Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-07-06

PHILIPS PROMOTION.
BY L. E. Chittenden.



with his white tie. A servant had just
informed him that his father wished
to see him in the library.
Philip was arrayin3 his comely self
for the Mortons' party, and as he fin
ished he surveyed himself moment,
then taking up his gloves he stalked
down the stairs and into the stately
library where his father sat at table
writing.
Philips father was a great railroad
magnate of whom most men stood in
wholesome awe, but his stern face
lighted mp wonderfully as the athletic
figure of his only son came up to his
chair and laid hand affectionately on
his shoulder.
"What is it, excellency?" Philip
asked, aud the tones of his voice sent
thrill of pride through his fathers
pulses.
Sit down, Phil" said his father,
motioning to chair near at hand.
"Were you in that crowd last night
that nearly wrecked horseless car
riage and frightened q horse that an old
woman from the country was driving?
She might have been killed if one Of
you-I fancy ] know ho-(Philip
blushed) hadn't taken a flying leap
at considerable risk and caught the
horse just in tina and stopped it. :"
eyes. l was there" said Philip.
"You see, father, the boys took old
Steele with them. He knows all about
motorcycles and things like that, but
not much else. But Steele put on airs,
so the boys pulled him off the seat,
and two or three of us tried to run it.
1t really ran us, said Philip, laughing.
"Steele must have had his foot on
something couldn't find it-aud
You never saw anything go so, father,
never. I really don't know where
they fetched up; perhaps they're going
yet, for Steele turned sulky and
wouldn't let them know where the
brake was"
81 should think not" said his
father, smiling. ''Of course, but for
the accident there would have been no
real harm in such thing"
Except listening to Steele's Ian
guage, father; it was electrically blne,
he was so upset in more ways than
one."
But" went on his father, sis life
never going to mean anything but a
frolic and good time to you, Philip?
You are through school, and it is GER
tainly time for you to take more Sc
rious view Of life. You have no idea
OF what it means to earn your daily
bread"
"Oh, but you do that for me far too
well, daddy" said Philip, laughing.
'In fact, you earn cake, too"
eyes, that's the trouble, Phil, and
as long as you are here it will be
the same l ap afraid. My boy, you
must cut adrift and steer for yourself
awhile l think
"When?" said Philip, with startled
face.
"Now," said his father, his voice
trembling little in spite of himself.
'How much do you owe in town?"
ooh, two or three hundred / sup
pose" said Philip, his mind intent on
his fathers meaning. "You don't
think have done anything wrong or
disgraceful, do you, father?" and
Philips voice was very ANXIOUS.
''No, no, my boy" said his father,
promptly. "No, no, 1 am not dis
pleased with you in any way, my son.
Heaven knows how 1 will get on with
out you-but we won't talk about that
now. You have passes on all the
roads. Here is a check for $500.
Now go out west and begin at the
lower round of the ladder and climb
up. Here is letter to my friend, the
superintendent of the Great Western
g. Northern road. He will start you
at work. Good bye; don't come home
until you have earned your promotion
It's all my fault, Philip; haven't
brought you up just right, but since
your mothers death | haven't been
able to refuse you anything.
There was silence moment, then
Philip came to his fathers side.
''You aren't angry wi>l me then,
father?" he said.
''No, no, Philip, no, no, only anxious
that you may grow intoa manly man.
Goodbye"
Philip put his boyish head down on
the back Of his fathers chair minute,
then went upstairs. rapidly changed