Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-04-14
TIE MISADVENTURES
OF JOHN NICHOLSON.
Icy ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
CHAPTER IX-CoNTINUED.

"No doubt, no doubt, " said AleXan-
der; "but then, you see you arn't
always on the spot to have the thing
explained to you. Last night, for
instance"
"You could have wakened me last
night" interrupted his father.
"Was it not some similar affair
that first got John into mess?n
asked the son, skillfully evading the
point.
But the father was not less adroit.
"And pray, sir, how did you come
and go out of the house?" he asked.
IL forgot to lock the door,i seems"
replied Alexander.
II have had cause TO complain of
that too often" said Mr.. Nicholson.
but still do not understand. Did
you keep the servants upP"
al propose to go into all that at
length after breakfast" returned
Alexander. There is the half hour
gong. We must not keep Miss Mac
kenzie waiting"
And greatly daring he opened the
door.
Even Alexander, who, it must have
been perceived, was on terms of COM
parative freedom with his parent
even Alexander had never before
dared to cut short an interview in
this high-handed fashion. But the
truth is, the very mass OF his sons
delinquencies daunted the old gentle
man. He was like the man with the
cart of apples-this was beyond him!
That Alexander should have spoiled
his table, taken his money, stayed out
all night, and then coolly acknowl-
edged ALL was something undreamed
Of in the Nicholsonian philosophy and
transcribed comment. The return of
the change, which the old gentleman
still carried in his hand, had been
feature Of imposing impudence; il had
dealt him a staggering blow. Then
there was the reference to Johns
original flight--a subject which he
always kept resolutely curtained in
his own mind, for he was man who
loved to have made no mistakes, and
when he feared he might have made
one, kept the papers sealed. In view
of all these surprises and reminders,
and of his sons composed and master
full demeanor there began to creep on
Mr.. Nicholson a sickly misgiving. He
seemed beyond his depth; if he did or
said anything he might come to re-
greet it. The young man, besides, as
he had pointed out himself, was
playing generous part. And if
wrong had been done-and done to
one who was, after and in spite Of all
Nicholson-it should certainly be
righted.
All things considered, monstrous
as it was to be cut short in his in
quiries, the old gentleman submitted,
| pocketed the change and followed his
son into the dining room. During
these few steps he once more men
tally revolted, and once more, and
this, time finally laid down his arms;
still, small voice in his bosom hav-
ing informed him automatically of a
| piece of news; that he was afraid of
Alexander. The strange thing was
that he was pleased to be afraid of
/ him. He was proud of his son; he
might be proud of him; the boy had a
character and grit, and knew what
he was doing.
These were his reflections as he
turned Che corner of the dining room
| door. Miss Mackenzie was in the
place of honor, conjuring with tea
pot and a cozy; and, behold! there
| annfhnn rNnncnnf a lapnn
portly, whiskered man of very COM
Portable and respectable air, who
now rose from his seat and came for
ward, holding out his hand.
"Good morning, father" said he.
Of the contention of feeling that
ran high in Mr.. Nicholson's starched
bosom, no outward sign was visible;
nor did he delay long to make choice
of conduct. Yet in that interval he
had reviewed great field of possibil-
tiles both past and future; whether il
was possible he had not been perfectly
wise in his treatment of John; wheth.
err it was possible that John was in.
nocent; whether, If he turned John
out second time, as his outraged
authority suggested, it was possible
to avoid scandal; and whether, if he
went to that extremity, it was posi-
BILE that Alexander might rebel.
"Hum" said Mr.. Nicholson, an6
put his hand, limp and dead, into
Johns.
And then, in an embarrassed silence
all took their places; and even the
paper-from which it was the old gen
tleman's habit TO suck modification
daily, as he marked the decline of oui
nstitutions-even the paper lay furleC
by his side.
But presently Flora came to thu
rescue. She slid into the silence will