The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-13

temporary absence of the regular
| checker. This was much easier work
and Willis did il with quickness and
thoroughness and kept his accounts so
accurately that Matthews more than
| once grunted his satisfaction.
About this time Willis saw his uncle
| for the first time. Judson Hardacre
came around with the superintendent,
examining the work of the mill and he
must have seen Willis as he stood with
his pad and pencil where the lumber
shot from whirring saws, but he gave
no sign of recognition. 1t hurt Willis
sensitive nature, but he only set his
teeth the harder.
3 I'm making the money, he said to
himself, and I'm going back to college.
None OF the men knew that he was
Judson Hardacre's nephew. He had
said nothing about it, preferring to
stand on his own merits, and his uncle
had been equally silent.
About the middle of September Will
lis resigned his job, much to the regret
of the big foreman, who had come to
like the clever, prompt young man.
When you try to get a job some
where else, he said, just let me know
and Pll give you good recommends
ton.
1t was said in a blunt, honest way
and no prize that Willis ever had re-
ceived had sounded so sweet in his
ears.
BY the way, Everett, said Matthews,
as he paid over the last salary check,
Mr.. Hardacre wished me to ask you to
call and see him as soon as you get
back to town.
Willis wondered why his uncle
should care to have any thing to do
with him, but he called the next after
noon. He had grown brown of face
and his hands were callous and muscu-
lar. When he came in Judge Hard
acre said gruflly:
Well, how much money have you
saved this summer.
Nearly S75.
Is that enough to take you through
college?
No, sir; but l shall start with it.
Father thinks he can help me toward
the end of the year.
How did you like your work?
Parts of it liked very well, Uncle
Judson, but it was too hard for me at
first.
AT the words, Uncle Judson, Judson
Hardacre looked up sharply. 1t was
not at all usual for any one to address
him as relative and somehow the hard
lines of his face softened and his shout
ders shook little as if he were laugh
ing somewhere inside.
Well, my boy, you've showed your
self pretty plucky this summer. You've
got the genuine Hardacre blood in you.
Let me tell you, I've watched you a
good deal more closely than you thought
and like you, sir. Yes, L like you.
He held out one hand, and Willis,
flushing red and then paling again with
surprise and pleasure, grasped it warm
ly.
Let's be friends, said the old man; l
haven't many of 'em and need good
one, and his voice took on half pitiful
tone. Then he changed the subj ct.
Here's check for $500. Get your
schooling and don't scrimp on the ex-
penses. If you need more let me know.
And when you get through come back
here. I've got good place for you in
my Office, where you will have a chance
to work up.
Willis stammered his thanks and
stumbled, half dazed, toward the door
way. His uppermost thought at that
moment was:
How happy my father will be.
AS he reached the door his Uncle
Judson called after him:
And, say, just go ahead and play all
the tennis and football you want to.
Uncle Judson's crust was broken. -
Exchange.