The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-27

and Harlan were married two days after
his graduation and went at once TO Bar
Harbor. The ominous silence Of the woman
he had wronged worried Harlan at times,
but in the delight Of these first weeks Of
welded life he soon forgot the past.
My life begins from this moment" he
had whispered to Alice, as they left the
altar.
Short-sighted boyl II is easy to say
that we will re-commence our lives at a
given time and mould a finer structure
than our clumsy hands have wrought be-
fore. Alas, the older building will not
down. It's frame is there and must stand
for all time. All that we cen do Is TO re-
pair it here and there, refurnish its rooms
decorate its exterior and cover, as best we
may, the glaring defects our careless
workmanship has caused.
Harlan and Alice spent month at the
sea-shore and then returned TO New York
The restlessnes Of his temperament had
begun TO make the young bridegroom
feel that it was time he commenced his
life's work Don't come home at pres
ent," his father had written him. 1.-The
city Is very hot and dirty and t.ere is no
special necessity for you TO begin your
reading at once. will try to join you 10 a
week or two as | begin to feel the need OF a
breath Of fresh air" Harlan paid no at
tention to this suggestion. He felt a
great longing to get to work. He told
Alice that for her sake he had grown am
bilious, and she believed him.
I'm become a confirmed idler II we stay
here much longer" he remarked one even
Ing. When people learn that am a mar
ried man they always ask what my pro-
fession is. Can tell them that my only
occupation at present consists in drawing
an Income from an industrious and re-
spected father?"
The tears came into the young wlfe's
eyes. He did not know how cruel his
words seemed to her
Well go away at once, dear" she said
softly. Tomorrow morning If you wish"
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 more
consideration. -Inen again, ne UNDER
stood certain features of his sons nature,
and feared that this evidence of rest
4essness BODIED no good. He had been anx-
tOuo W hoNC nlo SUI lIldIIltu IOT NdTIOiI5
reasons, not the least of which was his be-
lief that marriage would add stability to
the boys character that it had awavs
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 disquleting
thoughts filed the stately lawyers mind
as he paced up and down the platform,
'glancing at his watch now and then and
wondering why trains are never on time
Thus it was that be scanned very closely
the faces of Harlan and Alice as they came
toward him amid a 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 grumbhng at most things in gem
eral and railroad officials in particular.
" am glad to see you, my daughter"
said Mr.. Otis cordially as Alice put up w..
sweet face and Kissed him, though tn,
pleasure is rather unexpected. And, hos
are you, Harlan?"
I'm hungry" answered his son curtly.
=" That's easily remeiied," laughed tao
lawyer, taking Alce's gripsack and hus
ling through the crowd toward a carria -,
" believe fairly good dilAer awaits
you"
4" hope So remarked Alice merrily,
" for Harlan mas been as cross as bear
for an hour past
" Don't believe it, father Noman is ever
cross until he has been married at least 4
year"
They all laughed at this but Mr.. Otis
noticed that the young wife's smile was
somewhat forced.
The dinner went off gayly. Harlan ex-
planned their unexpected return on the
g. )und that he wished to begin his law
leading atonce. CAS- YOU please, Harlan. "
said Mr. Otis, but if I were in your place
should wait until fall What do you think
Alce?"
She flushed little at the question. She
had seen Mr.. Otis only few times and
had always been 50 neWhaS chilled by his
cold manner Tonight. however. he
treated her with cordiaiity that went to
her heart.
IS really don't know. I'm sure that if I
had to read law l should postpone it for
ten years. 1t must be very dry work at
first"
Not at all" returned the lawyer, al
most sternly. "If you really love the pro-
fession each step from Blackstone to the
day you become Chief Justice is full of in
terest"
You have marked out very large num-
Der Of steps for me- father"
Alice smiled, but Mr.. Otis looked SER
1ous. He had long been fearful that his
son did not have 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 Harlan's sue
cess in literature-and for so young a man
1t had been marked-had displeased his
father. Mr.. Otis had passionate long
ing to see his son an earnest, conscien-
tious, ambitious lawyer. Harlan's re-
mark, fippant more in tone than in fact,
had, t--erefore, annoyed him.
You might as well begin by aiming
high, my boy" he said, after moments
silence. The Chief Justiceship makes a
better target than shysters sign.
=" Perhaps" returned Harlan, rather list
1essly, " but it is infinitely harder to hit"
Mr.. Otis frowned slightly as he slipped
his coffee. Them as he TOOK a cigar from
the box held out to him by the butler, he
caught the eye of his daughter in-law,
There was in her glance a sympathetic