The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-08-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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39I0lA nyGloh5esl1
III BY R95ERT LOUIS STEVENSON. LII
PREss ASSOCIATION.
l93sRT LOUIS STEVENSON


martinez: lastly, Mr. Nicholson was am
bilious for his family lin which and
the Disruption Principles he entirely
lived), and he hated to see son OF his
play second fiddle to an idler. After
some hesitation he ordered that the
friendship should cease-an unfair
command, though seemingly inspired
by the spirit of prophecy; and John,
saying nothing, continued to dlsobcy
the order under the rose.
John was nearly nineteen when he
was one day dismissed rather earlier
than usual from his fathers office,
where he was studying the practice Of
the law. It was Saturday; and except
that he had matter of four hundred
pounds in his pocket which 1t was his
duty to hand over to the British Linen
Company's Bank, he had the whole af-
ternoon at his disposal. He went by
Princes street enjoying the mild sun
shine, and the little thrill of easter!y
wind that tossed the flags along the
terrace Of palaces, and tumbled the
green trees in the garden. The band
the castle; and when it came to the
turn Of the pipers he heard their wild
sounds with stirring of the blood.
Something distantly martial woke in
him: and he thought of Miss Macken-
zie, whom he was to meet that day ct
dinner.
Now, 1t is undeniable that he should
OF - L..
right in the way stood the billiard room
of the hotel where Alan was almost
certain to be found; and the tempta-
ton proved too strong. He entered the
billiard room and was instantly greet
ed by his friend, cue in hand.
4 Nicholson" said he, Il want you to
lend me pound or two till Monday.
You've come to the right shop,
haven't you?" returned John. Il have
twopence."
Nonsense" said 4.lan. "You can
get some. Go and borrow at your tail
or's; they all do it. Or I'll tell you
what; pop your watch"
ooh, yes, / dare say" said John.
And how about my father?"
How is he to know? He doesn't
wind it up for you at night, does he?"
inquired Alan, at which John guffawed.
No, seriously; / am in a fix" contin-
ued the tempter. Il have lost some
money to man here. I'll give it you
tonight, and you can get the heir
loom out again on Monday. Come; it's
small service, after all. I would do
a good deal more for you
Whereupon John went forth, and
pawned his gold watch under the as
sumed name of John Frogs, IS Pleas
ance. But the nervousness that as
sailed him at the door of that inglori-
Gus haunt-a pawnshop--and the eff
fort necessary to invent the pseudonym
(Which, somehow, seemed to him
necessary part of the procedure), had
taken more time than he imagined;
and when he returned to the billiard
room with the spoils the bank had al
ready closed its doors.
This was a shrewd knock. "a piece
of business had been neglected" He
heard these words in his fathers
trenchant voice. and trembled, and then
lodged the thought After all, who
was to know? He must carry four
hundred pounds about with him till
Monday, when the neglect could be
surreptitiously repaired; and mean
while he was free to pass the after
noon on the encircling divan of the
billiard room, smoking his pipe, sipp-
ing pint of ale, and enjoying to the
masthead the modest pleasures of ad..
miration.
None can admire like young man
or all youths passions and pleasures
this is the most common and least al
loyed; and every graceful reach, every
easy, stand-off attitude of waiting: ay.
and down to his shirt-s,e ives and wrist
links, We're seen by John through a
luxurious glory. He valued himself
by the possession of that royal friend,
Rugged himself upon the thought, and
swan in warm azure; his own defects.
like vanquished difficulties, becoming
things on which to plume himself. Only
when he thought of Miss Mackenzie
there fell upon his mind shadow of
regret; that young lady was worthy
Of better things than plain John Mich
olson, still known among schoolmates
by the derisive name of Fatty; and
he felt II he could chalk cue or stand
at ease with such careless grace as
Alan he could approach the object of
his sentiments with less crushing
sense Of inferiority.
Before they parted Alan made a
proposal that was startling in the ex-
treme. He would be at Colette's that
night about twelve, he said. Why would
not John come there and get the
money? To go to Colette's was to see
life, indeed. 1t was wrong; it was
against the laws, it partook, in very
dingy manner, Of adventure. Were it