Morris tribune., 1896-02-19

succeeds in his WISH" he remarked after
a while, Percy has good deal Of un-
tanned blood in his composition, and he
will probably work it off in his own
fashion His father gave him his money
without conditions or restrictions, hop
ing that the sense of responsibility would
sober him; but it will need more than
that He will spend it-that is, throw it
into the gutter--and then we may look
for the dawning of reason in him."
II am sure he is good boy" said his
mother. HE is only full of life and
thoughtless.
There is no reason to suppose him
actually vicious" the judge replied,
land, that being the case, wemay expect
that the want Of money will bring him
to terms do not look to see his fathers
son commit any act that will bring him
under the cognizance Of the law; he is, ]
take it, incapable of any dishonesty;
consequently, when he becomes bank
rupt, he must do one of three things:
either he will sit down and starve like a
gentleman, or he will find some employ
ment that will give him living, or he
will come back to you, like his prodigal
prototype in Holy Writ"
"Percy starve! Oh, judge!" faltered
Mrs. Nolen.
"Do not be uneasy; Percy will not
starve," returned he, with slight flavor
of irony in his tone. HE is not natu-
rally disposed to asceticism, nor has he
the kind of pride that would prompt him
rather to die than betray signs of human
weakness. On the other hand he is
clever and quick, and could easily pick
up an honest livelihood in other ways
than by pursuing his project Of mining
should he find it necessary to forego
that. But my own anticipation is, my
dear Mary, that he is too lazy, and that
his habits of application, such as they
were, have become too much broken up
to make that course likely. What l do
expect is that he will come back to you
and ask you to provide for him."
''That is all ask" Mrs. Nolen ex-
claimed.
81 have no doubt of it, my DEAR" an
swered the judge with smile. "But in
this connection there is something that
l wish to impress upon you very strongly.
Do not, as you value his ultimate well
fare, not to speak Of your own, give him
any money without first consulting me.
If you fail to observe this precaution, de-
pend upon it you will get into trouble.
/ know what young men are. and how
they regard their mothers-as just so
much indulgent soft heartedness to be
taken advantage of No, it isn't cynic-
ism; it's the truth; and SO you will find
it. Now, what Percy needs is the con-
viction that there is no choice for him
but to work So long as he thinks that
he can be supported without working he
will remain idle. 1t may be hard for
you to refuse him, but unless you do you
will only work him an i'll turn. Yon are
not rich woman by any means. Bar
temus-it is as well you should know it
now-lost a large part of his fortune by
injudicious investments: and when you
take out of that the sum secured to Pau
line as her dower-a sum which. fortu-
nately, neither you nor she can touch for
three years to come-you will have left
barely enough to live comfortably on.
AS for Percy's twenty thousand, we may
look upon that as being as good as gone;
it is only a question of time, and no very
long time. Until it is gone it is no use,
attempting to influence him. So much
for that! But now, my dear Mary" con-
tinued the judge, changing his tone, 81
wish to speak to you on another matter
of no small moment to you, to myself
and to Pauline!'