The Opelousas courier., 1899-07-08

with his white tie. A servant had jus
informed him that his father wishe,
to see him in the library.
Philip was arraying his comedy sci
for the Mortons' party, and as he fin
ished he surveyed himself a moment
then taking mp his gloves he stalke'
down the stairs and intqathe stated,
library where his father sat at a tabl,
writing.
Philips father was a great railroa.
magnate of whom most men stood il
wholesome awe, but his stern fac
lighted up wonderfully as the athleti
figure of his only son came up to'hi
chair and laid . hand affectionately,,ol
his shoulder.
"What is it, e~xcelIency?" Phil,
asked, and the tones of his voice sent
a thrill of pride through his fathers
pulses.
"Sit down, Phil" said his father,
motioning to a chair near at hand.
"Were you in that crowd last night
that nearly wrecked q horseless car.
riage and frighteneda horse that an old
woman from the country was driving:
She might have been killed if one OF
you'll fancy I know who-(Philip
blushed)--lIadn't taken d flying leap
at considerable risk and caught the
horse just in tims and stopped it,"
eyes, I was there" said Philip.
"You see, father, the boys took old
Steele with them. He know, all about
motorcycles and things like that, but
not much else. utSteele put on airs,
SO the boys pulled him off the seat,
and two or three of lis tried to II it.
It really ran u.s." said Philip, laughing.
'Steele must have had his foot on;
something-we couldn't find it-and'
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"
II should think not" said his
father, smiling. "Of course, but for
the accident there would have been no
real harm in such a thing"
Except listening to Steele's Ian
guage, father; it was electrically blue,
he was so upset in more ways than
one"
But" went Oh his father, '.is life
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 a more Sc
rious view of life. You have no idea
OF what it means to earn your daily
bread"
ooh, but you do hat for me far too
well, daddy" said Philip, laughing.
'In fact, yon earn cake, too"
eyes, that's the trouble, Phil. and
as long as you are here it will be
the same l am afraid. Ny boy, Won
must cut adrift and steer for yourself
I think"
"When?" said Philip, with startled
face.
"Now," said his father, his voice
trembling q little in spite Of himself.
"How much do you owe in town."
ooh, two Or three hundred I sup
pose" said Philip, his mind intent on
fathers meaning. "You don't
think l have done anything wrong or
d%isgraceful, do you, father?" and
voice was very anxious.
"No, no, my boy" said his father,
promptly. "No, no, I am not dis
with you in any way, my son.
Heaven knows how I will get on with
put you-but we won't talk about that
low. You have passes on all the
roads. Here is a check for $500.
Now go out west and begin at the
round Of the ladder ard climb
Up. Here is a letter to my friend, the
superintendent Of the Great Western
I Northern road. He will start. you
It work, Good bye; don't come home
you have earned your promotion.
tie all my fault, Philip; I haven't
You up just right, but since
your mothers death I haven't been
'ble to refuse you anything"
There was silence q moment, then
Philip came to his fathers side.
"You aren't angry with me then,
ather?" he said.
mo, no, Philip, no, no, only anxious
hat you may grow intoa mauly man.
food. b.
Philip put his boyish head down on
he back Of his fathers chair a minute,
hen went upstairs, rapidly changed
lis clothes, packed his trunk and
came down and caught the
Midnight train for the west, and it
wasn't until he reached Topeka that
le found he had left at home his check
or $500 and had only a little silver and
lis letter Of introduction to the super
ntendent of the great road that
dreaded the west like a huge artery.
He found the superintendent's Of
Ice without difficulty and presented
lin his fathers letter.
After the superintendent had read
he letter from his great eastern
riend he looked keenly at the some
slender, but athletic figure before
i'm and smiled. !
II have an opening" be said, .'but
/ is by no means a bed Of roses"
"What is it?" asked Philip. I
"Not especially hard work, but it is
lonely spot. There is a cut up the
Dad about $50 miles. It is in the +,
Mountains, where washouts frequently {
'ccur. Telegraph poles wash down,
Tires are broken. etc. So it is neces- s
ary to keep a watehnaa there contin-
lally. A railroad tricycle. is fur /,
also q shack whsrs. after a /,