The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-08-05
Continued from last socek
Calypso Or Penelope?
By EDWARD $. VAN znn.
AUTHOR OF WANTED, A SENSATION" 9TH
LAST OF THE VAN STACKS" "a
MAGNETIC MAN." ETC, ETC.
copyright 1854, by The Unitod rross.l
CHAPTER TX.

I
whose most intimate friend would never
have dared to call him "Aleek, To Thu
general public he was almost wholly un
known. He had never engaged in politics
and had manfully resisted the temptation
tobecome an after-dinner speaker. Never.
theless, his practice was large and profit
able and he was recognized by his col.
leagues as one OF the most scholarly and
best-read members of his profession.
de led q very lonely life. Since the de-
parture Of his son for college his homo on
madison Avenue had been far from attrac-
1--WE and he had spent most of his leisure
time at his club. His cold, rather forbid-
ding manner did not draw men to him and
Ris self-absorption increased as the years
went by.
He was always pleased when the rolling
months brought q vacation to his son.
Then he would revise his mode of life, de-
sert his club for time and dine at home.
pc seemed to grow younger Ia spirit in
daflan's company, and even deigned to
20 to the theatre now and then
Thus 1t was that smile played across
bis strong, rather handsome face one after
noqn as he read telegram that ran as fol-
lows:
"Will be home at six.
HARLAN"
glapeing at his watch he saw that 1t was
Ten minutes after five. Hastily laying
aside the papers before him, he locked his
HesM gave certain orders to his clerks and
left the office. The law had monopolzed
his time for months; he could afford to
give few hours TO his son.
Tho love Of a father for son IS perhaps,
Rs strong q passion as the complex nature
pfman begets. The greatest sacrifice that
the mind of the Omnipotent could conceive.
The only atonement that could wipe out
the sins of lost world consisted in the
conservation of Gods only begotten son to
IN ignominious death. Thus for twenty
centuries has the relationship of father and
son been made sacred by the great tragedy
OF the redemption, and for ages the weary
sons OF earth have cried out in prayer TO
Our Father which art in Heaven.
There were in the eyes of Alexander Otis
an unwonted tenderness, q gentle yearn-
lng as he greeted Harlan at the depot.
But, as always, his manner was cold, un-
administrative, distant. He shook hands
with his son. whom he had not seen for
months, with the same ceremonious polite
ness that he would have shown to q chance
acquaintance.
You look tired and worn, my boy re-
marked the father as they drove toward
home. " fear you are not we'll"
Bsstfi er'iif4 sFRlys {; o1Btll n1thipSs,,.
hard at examination time-and hewoather
has been very hot for the last two weeks"
And how did you come out?'
"Oh, fairly well. Honors in English
and History; a slight condition in Creek"
You resemble your mother mentally"
remarked the elder man, musingly. Your
mind is brilliant in spots"
Thanks" returned Harlan, smiling
again.
I" But did not intend to flatter you In
fact | regret that you do not possess a
more commonplace mental makeup. Ii
would be safer in the end"
Harlan felt hurt. Though he did not
stand high in his class. owing to his habit
OF neglecting teamwork, he had won more
prizes than any of his colleagues aud was
justly, the best-read man OF
his year. That his father did not seem TO
appreciate his achievements had long been
a source of annoyance TO the young col
legian. Perhaps in the years TO come no
would better understand his fathers far
And what are your plans for the sum-
mer, HarlanT asked Mr.. Otis at dinner
Though he spoke in his usual sympa-
thetlc way, there was nervous tremor in
his glance that might have told Harlan
how much his fathers happiness was in
volved in the answer he should make
But the sons eyes were fixed upon his
plate. AS had always been tho case, no
failed TO penetrate beneath the mask of
his fathers m9nner and find there
warm, loving heart, thirsty for his conil-
dence.
For this unfortunate lack OF mutual ap-
probation they were both in part RESPONSE
bic. Neither OF them had ever made de-
termined effort to understand the other.
The father did not realize that his manner,
the outcome of years Of sef-repression,
repealed his son; the son failed to appro-
ciate the fact that where his father was
he was inconslderate and selfish.
Thus there had grown up between them q
wall OF constraint, barrier II had taken
years to erect, an obstacle to mutual con-
ldence and sympathy that each vaguely
though neither Of them felt
hat he was In any way responsible for it.
Harlan did not answer his fathers ques-
ion at once. He knew that the grave.
lignifed man who was gazing at him so
ntently from the other side of tho board
lad one strong desire in his heart at that
have his son begin his law
eadlng at once. What the young man did
lot realize was that the lonely, seemingly
elf-sufficlent lawyer craved companions
hip, that his soul cried out for love. that
10 longed to spend tho next few months
With his son In closer communion than
hey had yet enjoyed.
Perhaps this knowledge would not have
ltered the young mans purpose. 1t Is not
ften, alas, that youth is willing TO sacrifice
is plans in order to satisfy tho hunger OF
aternal love. Oh would that some
lairvoyant power could be granted US
1hen young that we might forsee for
loment those distant years when the dear
ray head has been long laid Mt rest and
through our tears we look upon shadowy
nee whose lines Of pain our thoughtloss
elves had caused "Too late, too late"
ing out the fatal words. "Ye were not
ind In time. But look your punishment
, here. Wait till that toddling boy is a
tile older grown; wait till that bright
yed girl knows something Of tho pleas
res Of the world Wait till your bruised
nd weary heart cries out fer the tbought-
III, attentive, unselilsh love that you once
enied another yearning soul-and, behold. |
our father is avenged
After a long silence. Harlan raised his
yes and met his fathers gaze.
II should like to go TO Europe" he said
bruptly.
The face Of the elder man grow some-
that paler than its won't. The lines about
is mouth became stern, almost harsh.
lis eyelids quivered and his hand shook
$ he raised glass Of claret to his lips.
Alexander Otis had reached financial
risis In his life. Although he had earned
large amount of money every YEAR for
10 past two decades he had lived luxuri-
nsly and had paid moro attention to his
reputation than to the conser-
alton of wealth. He had invested largely
uptown real estate and his personal at.
milton to these speculations was do.
landed for the next few months. Other- !