The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-08-02

4, who sang Ruby in tune. poor Bob Ash
WORTH
A faint, very faint tremor passed over the
| singers face; she looked steadily into a
| bowl Of chrysanthemums before her.
Yes" she assented, slowly, "his voice and
ear were true
"Poor chap! We were awfully sorry for
| him. never could understand how he
| came to do for himself to that extent
ooh! it was all that Vereker! the other
was only a scape- goat" Beatrice cried in a
| half stifed voice.
| "How like woman to be so unjust! 1t
wasn't all Vereker, Ruby. 1t was just this;
Vereker was older. He had a knack Of
never being found out. He'd been through
| public school and Robin had never stirred
from the vicarage Vereker led Ashworth,
one of the most unlucky fellows upon earth,
into scrapes-"
"And sneaked out himself, and left Robin
| to take the consequences" Ruby said, her
eyes flashing. robin was loyal and guile
less and Vereker liar and sneak. One
| was man of honor and a gentleman; the
other coward and cur"
| "And q canon" Westland added softly
| with an affectionate smile. "Ah! Ruby,
what should we poor men do, IL women
didn't side with the weak and unlucky?"
What did Bob Ashworth do?" Mrs.
Westland asked II have a dim remem-
| brance Of something whispered about and
us children being told not to ask ques-
| tons"
"Oh, it's an old scandal" her husband
| REPLIED IT was not at home at the time,
was at Guys. l went up that October.
I'd been reading with old Ashworth.'
"Oh" said Beatrice, at was sad, sad
story! He was tempted and trapped. His
| father was so injudicious and so harsh.
Fancy allowing a man, grown man, no
pocket money!-the situation was intoler-
| able.
Poor old man! he has suffered sadly
yet justly! But, oh! it was bitter-btter-
I for the boy!' The mellow, many toned
voice failed; then came long, long sigh.
| 'The situation was intolerable," West
land assented in the same gentle tone, with
| the same glance, half reverent and half
| compassionate, he had bent upon the sing
| er's moved, sweet face, on which the years
| had written nothing that was not noble.
| "Old Ashworth never realized that Robin
was anything but a child. Clarence went
] to Marlborough and Sandhurst, Wilfred to
| Winchester and Oxford, but when Robin
! left the grammar school, he was kept at
| home with his fathers pupils-forgotten, as
| it were"
! "His father wished him to be clergy
man." Beatrice added.
80 he articled him to solicitor.
! Promise to be parson, and you go to Ok
| ford,' was the old mans catchword. Not
~ T hot I,
; of their conversation for years. Then the
! doctor used to pray at him in family pray
ers, and make him go to perpetual mission
airy meetings and Sunday schools. AS for
old Aunt Berry, she was a poor substitute
| for a mother; every peccadillo was exag-
! gerated and carried to his father instead Of
being smoothed over and hidden. Vereker
used to talk to the doctor about his soul,
and whatever devilry he was about in the
week, he always turned up in a top hat at
church on Sunday. Robin refused to discuss
! his soul; he said it was indicate; he often
missed church and never remembered the
| sermon. Vereker was free, providing he
| came in at eleven Of a night, and spent
his time as he pleased Robin, going daily
| to work at Jackson Forbes office, was
treated like school boy. He and Vereker
used to play billiards at the Red Dragon
but Ashworth went against his fathers will,
and with no money. Only one thing could
come Of this
''Uncle Jackson used to think the father
| and son actually hated each other" Beat
| rice said.
/ But, really Robin was the favorite, the
| Benjamin. His mother died at his birth.
! Wilfred and Clarence did as others did,
| they were not saints; their bringing was
considered a failure. Robin was to be
perfect. Who did not like Bob Ashworth?
Not even his grim father could quench his
high spirits. His jokes were not always
original or witty. oh, Ruby! do you re-
member the black bishop"
! II never quite got at the rights OF 1t. 1t
was black business for him, wasn't IT."