Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-04-10
George. do YOU love meY"

thing different He looked at his moth
er as the tears fell over her face. and
all that was still good In him rose up In
rebellion against the animal part He
seized his mothers hand and carried
II TO his lips kissed II reverently and
said In low tone:
Mother. ! am unworthy. II you
knew
He checked himself. as II on the
verge Of confession. His mother wait.
ed anxiously and then asked:
Wont you tell me allY'
"No; can't"
George shuddered. and at that mo.
| ment Bess came In bearing tray with
toast and eggs and coffee. Mrs. Hardy
left Bess to look after her brother and
went out OF the room almost abruptly.
George looked ashamed and after eat.
| ing little told Bess to take the things
away. She looked grieved. and he
said:
Cant help It I'm not hungry. Be-
sides. | don't deserve all this attention.
Say. Bess. is father still acting under
bis impression. or dream, or whatever
II wasY'
"Yes: he is." replied Bess with much
seriousness. "and he Is ever so good
now and kisses mother and all Of US
goodby In the morning. and be Is kind
and ever so good. | don't believe he Is
In his right mind. VIII said yesterday
he thought father was non campus
| meant us. and then be wouldn't tell me
what II meant, but guess he doesn't
think father Is just right intellectual
ly."
Now and then Bess got hold Of big
word and used II great deal. She
said intellectually" over twice. and
George laughed little. but II was a
bitter laugh. not such as boy Of his
age has any business to possess. he
lay down and appeared to be thinking
and after awhile said aloud:
81 wonder II he wouldn't let me have
some money while he's feeling that
wayT
"WhoT queried Bess. Father
What! You here still. Curiosity
Better take these things down stairs"
George spoke with his headache
tone" as Clara called H. and Bess
without reply gathered up the tray
things and went out. while George con-
tinued to figure out In bis hardly yet
sober brain the possibility Of his IA
ther letting him have more money with
which to gamble. and yet In the very
next room Mrs. Hardy knelf in an ago
ny Of petition for that firstborn, cryin,
out OF her heart:
20 God. IL Is more than | can bear!
To see him growing away from me so!
Dear Lord. be thou merclful TO me.
Bring him back again TO the life he
used 10 live. How proud was OF him!
What a Joy he was 10 me! And now.
and now! . gracious Father. II thou
art truly compassionate. hear me! Has
not this foul demon OF drink done harm
enough? That IL should still come into
my home! All. but | have been indif-
ferent to the cries Of other women. but
now II strikes me. Spare me. great and
powerful Almighty! My boy. my hearts
hunger Is for him! ! would rather see
him dead than see him as ! saw him
last night Spare me! spare me. .
Godw
Thus the mother prayed. dry eyed
and almost despairing. while he for
whom she prayed that heartbrokeu
prayer calculated. with growing cold
ness OF mind. the chances OF getting
more money from his father to use In
drink and at the gaming table.
o appetite and thou spirit OF gam
bling! Ye are twin demons with whom
many a fair browed young soul today
Is marching arm in arm down the
dread pavement Of helrs vestibule.
lined with grinning skeletons OF past
victims. and yet men gravely discuss
the probability OF evil and think there
Is no special danger In little specula
ton now and then.
Parents say. "Oh. my boy wouldn't
do such a thingw But how many know
really and truly what their boy Is real
ly doing. and how many Of the young
men would dare reveal to their moth
ers or fathers the places where they
have been and the amusements they
have tasted and the things for which
they have spent their money!
Mr.. Hardy went at once to his neigh
bors, the Caxtons, who lived only II
block away. He had not been on speak
ing terms with the family for some
time, and be dreaded the interview
with the sensitive dread OF a very
proud and stern willed man. But two
days had made great change In him
He was q new man In Christ Jesus.
and as he rang the bell he prayed for
wisdom and humility.
James himself came to the door with
his overcoat on and hat In hand. evi
IDENTIFY just ready to 80 down town.
He started back at seeing Mr. Hardy.
Are you going down town. ! will
not come In then. but walk along With
you" said Mr.. Hardy quietly.
So james came out. and the two
walked along together. There was an
awkward pause for q minute; then Mr..
Hardy said:
James. Is II true that you and Clara
are engagedT
mo. sir: that-is-n0t exactly what
you might call engaged. We would
like 10 be-
Mr.. Hardy smiled In spite Of him
self. and James added In quIckened
tone. I'VE would like to be. with your
consent. sir"
Mr.. Hardy walked on tbougbtfully
and then glanced at the young man at
his side. He was feet tall. not very
handsome, as Bessie had frankly said.
but he had good face. steady. clear
blue eye and resolute air. a. Of sne
who was willing to work hard to get
what he wanted Mr.. Hardy could not
help contrasting him with bis own
prematurely broken down son George.
and be groaned inwardly - be thought
of the foolish pride that would bar the
doors Of bis family TO . young man
like James Carton simply because be
was poor and because biz father bad
won IN . contested election In which
the two older men were candidates fee
; IL sans e@cA