The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-02-27
A STORY OF THE QUARTERBACK.
Bv MOLLIE ELLIOT SEAWELL.

IN getting the appointment lioii iio o"h
district, for the congressman might well
hesitate to give it to a boy who could not
hold his own in a preliminary examination.
This thought staggered him and almost
broke his heart. for he had dwelt so long
on the navy that he could not think what
to do with his life if his ambition in thai
way should be baked. He was only kept
in suspense ii week or two and Men the
blow fell. Esdaile had got the appoint
ment, and Brydell was at the foot Of the
list.
only a proud sensitive and inexperienced
soul could imagine the pain that Brydell
suffered. 1t was not alone the mortifica-
ton of failure; he had allowed his passion
for the navy to take such possession of
him. body and mind, that any serious set
back to this cherished hope seemed to him
an appalling misfortune. In his tempest
of disappointment he turned for the first
time in his life, even in his own mind,
against his father. 1T is not my fault"
ne thought. in sulen fury; Il am bright
enough only ] never was made to work.
And yet everybody talks about my adj
vantages Was it any advantage that l
should never stay at any school more than
a year, and hardly ever more than six
months? Was it any advantage to me to
be sent to Europe, where picked up a sma t.
tering of French and came home to find
myself behind every fellow of my age eX-
cept in that one thing. Was it any adj
vantage to me to have more money than
almost any boy | knew, to squander on
athletics and all sorts of rubbsh?' This
last reflection brought Brydell suddenly to
himself. He remembered poor Grubbs Civ
ing his boy half Of his pay. and my poor
old daG-poor young dad rather-gave me,
! believe a good deal more than half his
pay Brydell had learned something about
how money went, and he stopped, startled
al the idea of how much skimpng and saw
ing his father must have done to give him
the money. He fell into a passion of re-
morse.
Poor dad--poor dad" was all he could
think, and dad" was so young-barely thir-
ty-six, and did not look a day over thirty.
~ daresay," thought poor Brydell, with
the ghost of smile, that's why e was
he never married again. l squanderlng
his pay"
BrYdell too generous a fellow to re-
proach his father, except to himself in his
first angry mood, and knowing the lieu
tenant would hear about the examination
frankly and fully admitting his failure,
and his determination. if he could get an
other chance to do better But the lleuten-
ant was far away in the Pacific, and it
would be months before he could get the
letter. and perhaps other long months be-
fore BrydelI could get an answer
Then he wrote the admiral in the same
strain. The admiral, who happened to have
shore duty then. got the letter He was sit
ting on the piazza, facing the salt sea. and
when he had finished reading it he brought
his fist down with a thump on the arm Of
his chair and shouted:
"Byr
The admiral always held that explosives
We're vulgar; but when much wrought up
he took refuge in BY" which might mean
any and everything.
just like the dog when he was about
as big as a cock chafer, and took the whole
blame OF cutting up my turf, when there
were six older boys aiding and abetting
him. Bovine, mere. sir! ana in a few
minutes Billy Bowline came trotting along
the hall. Bring me my portfolio and the
ink" said the admiral That little scamp
of a Brydell has failed in a competitive ex.
animation for appointment to the naval
anything else. l cant see. taking him to
Europe. putting him at school one day.
and taking him away the next, and giving
the boy no chance at all simply because
he was TOO soft-hearted TO say no. And now
the young fellow behaves like a man and
shoulders it all l say, Bowlne we can't
afford not TO have that young fellow in the
service"
ously Were 'bleeged to have him, sir.
in the sarvice."
And how is it to be DONE you old lunll-
head?' bawled The admiral.
Beg your parding sir, it's easy enough"
answered Billy stoutlv. There amt nutn-
in in the reg lations prevents a admra.
from akin the member o congress from Mr.
Brydelrs districk. if he's got a ointment
to give away. and if he rightly understands
his duty to a admiral on the active
list. he dasn't say no. sir"
William Bowlne.' said the admiral SOL
EMMY, eff you weren't the biggest ass
ever saw, I'd say you were genius Bring
me the navy register quick
The admiral glanced at the register and
saw there would be vacancy in that year
in Brydelrs district. He then wrote four
sealed it with his big red seal.
"That'll fetch it," thought Billy proudly
"it looks like it come from the sekcrtary Of
the navy"
As Billy was starting off 20 the postoflce
with the important letter. the admiral pick
ed up Brydelrs letter and read il over.
half aloud "Esdale Esdaile: that has a
familiar sound he said.
an course. sir answered TIlv with a
sniff, that's the O. Grubb, the iirenc.
You kno ', Sir, Grub married woman
whose folks ashamed o him,-and
Grubb, like a great big ass. give his boy
to his wfe's people, arter she died, and
then stuffed that young 'un up with false
pride until he got ashamed to speak to
Grubb and Grubb, he was a-sendin' the boy
half his pay straight along. So then the
boys grandfather died and left him small
fortin on the condition that he changes his
names to his mothers Esdaile, and the
brat were wllin' enough, for he thought
hissef too good to he named Grubb and
now he's Goin to be orcfer.'
Here Billy rumpled his hair up violently