Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-10
CHAPTER VII.
AN ANXIOUS PARENT


 school, Dr. Shaw sat alone in his study. The 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 bis fob and sat erect to inspect it. Half-past nine exactly; observing which he pulled the bell. A maid servant opened the door. "Has MT. Cuthbert come in?'
 "No, sir"
 Now. the proper hour for MT. Cuthbert to return from his evening spell of an hour and a 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 a bad ex- 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, meditating thoughts harsher than reproof, to be delivered when Cuthbert should appear.
 For a 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, MT. Cuthbert ain't come in yet. "How do you know?"
 "His slippers ain't in the rack, sir"
 Now passed another short time
 The doctor looked at his watch, opened the study door, and listened. ,-x Anger was melting into alarm. A tremu- lous busyness of memory kSpt him breathing pSovyv0 AxHI l<ry~ Ill |. L. .~k yearned for his son.
 As he stood, with head inclined, to bring his ear to full reception of all sound with out the house, MT. Saunderson came from the usher's room, humming snatch of song The doctor turned to look at him
 "Oh, Mr. Saunderson," he exclaimed, twill you be pleased to tell mo 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, MT. Saunderson."
 "Is 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, MT. Saunderson. MT. Saunderson of course looked at his watch. q am mortified by this unaccount- able behavior" continued the doctor. "There is nothing that should detain him. Does ii not strike you as very singular, MT. Saun derson"
 "Why, sir, it IS somewhat odd, perhaps, rejoined MT. Saunderson, a little too diplo matic to pledge himself to an emphatic opinion before he had acquired larger knowledge of the doctors views of the sub ject.
 "I repeat" exclaimed Dr. Shaw, "that ther, | isnothing that should detain him. He knows the rules, and this defiance of discipline, this | AoEo ic- | We'll might he stammer and stop in such strain of lip reasoning. He looked eagerly at the door, and drew out his watch for tn, twentieth time.
 "Sir, this procrastination cannot be mer, unpunctuality-there must be a substantial reasonable cause for his delay" observed MT. Saunderson, rattling his rs.
 "I think so. sir-I think so."
 Eff agreeable to you, should be happ. to walk to the town and make inquiries"
 "No, I am obliged to you; not at this hour I'll not suffer myself to feel anxious. M, son has shown himself restless lately. Ther have been signs of impatience in his be havior, as though our discipline fretted him This conduct tonight must mean resolu l ton toto free himself from the traces-h must think it manly to defy us, sir. But, cried the fiery old man, "my house shall locked up at the usual hour; the last perso1 in the world to merit my forbearance in matter of this sort is my son."
 "Surely, sir," erred MT. Saunderson, wit rich roll of the "r" in sir, "you do not con sider that he has left youa"
 Cleft me! What has put such a though into your mind?" said the doctor, in sharp febrile whisper, and his eyes shone under hi white eyebrows,
 "Why, sir" stammered MT. Saundersor who wanted time to recollect himself and aI prehend his own meaning, "it seems to m a strange thing, sir, that you should bol your door upon your son, Dr. Shaw, unles you believe that he does not mean to com home, sir"
 "I do not understand you, MT. Saunckl son. Pray step this way and oblige me wit your meaning" exclaimed the doctor, wit excitement half suppressed in his manner l and, closing the study door, he said in sharp voice: "Mr. Saunderson, if you ca throw any light upon my sons absence dt sire-I have to beg you will do so." q really can throw no light upon it, sir none whatever" replied Mir. Saunderson. "You may be pretty sure that he wM r turn home presently, sir. That he should | uneasy under the discipline of this school is good reason to account for his present loite ing. And there is no doubt, Dr. Shaw, tn. he is uneasy, sir" said MT. Saunderson, vii ] a nod at the doctor, who, at the first word had looked up and stood listening, with b -l yK7 A