Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-01-24
THE RIGHT WAY.

EN- this threshold again" and out
into the darkness of the night Abra-
ham Reyes thrust his proAigate son.
He closed the door with decided
bang, and sliding the great iron bolt
into its socket, tried to persuade him
self that he had done precisely as
any other irate parent would have
done under the circumstances;
thrust him out upon the highway.
He might have waited until the
storm had abated, for the snow was
falling in soft, feathery flakes, CIV
ing promise that before the dawn
the hills and valleys would be
shrouded. But to have waited was
to have subdued the anger in his
breast. Might he then not listen
to the boys promises of reformation
and listening, yieldp
1t would never do. Better to have
cast the boy out, well-'just when
he was in the humor."
How frequently the errors Of our
youth, the mistakes of a lifetime,
arise from the folly of our own rash
deeds committed in the heat of pas
sion when we flatter ourselves that
we are just in the humor." Scarcely
had the door closed ere the father
regretted his act, as, walking into
the sitting-room where a bright
CHEEKY fire burned, he stood with
hands thrust into his trousers pock-
cts watching the Pickering light.
The ruddy glow had left his face
while the corners of his mouth
twitched nervously. II had to do
it," he murmured by way of apology
1.-THE young dog will find cover for
the night somewhere and, perhaps,
it will be a lesson to him. | WON
der what Myrtle will say?" he
unused.
"Poor girl she's alwaysmades such
allowance for the scamp. But
then"
Father, where's Joel?"
Abraham Reyes raised his eyes to
see standing in the doorway the
very person he dreaded most to see.
His daughter Myrtle,
For a moment he hesitated as if
uncertain what excuse to make for
his sons absence. 1t was not the
wee voice of conscience that kept
him from uttering the falsehood
that arose to his lips.
1t was Myrtie's accusing eyes. 1t
would never do to lie with the girl
before him, looking at him with
her dead mothers eyes.
If she had only stood before him
few moments ago he could never
have put poor, drunken Joel out. q
where's Joel ?" she asked again,
slight culver in her voice.
"Well, if you must know" blurted
her father, "you must. I've sent
him adrift. Turned him Off"
"Oh, father!'' She came and
knelt beside him. "You never put
Joel out such night as this, did
youp Suppose he should freeze,
and her slight frame trembled.
"Well, then, let him freeze" was
the sullen answer. 1.-THE sooner
the world is rid Of such a vagabond
the better. Here now" he added,
mo whimpering," as the girls
tears fell thick and fast.
1t was little use to reason with
him now. She knew that he had
been drinking. He, who scarcely
one half hour before that had preach
ed a temperance lecture to his un-
fortunate son.
1t was the boys answer that had
infuriated him. Drunk as he was
the lad had detected his fathers
condition as he answered in brok-
EN- voice:
81 say, dad-let it alone yourself"
Abraham Reyes had moved into
his present abodetwenty years previ-
GUS, bringing with him his young
wife. 1t was then neat farmhouse
and Abe sober, Industrious young
farmer. The first year a son was
born to the young couple. Two
years later little daughter
came, bringing, however, only sor-
row, as the young mother died when
the child was but two weeks old.
Scarcely had the grass grown
upon his wife's grave ere Abe Reyes
conceived the idea of opening a
tavern.
The children grew up in a wild
sort of fashion, Joel, trife way
ward and MYRTLE. sweet and wnma an