The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-04-08
ia woman upon the doorstep.

YOU II DOi dl tIt
eyes fell before his mothers grief.
Too many women in the scene, 1t:
Citing watery,' sneeled the old man
and be took long strides toward the
barn.
Make your decision ter nj ght
John" be called back.
Thank God, you are not Sinclair
mother" said the young man, putting
his band on the shoulder of the ole
woman. The three sat down upor
the steps and talked long and serious
y. The women spoke IN pleading
tones and the young man gesticulated
frequently He was wavering be
tween TWO ideals of duty. In his per
plexity, he vented his vexatlon by be
rating his father
Its alters been So" he grumbled
I've given up ter fathers way ever
since l was boy, N you've done the
same, mother
"Yes, John, out then it's father, you
know, N he's alters bin peculiar. He's
good in his way n he thinks sight
o his own flesh and blood. He can't
bear ter think thet any Sinclair prop'ty
won't alters be in the family
don't know thet fathers got pat
ent right ter alters be peculiar temp
cred n the rest O Us must alters give
in," he continued to grumble. I've
got tired ont. I'm a-going ter take
Dora n the boy in the morning n
start fer somewhere | reckon can
git on thout father eff he can thout
me.
Bst cant git on thout you, John,
you Dora n Jimmie. It'll kill me
thr hev you go. Tell him so, Dorg,
she pleaded.
Johns wife had been leaning her head
against her hand. and apparently
thinking deeply. She looked up sud
denly and put her hand upon her
husbands arm. Her face was serious,
and there was a certain dignity in her
movements that made her seem older
than her husband His brows were
nplifted and his nostrils expanded like
a grieved child.
John. said she I've concluded thet
your first duty is ter mother. You
were not ter blame fer the wrong done
Tommie. Its like you, John, ter want
ter do Jest the genrous thing by hun,
but your mothers claims are greater u
you ought to heed them. I've been
thinking thet eff | can move Mother
Brittain's old loom over here, l can
weave rag carpets, n in time, earn
enough to pay forTommie's doctoring
mother can come over at odd times tel
help me paaps father save some
thing this year. Well find way ter
git rid o his crutches thout making
hard feelings IN the family.
The fervor of her contralto voice
Guieted him. He gazed at her wor-
shipfully. There was force in her
calm blue eyes and he yielded to theil
sedative influence.
Well, Dora, on your account on
mothers Ill give in, he said slowly. !
must go over break the news tel
your fathers folks ter night. Don't cry
any more, mother. You'll be heving
one your sick headaches, eff you do
Ill be going. | guess, fore its any la
ter
The women went into their house to
finish their evening work and he walk
ed slowly down the road. His father
was leaning against the pasture bars.
Decided yit, John? said he as he
passed him.
Yes father I'm goin ter keep Rock
paster in the family. I've give in
But its on mothers account
Don't keer on whose account tis, OF
you've come foyer senses, replied the
old man. John Sinclair slowly fol
lowed the river road in the direction
of Joe Brittains farm. His hands
were in his pockets and bis head down
He did not feel the gentleness Of the
evening air nor heed the white tremo1
of the upturned foliage that made the
hills so alive with motion. His slow
brain was pondering why it is that
tilial duty must prevent his doing
right by the Britain boy. The per
picked look had not left his face when
he came in sight of Joe Brittains di-
lapidated, i'll managed farm. He had
hoped that he might see his father-in
law alone to tell him. Ee dreaded
the pain in Tommy's disappointed
face. But the family were all out OF
the piazza when he came in sight OF
the house. Tommie was propped uI
in an arm chair and beside him sal
Joe Brittain's brother. George Brit
tain was insane. He was usually con
sidered harmless although at times
subject to attacks of frenzy that terri
fled the family. Joe Britain was toe
easy to apprehend danger, and he had
had harbored the lunatie year after
year, continually threatening to SEND
him to an asylum but always postpon
ing. John Sinclair concluded to breal
his news to the family Immediately
As he talked to his father-in- law, he
dropped his eyes to avoid Tommie':
face. Joe Britain was stout and rud
dy. The distressed look in his kinC
blue eyes was on account of his John:
evident distress.
Never mind. John, said he cheer
fully. Tommie don't suffer pain. II
trust Dora ter manage somehow.
knew we'll neugh how your father'(
feel bout it He never seemed te
like our family much. I don't bea
hlm any hard feeling though. Won
you come III n hev a drink cider?
No. guess not. Its late mus
he going. I've wotked purity hard ter
day.
l spose so, John. LIS fine hayins
weather, haint it?
Yes Good night
Good night, John.
When he had passed out of the gat
and out of hearing, Joe Britain turn
ed to Tommie who was crying a little
There. Tom. Don't be baby, sal,
he. Mother n sister'll earn lots c
money for We weaving n, props, tn
coming year, can help ye some. toe
Tommie Britain had a long pale face
He resembled his sister Dora but hi
features wele sharper.
You nelp me, said he contemptuous