The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-06-13

NtVIEseD Hiioi ''iONSo
vi Inglesant" Mrs
Nolen was not given to reading fiction rs
a rule; but Mr.. Shorthouse was under
stood to be religious writer, and she
enjoyed his book very much without en-
tirely understanding it. Percy kissed
her, and sat down in chair opposite.
After little desultory conversation he
said. Mother, I'm in a scrapep
Her heart sank; she closed her book,
and folded her hands upon it. "Oh, my
sonl" she said, falteringly.
"Well, it's nothing so very dreadful"
he returned, forcing a smile. 81 was up
at Monmouth Park the other day, and
lost little honeywell, it was pretty
good sum, for me. I'm not Cresus,
you know, and few thousand dollars
makes difference"
Monmouth Park? What is that?"
"It's a track; they race horses there,
you know"
"Percy, have you been betting on
horse races?"
"Mercy, mother, it's no crime! All
the fellows do it. should look queer if
didn't chip in with the rest! Only this
time happened to get in pretty deep;
and as all the favorites were beaten !
got badly left"
"Do you mean that you lost all the
money you wagered%
every cent of it; you never saw such a
run of bad luck in your life The trouble
was, made up my mind to win anyhow;
so each time lost put it all on the next
race, SO as to get back what was gone,
and more into the bargain. 1t was as
good as certain that wouldn't lose every
race, you see. So when it came to the
last had big pile on; and it was voted
a sure thing. believe it was the Jockeys
fault, after all. Anyhow, he lost the
race by short head; and if hadn't
had return ticket I'd have been obliged
to walk home"
"Al your money gonel Why, my
son, if you had invested it, you might
have lived comfortably on the interest OF
it! And your father gave it to you to
start you in your profession. What can
you dor"
"Well, mother, I must do the best
can. know it's all wrong, and Tn
very sorry and all that. But it's no use
crying for split milk. I'm in a hole and
I've got to be helped out of it somehow
81 will speak to Judge Ketelle and see
WHAT
whatever you do, don't speak tc
Judge Ketellel He can do no good, and
would be certain to do lot Of mischief
What business is it of Judge Ketelle'i
anyway
HE was appointed executor under the
will and"-
"That is no concern Of mine, mother
My interest in the will ceased when
got my patrimony. I have no further
relations with the Judge nor he with me
He has no right to help me, even if hi
wanted to, which he doesn't"
"My son, he is the best friend I have
and whatever is for our good
"My dear mother, tell you it won
dol I know what the judge would say
and after he had said 1t I would be NJ
better off than am now. have SOM
pride, and don't want all the world t.
know that I'm beggar. I shouldn'
think you would, either"
"Percy, you know I wish nothing bu
your good, butt
"The long and short of the matter
that unless I am to be disgraced 1 mus
have some money, and without any de
lay, too. I owe few bills-they don
amount to auckland must have a Lit
tie to go on with. A thousand dollar
would cover the whole thing. You CA
let me have it, can't your
ga thousand dollarsl But after that
Percy? You will be wanting money al
the time, and this cannot go on forever.
at isn't going OH forever. This is tn
first time l have ever asked you for
cent, mother, and it shall be the last
Heaven knows it was hard enough t
have to come to you at any rate; but
didn't expect you would make it harde
by arguing about it!'
my dearest boy, you might have all
possess, so far as l am concerned"-
"Who else is concerned except you?
thousand dollars isn't going to ruin you
mother, but it is ruin to me if don't &c
it. And don't fear shall he coming
you again. l am going to stop the kin
of life have been living the last yea
and turn over new leaf. have severe
opportunities to get positions in the city
and l am going to set to work at ono
and find out what will be the best thing
AS soon as am in a place where l ca
turn around I shall put in my spare tim
studying up my mining, and before ar
other year is out | shall be ready to az
cept an engagement. can support my
self as well as the next man-and max
a fortune, tool But l don't suppose 20
want to see me miss all that for the SAX