad way you stood by us, father.
That's what remember. know well enough
Your savings are deal smaller for what you
did for u.s."
The old man uttered an impatient "Pooh-
| pooh!n and, rising from his chair. fidgeted
| about the room. Then he sat down again
and silently watched Ovens needle as it few
in and out of the work upon her knee.
"D'ye really mean you'd like to learn O.
me" he asked at last, doubtfully, latter all
the hard things I've said to YOUR
II couldn't nave gone on doing for you so
| long" said Gwen, encouraged by the gentle
ness of his tone, eff hadn't known that you
| thought kinder-more kindly O. me than ever
you said. You didn't mean it just now when
you said that you were used to neglect"
mo, lass, :" said Reuben, taking her hand
"rd no call to mean such an untruth as that.
You're good gal; I'll teach you what you
like"
After this it was surprising how we'll Reu-
ben got on with his daughter-in-iaw Her
intelligence delighted him, and he was never
tired of boasting of the progress she made in
history, arithmetic, grammar and geography
Not but what he often spoke snappisbly, but
the old constant friction was at an end and
past resentment quietly forgotten.
sit seems to me Peter and Gwen are run
ming one another Close" said Luke, looking
up from his papers with smile one evening
''Bless you mol" declared Reuben "Peter's