The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-08-10


holding out his hand, there's foul
weather set in upon us, as you may
have heard, but have ridden out many
a worse squall. and please God, we
shall all three of US weather this one
also, though two of US are little more
cranky than we were"
MY dear friends, I came in to tell
you how deeply we sympathize with you
ali. NV girl has only just told me
about it,
ut has come so suddenly upon US,
DOCTOR" sobbed Mrs. Hay Denver.
thought I had John to myself for the
rest of my life
rest of our lives-Heaven knows that
we have not seen very much OF each
other-but now he talks of going to
sea again.
AYE, aye, Walker, that's the only
way out of it. l was thrown up in the
wind with all aback. [ give you my
word that L lost my bearings more COM
pletely than ever since l strapped
middy's dirk to my belt. You see,
friend I know something of shlpWreck
or battle or whatever may come upon
the waters but the shoals in the city or
London upon which my poor boy has
struck are clear beyond me. Pearson
had been my pilot there, and now l
know him to be rogue. But I've tax
en- my bearings now, and | see my
course right before me"
What then, admiral?"
ooh. I have one or two little plans.
TIL have some news for the boy. Why,
hang it, Walker man. 1 may be a bit
stiff in the Joints, but you'll be my Wit
ness that l can do my twelve miles I'M
der the three hours. What then? My
eyes are as good as ever except just Tor
the newspaper. My head is clear. m
three-and-sixty, but I'm as good a man
as ever I was-too good man TO lie
up for another ten years. I'd be the
better for smack of the salt water
again, and a Whit of the breeze. Tut,
mother. it's not four years cruise
this time I'll be back every month or
two. It's no more than if l went for a
visit in the country" He was talking
boisterously, and heaping his sea-boots
and sextants back into his chest.
"And you really think, my dear
friend, of hosting your pennant
again?"
my pennant, Walker? No, no. Her
majesty, God bless her, has too many
young men to need an old hulk like me.
I should be plain Mr.. Hay Denver Of
the merchant service. daresay that l
might find some owner who would give
me a chance as second or third officer.
1t will be strange to me to feel the rails
of the bridge under my fingers once
more"
''Tut! tut! this will never do, this will
never do, admiral!' The doctor sat
down by Mrs. Hay Denver and patted
her hand in token of friendly sympathy.
eve must wait until your son has it
out with all these people, and then we
shall know what damage is done, and
how best to set it right. It will be time
enough then to begin to muster our re-
sources to meet it,
"Our resources!' The admiral
laughed. There's the pension. I'm
afraid, Walker, that our resources won t
need much mastering"
ooh, come, there are some which you
may not have thought of. For exam
pie, admiral, I have always intended
that my girl should have five thousand
from me when she married. OF course,
your boys trouble is her trouble, and
the money cannot be spent better than
in helping to set it right. She has lit
tie of her own which she wished to con-
tribute, but I thought it best to work
it this way. Will you take the check,
Mrs. Denver, and [ think it would be
best if you said nothing to Harold about
it, and Just used it as the occasion
served?"
God bless you, Walker, you are a
true friend I won't forget this, Walk
err" The admiral sat down on his sea
chest and mopped his brow with his red
handkerchief.
What is it to me whether you have
it now or then? 1t may be more useful
now. There's only one stipulation. If
things should come to the worst, and
if the business should prove so bad that
nothing can set it right, then hold back
this check, for there is no use in pour
ing water into a broken basin, and if
the lad should fall, he will want some
thing to pick himself up again with
HE shall not fall, Walker, and you
shall not have occasion to be ashamed
of the family into which your daughter
is about to marry. I have my own plan.
But we shall hold your money, my
friend, and it will sH'engthen us to feel
that it is there"
''Well, that is all right" said Doc
tor Walker rising. "And if little more
should be needed, we must not let him
go wrong for the want of a thousand
or two. And now, admiral, I'm off for
my morning walk. Won't you come
too?" :
mo, am going into town"
"Wel1, goodbye. hope to have bet
ter news and that all will come right.
Goodbye, Mrs. Denver. feel as if the
boy were my own, and I shall not be
easy until all is right with him."
(To BE CONTINUED