Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-12
AT LOVE s
COMMAND
CuApTER TIL

] far past bedtime before any reference was made to the business which had brought me.
 We have said nothing about the subject ] of my letter. Andrew" said my father looking at me wistfully, 'because you must be fatigued, but when breakfast is over tomorrow we will, by the grace oi heaven, have the matter discussed and set | tied.
 Very well, sir,' I answered, ''I shall hold myself ready at your convenience" Both he and my mother smiled approv. ! ingly at this, and having seen me to my chamber and assured themselves that all was comfortable they left mo. said 1 was ready, but it was with the readiness of the criminal who finds pun ishment inevitable and desires to have it over as quickly as may be Though was weary. could not sleep. My brain throbbed like q furnace and every nerve was a-Quiver. Among other scenes might have argued myself into the solacing conviction that 1 was but an innocent cause of the diSap- ! pOiutmcnt that on the morrow must over whclm my father and mother, but amid the old surroundings, with their eloquent tokens of affection, the sense of folly and ii>obedience was maddening. At times I could have risen and rushed from the house; then again felt as if 1 must go to my father and have the miserable business ended at once. The more thought the more terrible my guilt appeared. Fortu- nately even remorse has its limits and at last doEed.
 awoke in the morning with queer idea of having been travelling in a foreign land and went 10 meet my father in haze of uncertainty. He was all affection, cir cumsrance that added to my embarrass- ment. \ further cause of embarrassment was that he introduced the business of my visit if already settled except in details.
 You see. Andrew,' he said, "the law has many advantages. It Is a money mak- ing business and enables a man to fight for his own hand in a way that rogues cannot well withstand. As 1 hinted to you in my letter, these considerations are not indif- fercnt to Us at the present time. To speak aS between ourselves, there are some lespoiling Us who have no moral, nor, as think, you can show, legal right, to one far thing of our money. They rob us because there is none 10 checkmate them. But have strong hope that the tables will speedily be turned, and that the latest heir to Xii burnie will be able to give these vultures the right about in a fashion that will aston ish them"
 Here my father rose and paced the room in great eXultation. And, eh, it would please me more than words can tell to see these ravening sharks of the seed of Israel and the descendants of Ananias-by which mean the Jews and lawyers-well tilted in their own tourney. And, Andrew, you re the man to do it.
 My tongue clove to the roof of my mouth 1t this speech, and l knew not where to look from the eager, disconcerting eyes of both my father and my mother.
 Il am exceedingly sorry, sir, to learn of tl.e embarrassed state of our atfairs,' faltered. with my eyes on the ground.
 Yes, Andrew, put in my father quick ly, we are embarrassed, fearfully embar- r;lsSed, but our fortunes may be restored quicker than We think And the dear soul in his confidence came forward, took my hand and looked in my face in way that stabbed inc to the marrow.
 Il would do all l can for the family credit, /" I said
 The right sentiment, Andrew, if rather haltingly spoken" " said my father with an encouraging pressure of the hand. Come, my boy, give your courage tongue. know it is in your heart to help us-aye, and in your head too You will be as cunning Il lawyer as the best of them. You will know you will. This is only the blateness of a boy"
 There is no sacrifice in the world that wouldn't make, sir, responded, "but"- and there stuck with my tongue paralyzed.
 My father stared at me for second or so, then he dropped my hand, and his brow concentrated. The crisis had come; the evil had feared was upon me.
 That word sounds strange in my ears Andrew" he said, with strain of harsh l... l. law, did not anticipate any talk about sac rifces."
 ''Oh, sir" blurted out, with a frantic de sire to precipitate matters, II wish I could tell you in a word what I have to say. cannot do as you wish" I would have gone on, but the look he gave me brought me to q sudden and dead halt.
 You cannot do as l wish!" he cried 1T tones of mingled anger and surprise In deed, indeed, indeed! You cannot do as wishl That is very pretty, very dutiful You cannot do as I wish!" And he kept on repeating tho words, giving them falls, meaning, which 1 was powerless to set right
 But maybe I do you wrong," he sait abruptly. No doubt you have first ratt proposal of your own to make"
 I faltered that I hadn't and held my breath for the effect. It was electric. Witt an energy 1 had never seen in him befor, my father sprang to his feet and began tC stride about the room, or rather to stamp his face like a thundcrcloud, his breathing a series of angry shorts. As stood quak ing i'll every fiber, my mother gave me { look which seemed to say: My dear, un fortunate boy, what does all this mean Have you taken leave of your senses?"
 Il can scarcely believe my ears,'' crieC my father when he had got over the frs spasm of rage. T doubt my very senses A son of mine telling me, in the very cris of fortune, he cannot do as 1 wish-canno do as l wish! Did cars of man ever hea the like of that? I cannot do as you wish, says the beardless Solomon to the foolisl gray head. That's good. The worlds i'm proving. Cannot do as l wish! This i what colleges and professors do. Go out sir, and get me hazel rung till teacl you obedience. By my faith, Wallace Xiii gOur will hear no such language as that il his own house.!
 Do not agitate yourself 50, pleaded my mother. Andrew means no disobedience I'm sure. You haven't given him chanc, to explain himself"
 To be sure. to be sure" said my father i've have not heard his explanations. IT warrant they're very ingenious and con vincing, coming direct, as they do, iron that nest of Jesuits, the College of Edin burgh." Then after a turn or two nor about the room he threw himself into , chair. Thinking that now was my chance to speak. l began very humbly.
 If you listen, sir, I'll try"
 "Listenr' he thundered. jumping to hi! feet as if had offered a deadly insult Listen to you2 No. the listening shall bC on the other side. And this is what have to say: That you shall obey me without trou bling about explanations or you shall leave my house. It is mine as yet, and will bt master in it.
 II only wanted to tell you," ventureC again. But he would not hear me.
 If you attempt to argue with me, out you go," he said peremptorily.
 And 1 verily believe he would forthwith ..I, l., H