The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-29

Mai. billiard 1t IN 'l"c rliiihht!
corner putting big clouds from his
after dinner cigar. Morris. ms son
and heir, who had come III late 70
the noon meal. was Just filling hlnisell
a second glass or wine. The mayor
chuckled inly. but pretended I" froWn
as he said:
Young man. I've been hearing
things, Things that do not partlcl-
larly please me-.
about me-" Morris asked. That
is a pity. Such a model son as | am
known to be. What's the matter,
governor!
NO very great matter. the MAJOR
said, with an indulgent laugh Still
i wish it hadn't happened. III not
4 bit straight-laced: you'll bear WIT
ness | have tried to raise you 4 nial.
not a milksop-with. ! may say TAR
success. \ man must hay" ms
a1nusements. | have not thought az
interfering with yours. Nj ! ask is
that they shall he in good aisle
You surely don't accuse me Of
wasting any time on ugly women.
sir?' Norris said. lightly. though his
breath came 4 little quicker. The
major laughed again-there was eTea
a twinkle in his eye as he said,
NO. sir! That is 50 little 4 liill;ar.l
trait | should certainly disown q son
who showed it. Your river bend
flame, Miss Swan Hinton, woulG do
credit to a man Of twice your expert
ence. Don't think / mean to lecture
YOU about her, neither about .your
going with her to river bend parties,
or cumming with her worthless
father. old Nat. He is an entertain-
ing old vagrant-and Lord, how h.
can fish. BESIDES. he is a sort OF
king among the Door whites. ii.
must get to know them-yop must.
indeed, know all sorts and conditions
of the people YOU may one day aspire
to represent. The proper study OF u
politician is mamie mad better b"
careful, though. how he mixes ii
with q study of oma He cannot.
Of course, leave the ruling sex Wholly
out of 1.-THE thing is to study that
sex at just the proper angle
Thank you for nothing. governor,
You've been setting me the example
that is so much better than prevept.
ever since | was in short fro ks
Morris said. gulping his Wine. Then
he walked to the fireplace and began
Kicking the hickory logs which smold-
cred and sputtered there, though the
NiAlONS MIX o,J0H. dlN Tx
world outside warm and sunlit with
the warmth Of late May. Maj. Hilliar,l
who loved his land. and his son. with
almost equal passion. let his eyes
range over the broad acres OF his es-
tate then brought them back to Nor
ris and said in a voice Of pit
"On my SOul. I'm sorry for those
Hinton girls. Handsome enough for
duchesses. every one, and then their
gift! They truly nave music in their
souls. vet they would be better oil
without it."
Il don't know-they love it so. |
believe they love. too. the distinction
it gives them" Morris said. looking
carefully away from his father. They
are proud Of being the only woman
band ever seen hereabout. Then
when they play. at the balls and bar
becues and fairs. of course, they are
brought in contact With-with bet
ter people than their own sort.
There's the rub-and the pity Of
it. Maj. billiard said thouohtfuliy:
This contact with the better sort
Will make their own sort distasteful
to them. They are big. splendid ami
mails, as soft-hearted as they are un-
derbred, as innocent as they are TO-
norant. | wonder, indeed, that they
can be old Mats daughters-he is GER
taInly a tough citizen. 1t must be
they take after the mother. who is of
decent farming stock. If only her
girls were kept quietly at home. it is
likely they would marry farmers
themselves, and be happy ever after.
But hawked about as they are. they
learn to flout the decent
who would make them such excellent;
husbands; ever that. however. is not
the worst. They will end by loving
where love means ruin"
"Old Nat will not listen to any talk
OF marriage. Norris said. still look
ing away. You know he lives easy,
since n girls bring in 50 much mon
ey.'
i fancy whoever married one Of
them would marry the whole family"
Maj. billiard said. "And tina. bring,
me to my grievance. OF course. it is
ridiculous dare say YOU thought
II was only 4 piece Of innocent yaunt-
ing on the girls part. but YOU should
nave checked her. Dick Daily tells me-
at the last party YOU stood quiet when
Swan called herself Mrs. Morris Hill
ilard. For ourselves it does no mat
1er-hnt have a feeling about it.
You ought to have remembered that
that WaS-your mothers name"
The major was dark. with square
Jaws, black beetling brows, a firm
chin, a t~hin-lipped. almost cruel
mouth. Hiss on was fair and blue
eyed, with a pure Greek profile. He
had indeed the face of the mother
who had died when he was born.
But some subtle inner stirrino
ofought uppermost the race likeness
1ndefinable yet beyond mistake. 1t
was a billiard Of billiards who an
swered' slightly droppinghis head as
he spoke"
Il didn't forget. sir, Swan spoke
the truth
The truth" Major billiard reeled
as from a blow, covering his eyes
with his hands. Morris's face had re-
affirmed his words. After a lonu
minute the father held out his hand
saying steadily:
AT least you show yourself ny
son. You had the courage no: to lie
TO me. You knew Z would believe vn,,
AGAINST the whole ~worid-eyen
against rlyself."
mat vas why I conldn'4 do #