The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-07

make hrs old father happy for a moment.
Continuing his train of thought, Tracy said
to himself. "Ah, but if he should cable
nue. to come home! I~-I-couldn't do that
Il mustn't do that. I've started out on q
mission. and I musn't turn my bnck on it
in cowardice. No. no, I couldn't 90 home.
at-at-leaEt l shouldn't want to 90 home.''
After a reflective pause, We'll. maybe
perhaps-it would be my duty to go in tho
circumstances; he's very old. and he does
need me by him to stay his footsteps down
the long Hill that i~nclines westward toward
the sunset of his life. Well, TIL think
about that. Yes, Of course it wouldn't be
right 70 stay here. If well, perhaps
lscould Just drop him a line and put it of a
little while, and satisfy him in that way. II
would ber-wsll, il would mar everything to
nave him@roquirs me to come instantly
Another reflective pause-then: "And
yet If he should do that don't know but
oh. dear me-home! How good fit sounds!
and a body - excusabls for wanting to see
his home again. now and then, anyway"
He went to one of the telegraph Offices in
the avenue and got the first end of what
Barrow called the usual Washington eour-
tesy,' whore they treat you as a tramp
until they find out you're a congressman,
and then they slobber all over you.' There
was a boy of II on duty there tying his
shoe. He had his foot on q chair and his
back turned towards the wicket. He
glanced over his shoulder. tool Tracy's
measure. turned back and then went on
tying his shoe.
Tracy finished writing his telegram and
waited. still waited, and still waited, for
that performance to finish. but there didn't
seem to be any finish to it; so, finally, Tracy
said:
Cant you take my telegram"
The youth looked over his shoulder and
said, by his manner not his words:
Don't you think you could wait a min
ute, it you tried?"
However, he got the shoe tied at last, and
came and tool the telegram, glancing over
it. then looked up surprised at Tracy.
There was something in his look that Dor
dered upon respect, almost reverence, it
seemed to Tracy, although he had been SO
long without anything Of this kind he was
not sure that he knew the signs of it.
The boy read the address aloud, with
pleased expression in face and voice.
9Th earl of Rossmore! Craoky! Do you
know hin?"
''Yes.' @
as that SO! Does he know you?"
"Well-yes."
well, swear! Will he answer you?'
81 think he will.' -
"Will be, though? Where'l you have il
sent?'
"Oh, nowhere. I'll call here and get it.
When shall l call?"
'Oh, l don't know-Ill send it to you.
Who're shall | send it? Give me your ad-
dress; lll send 1t to you soon's it comes.'
But Tracy didn't propose to do this. He
had acquired the boys admiration and def
erentinl respect, and he wasn't willing to
throw these precious things away. a result
sure to follow il, he should give the address
of that boarding house. So he said again
that he wonld call and get the telegram and
went his way.
He idled along. rejecting. He said to
himself, "Ihere's something pleasant about
being respected. l lave acquired the re-
spect OF Nj. Allen and some of those 9TH
ers, and almost the Difference of some of
them on pure merit, for having thrashed
Allen. While their respect and their defer
ence-if it IL deterence-is pleasant, q def
erence based upon II sham, Il shadow, does
really seem pleasanter still. It's no real
merit to be in correspondence with an earl,
and yet, after all, that boy makes me feel
as if there was"
Tbs cablegram was actually gone home +.
The thought OF it gave him all immense up
lift. He walked with a lighter tread. His
hsnrt was full of happiness. He threw
aside pll hesitancies. and confessed to him.
self that he was glad through and through
that he was going to give up this expert
ment and go back to his home again. His
eagethess to get his fathers answer began
to grow, now. and it grew with marvellous
celebrity, after it began. He waited an hour,
walking about. putting in his time as well
Ms he could, but interested in nothing that
came under his eye. and at last he p presented
himself at the Office again and asked if any
answer had come yet. The boy said:
mo. nc answs vet" then glanced up at
the clock and added: II don't think it's
likely you'll get one to-day"
"Why not?'
well. you soc it's getting pretty late.
You can't always tell wher'bouts Il man is
when he's on the other side, and you can't
slways And him just the minute yon want
him, you see, and it's getting about ak
O'Clock, now, and over there it's pretty late
NJ night"
Why. yes,' said Tracy. 81 hadn't
thought OF that"
Yes, pretty late %now-half past 10 or II.
Oh, yes. YOU probably won't get any an
swer Tonight"
CHAPTER NV.