The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-10-13
The Schooling Of
james Pr0therOe.
BY W. r. ROSE.



The capitalist looked up from the card
he held in his long slender fingers. He
saw dark eyed young fellow with big
shoulders and resolute chin. At least
those were the distinguishing character
istics the elder man first noticed.
James Protheroe," he murmurcd.
Then he added with a little gasp. Not
the son Of my old boyhood pard. George
Protheroe?'
The young man smilingly nodded.
WAereupon the older man seized him
by both hands and forced him into
chair.
MY dear boy" he cried, where were
my eyes? Why, you're just like your dad.
We'll, well. Bless him, 1 haven't seen
him for 90 years. Calls you James, eh :?
Who's that for?'
"You. sir" said the young man.
"For me. Shake hands again, name
sake. You are a remarkably fine young
man. And how's father?"
VERY well. SIR He sends YOU let
ter" and the young man drew it from
his pocket.
The capitalist glanced it through with
n kindling eye.
Sounds just like old George" he
NhhShASu- 1<OdH you lily
boy Jim. Teach him a little business.
Got some capital he might invest. Good
boy Um-um-Um. See here, my boy, you
must come along with us to Bennington.
We are going down there on my private
car; a 30 mile ride over our new SUBJ
urban road. I've got business with
man at Bennington that must be attended
to this noon. Then I've got to be back
here ut 3 o'clock to meet a New Yorker
who is passing through. My daughter
Ethel, Miss Mayer, her companion, and
two young college fellows of her ac-
quaintance, will go on the trip with me.
Ethel will take along hamper and feed
us in the car, and we ought to have q
jolly time. l want you to meet my daugh-
ter"
THANK you" said the young fellow,
Il believe 1 have already met her. 1
went to your home to see you and found
you had left the house little earlier
than usual, and your daughter-I'm quite
sure it was your daughter-kindly told
me that you never transacted any bust
ness at home"
The two men laughed together
But you told her who you were?'
mo, l didn't" replied the young man.
AFTER her remark couldn't very well.
It's business, you know, that brings me
to Cleveland"
james Norcress laughed again.
''She probably took you for a collec-
tor" he chuckled. But, here, we must
be of. We have to meet the others at the
square in just ten minutes"
Ihcy were there and waiting when the
two men approached.
Ethel" said the older man, 81 want
you to become better acquainted with
Mr.. James Protheroe of Kansas, whom
you have only met in a business way, /
believe. You have often heard me speak
of his father"
The fair young girl, with just a slight
fash, extended her hand.
The name of Protheroe is household
word with u.s." she said with smile that
Jim Protheroe thought the sweetest he
had ever seen. Then she presented him
to Fraulein Mayer and made him &C
QEaintcd with Mr.. Hosmer and Mr.. Bar
ringtu,i.
You've surely heard of Mr.. Barring
ton," she said. He was on the harvard
football team OF 1883, and Mr.. Hale is
the champion Splinter of his college,"
Young Protheroe bowed graYely in ac-
k-owledGEent of the honor conferred
upon him in coming in personal contact
w.th such special distinctions.
Are you college man, Mr.. Proth-
eroe" inquired the eminent Darlington.
YES" replied the Kansas youth
adams, 81"
The young men looked ut each other
They had never heard OF Adams.
Just then the car got under Roadway,
and Ethel's father called Jim to step to
the rear door and have look az the
roadbed. Ethel lad surprised the glance
that passed between Hosner and Bar
rington. It made her feel little cha.
gr!ned. They were evidently sneering at
the western young man. Pcally there
was something different about him. His
clothes were not quite like the other
mems. He didn't wear them with Just
the same nonchalance. He appeared
rather heavy and slow. Very likely he
was as dull as he acted. And yet he GER
tainly seemed a very presentable youth.
Some people might even call him hand
come.
Her train Of thought was interrupted
by her fathers voice.
why, bless my soul, my boy" he was
saying. 'you know more about railway
building than do! Where did you pick
1t up?"
Helped lay out a road in western
Kansas" replied jim. That's one of the
things we learned at Adams. believe
have the right to put civil engineer after
my name"
So he did know little something,
thought the girl, but it seemed like such
embarrassing knowledge. Truly he was
decidedly different from the eastern boys.
Then her father and Jim came into the
car, and the conversation became gen.
eral.
Ethel noticed that Jim held his own
pretty well when he did talk. but for the
most part he was but listener. There
was one thing she was grateful to him
for. She knew he admired her. His
frank, open glance told her that. But he
had the good seEsc not to annoy her by
any special attentions.
Pretty soon the little party scattered.
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