The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-08-05
words seemed Ia ha,.

words seemed to her.
Wen go away at once, dear" she said
softly. Tomorrow morning il you wish. y
And SO 1t was that one evening early In
August Alexander Otis awaited their ar
rival at the Grand Central Station. He
had been surprised and somewhat ANNOYED
to receive telegram that morning from
his son announcing their departure from
Bar Harbor. He felt that his own
inclinations should have received mora
consideration. Then again, he UNDER
stood certain features of his sons nature,
and feared that this evidence of rest
lessness BODIED no good. He had been anx-
ious to have his son married for various
reasons, not the least of which was his be-
lief that marriage would add q stability to
the boys character that it had always
lacked. What did this haste to get back
to New York signify Had the impetuous
youth already begun to grow uneasy un-
der his new ties? These disquieting
thoughts filled the stately lawyers mind
as he paced up and down the platform
CHANGING at his watch now and then and
wondering why trains are never on time
Thus it was that he scanned very closely
the faces Of Harlan and Alice as they came
toward him amid crowd OF hot and tired
travellers His son looked cross and dis
contented The train had been nearly an
hour late, and Harlan had spent that in
terval In grumbling almost things in gen.
eral and railroad officials in particular.
81 am glad TO see you, my daughter"
said Mr. Otis cordially as Alice put up her
sweet face and kissed him, though the
pleasure is rather unexpected. And, how
are you, Harlan2
"I'm hungry" answered his son CURLY.
'tThat's easily remedied," laughed the.
lawyer. taking Alice's gripsack and hust-
ling through the crowd toward carriage,
81 believe a fairly good dinner awaits
YOU"
81 hope So" remarked Alice merrily,
"for Harlan has been as cross as bear
for an hour past"
Don't believed it, father. No man Is ever
cross until he has been married at least
year"
They all laughed at this, but Mr.. Otis
noticed that the young wifes smile was
somewhat forced.
The dinner went off gayly. Harlan ex-
planned their unexpected return on the
ground that he wished to begin his law
reading atonce "As you please, Harlan"
said Mr.. Otis, but IL we're in your place
should wait until fall What do you think,
Alice?"
She flushed a little at the question. She
had seen Mr. Otis only few times and
had always been somewhat chilled by his
cold manner. Tonight however, he
treated her with a cordiality that went to
her heart.
81 really don't know. I'm sure that if
had to read law | should postpone it for
ton years. 1t must be very dry work at
first"
Not at ALL" returned the lawyer, al
most sternly. "H you really love the pro-
fession each step from Blackstone to the
day-you become Chief Justice is full of in
terest."
50 You have marked out very large num-
Der of steps for me, father"
! Alice smiled, but Mr.. Otis looked SER
ious. He had long been fearful that his
son did not have o strong bent for the law.
Harlan's mind, as his father had once
said, was brilliant in spots, but were the
spots in the right place? 1t was an open
question. The fact was that Harlans sue
cess in literature-and for so young a man
it had been marked-had displeased his
father. Mr.. Otis had a passionate long
ing to see his son an earnest, conscen-
tious, ambitious lawyer. Harlan's re-
mark fiippant more in tone than in fact,
had, therefore, annoyed him.
You might as well begin by aiming
high, my boy" he said, after moments
silence. The Chief Justiceship makes
better target than shyster's sign.
Perhaps" returned Harlan, rather list
lessly, but 1t Is infinitely harder to hit
Mr.. Otis frowned slightly as he slipped
his coffee. Then, as he took cigar from
the box held out to him by the butler, he
caught the eye of his daughter-i n-law,
There was in her glance q sympathetic
quality that stirred him strangely. 1t
told him that In Alice he had found an
ally In his crusade against the weakness
that pertained to his sons character. It
told him that she sympathized with his
ambition for the boy, that she would rath-
or have him a lawyer than a poet. How,
you ask. could fieeting glance tell him all
thisf Your question is a hard one to answer,
but In our eyes our souls speak, and from
that moment Harlan's father understood
Alice and loved her almost as dearly as he
did his son.
Much to the surprise of Mr.. Otis Harlan
lit cigar.
didn't know that you smoked" he re-
marked as they arose from the table and
made their way to the drawing
i must retain at least one bad habit"
returned Harlan. I can't become O saint
In few weeks
but you said that you were canonized
last summer" remarked Alice, laying a
hand upon his arm and looking up into his
face.
Perhaps so. At all events, year
makes q long probation. But l suppose.
even saint may take a puff now and
then"
ITO be continued nert meek)