Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-03-21
CHAPTER XII.
PALMAM ouI MERuIr FERAr.

little immediate use to him First. be-
cause be had not strength enough to
move then, and second, because there
were plenty of willing hands ready to
carry him wherever he wished to 90.
So great, in fact, was the press, that
Harry Bangs was unable to reach
Paddy's side until after he had been
borne to the coach on which sat old
John Bangs weeping tears of pride and
JOY.
1t was the first time that Paddy had
been subjected to close scrutiny By the
elder Bangs Harry had always dread
ed the proverbial keenness of a fathers
eye; and he had successfully sehemed
to keep them apart. TO casual OBJ
server there might have seemed to be
no cause for anxiety in this instance.
Paddy looked more like Banquos ghost
than he did like Lawrence. but Law
renee after similar experience would
have appeared not otherwise. except
that he would have been dead
Harry tried in vain to separate his
father from Paddy; the venerable gen
tlernan was obstinate.
lie shall go to my house, he de-
clared I'm too proud Of him to let
him ont Of my sight"
So Paddy was taken to Boston When
the special from Springfield arrived in
that city, John Bangs hurried to his
residence il order to have everything
ready for the reception of the hero.
The servants were drawn up in the hall
and hurriedly drilled in the Yale cheer.
which they gave in great enthusiasm
when Paddy was led III. The proud old
man advanced TO meet the noble youth,
and embraced him gently, for it was
not yet known definitely how many OF
his bones were broken. He was put to
bed, and four doctors, at a hundred
dollars an hour apiece, watched beside
him while good old mother nature be-
gan his cure with sleep. John Bangs
stole into the room every half hour to
look at him, though it must be con-
fessed that he was not beautiful to see.
After one of these visits Mr.. Bangs
descended to the main hall of the
house, and there beheld a spectacle
which was almost too much even for
his iron nerves. Standing by the door
which he had just closed was the real
Lawrence Bangs He had been con-
cealed in Boston during the game, of
which he had read an account in the
evening extras Having learned that
Paddy had been subjected to rough
usage, he had painted number of
wounds upon his face and had literally
decorated it with court plaster. He
must have been inspired in this work
of art, for it resembled & wreck of
Paddy OToole's features ia nicely
OF course he supposed that Paddy had
been secretly transported to New
Haven, and that he could appear at his
fathers residence without fear
1t flashed across the mind of John
Bangs that his son had died in the
room above and that this was his
ghost. He dismissed that notion
promptly, but his surprise was so great
that he could command no words ex-
cept few disjointed explosives.
Before the old gentleman could re-
| ply, the hall door was flung open and
Harry Bangs rushed in Since the
| game he had been wildly careering
| about, trying to find Lawrence in time
/ TO avert the catastrophe, which, at that
| moment, he saw precipitated before his
| eyes. He made no effort to prevent its
/ full elimination. The situation was
evidently hopeless.
| Come in here. both Of Won. " he said,
| throwing open the door Of a reception
room on the right Of the hall They
followed mechanically
Its all np, Lawrence" he said.
I'VE might as well tell the whole
story"
/ He told it with wonderful clearness
and breyity TO paint the father 5
/ grief would require too firm hand 1t
viii not be attempted here Indeed
| that was n worry hard case. No pride
/ was ever higher and no humiliation
/ deeper than John Bangs lie had be
/ lleved himself the father of hero, 81
/ the 'SpecchleSs Wonder. Of "Old Els
/ Favoritc son, and when the mask was
| stripped off, there remained nothing
/ butsa creature Of books and rank lists,
/ not laurel crowned, but with a halo 81
stale lamp oil smouldering upon the
/ dark background of obscurity.
II is greatly TO john Banks credi,
that he was able to stife all upbraid.
i ings, aud to come at once to the prac,
teal consideration of the case.
II will not burden You with useless
reproaches, he said. Neither will |
make hard conditions, There is only
one thing which insist upon, and tina,
is that this deception must cease. 1;
is net honest. will not have two OF
you at Yale any longer"
But, father" interposed Harry
"how can we take Paddy away2 II
will simply cripple the nine, and Har
ward is going TO have the same old bat
ting gang next spring"
NO." replied John Bangs. 1.-THE uni
versity cannot spare Paddy, but can'i
SEE that she will suffer by the loss o.
| Lawrence"
Then l am not TO graduate" sait
Lawrence, sadly. Il am not to have
my diploma
Have you won ita" asked his father
- don'twish to he unnecessarily severe
but msst ask what vou have given 1,