The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-05
MY WELCOME AT
BRATHWAITE'S
Copyright, 1898.
VVVl


w fall I had not seen any of the
Brathwaite family since our own had
moved to Chicago, 20 years before. AS
was leaving home father requested me
to call on our oldtime friends, and I
readily promised. I had not the slight
est desire to see Abel Brathwaite, hav-
ing been told that he was queer; be-
sides, he and father had had business
misunderstanding several years before
which had disturbed their friendly re-
lations. But Abel had daughter, and
l did want to see her. Amy and had
been playmates, and I was curious to
see what the years had done for her.
Hurrying through the corridor of the
Metropolitan to catch an L train for
the Brathwaite home, 1 was accosted
by young man who extended his card,
upon which I read: "Richard Downs"
MY puzzled expression in trying to
place the name led him to explain:
" II saw the name on the register and
took the liberty of speaking to you sin
the hope that you might be Adam
Craydor's son. He was business ac-
ago. l am here in the east on a matter
OF business and pleasure, and if you
are Adam Craydor's son it would be
quite agreeable to me to renew the old
friendship"
II am Adam Craydor's son." I re-
piled, slipping the card into my vest
pocket, land I remember now that I
have heard him speak of your father.
am on my way to make call, but I
shall be glad to meet you later in the
evening""
1 left him and shortly reached the
Brathwaite home. I asked the maid
who answered the ring for Miss Amy
and gave her my card. Her glance at
the card and at me, as she showed me
unto the parlor, was curious, to say the
least. I thought saw amused expec-
tation in it, but, regarding this as only
the innate impudence of maids, I dis
missed the impression and sat down to
wait.
| saw in the parlor evidences of a
daintiness and good taste that must
have been Amy's, and I grew quite
On the end of the mantel stood cab
met photograph Of my father, which
quieted my fears that Abel Brathwaite
might be resentful on account of the
business misunderstanding My sur
prise may be imagined, therefore, when
I heard an angry voice at the top of
the stairs saying:
"Of course I'll go down. We might
as well settle the matter now. There's
no use saying don't; I'm going; and if
you want to hear my opinion of him
and his father, stand here at the top of
the stairs and listen.'
What he thought of father and me!
knew that Brathwaite had censured
father for his part in the misunder-
standing, and 1 had written a number
Of letters which I had tried to make
particularly courteous, but I had not
known that the old gentleman was hos
tile. I listened for the reply of the per-
son he addressed, and it came down to
me in soft, musical voice:
BE firm with him, father" she said.
"Tel him exactly what we think, but
please don't be rude.''
"Firm!" repeated the old gentleman,
''Never fear. shall be firm and little
rude, too, expect"
Had Mr.. Brathwaite become child
ish? No other explanation seemed
plausible. If he were in his right mind
surely disagreement over a trifie of
$4,000 would not have turned the old
time friendship to enmity. 1t was evil
dent that he was in no mood to receive
my fathers kindest remembrances. !
thought all this to the accompaniment
of determined footsteps coming down
the stairs.
He walked in-the man father had
often described to me and as I. had
dimly remembered him; large, digni-
fed, commanding. If character ever
traces itself upon face, a resolute will
had cast the features and stiffened the
wrinkles on Abel Brathwaite's. He
stopped just inside the door and re-
garded me with such contempt that nv
western ire rose. .-,f. ~,s
'I'll hot. submit tamely," said to
myself, as we faced each other in 81.
lence for some moments, "but will
stand by the position we took in the