The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-11-24

been to the telegraph and the police
ofdce,S and Mr.. MaceWen's S. Oh, II had
my hands FULL" said Alexander. 55 @
VERY Irregular" said the father.
you think Of no one but yourself. q u 4
~ do MOI see that I have much, to
gain in bringing. back my, elder broth
err" returned Alexand er, shrewdly. .S 5is
II The answer pleased the old man; he
smiled. ..Well, we'll, Twill go into this
after breakfast" said he. ) ~ a575 XII
I'm sorry about the ia bic, = said the
son. &@,': @ w Y VI 81. $s sfss T..
'sThe table is a small matter; I think
nothing Of that" said the father.
TITS another example, continued the
son, "of the aWkWardness of a man
having, no money of his own. If I
had proper allowance, like other fell
lows of my age, this would have been
quite unnecessary" 49," :
"A proper allowance" repeated his
father, in tones Of blighting sarcasm,
for the expression was not new to him.
81 have never grudged you money for
any proper purpose >: f. + =.
mo doubt, no doubt said Alexan-
der, but then you see you ar'n't always
on the spot to have the thing explained
to you. Last night, for instance
''You could have Weakened me last
night" Interrupted his father.
"Was, it not: some similar affair that
first got John into mess?'' asked the
son, skillfully evading the point.
But thessfather was not less adroit.
And pray, sir, how did you come and
go out of the house?' he asked. {:
II forgot to lock the door, it seems"
replied Alexander. = @ - 81:
II have had cause to complain of that
too often,' said Mr.. Nicholson. "But
still I do not understand. Did you keep
the servants up?" > -:
II propose to go into all that at
length after breakfast" returned AL
exander. There is the half hour 60
ing; we must not keep Miss Mackenzie
waiting" %~s+. <..., = .:.4
And greatly daring, he opened the
door. r.. ~
Even Alexande who it must have
been perceived, was on terms of COM
parative freedom with his parent; even
Alexander%had never before dared to
cut short an interview in. this high
handed fashion. But the truth is the
very mass of his. sons delinquencies
daunted the old gentleman He was
like the man with the cart of apples
this was beyond him! That Alex
ander should have spoiled his table,
taken his money, stayed out all night,
and then coolly acknowledged all, was
something undreamed Of in the Mich
olsonian philosophy, and transcribed
comment. The return of the change,
which the old gentleman still carried
in his hand, had been a feature Of i'm
posing impudence; it had dealt him a
staggering blow. Then there was the
reference to Johns original flight-a
subject which he always kept resolutely
curtained in his own mind; for he was
man who loved to have made no mis-
takes, and when he feared he might
have made one kept the papers sealed.
In view of all these surprises and re-
minders, and of his sons composed
and n1asterful demeanor, there began
to creep on Mr.. Nicholson sickly mis-
giving. He seemed beyond his depth;
If he did or said anything, he might
come to regret it. The young man, be-
sides, as he had pointed out himself
was playing a generous part And if
wrong had been done-and done to
one who was, after, and in spite of all,
a Nicholson-it should certainly be
righted. ~
All things considered, monstrous as
it was to be cut short in his inquiries,
the old gentleman submitted, pocketed
the change, and followed his son into
the dining-room. During these few
steps he once more mentally revolted,
and once more, and this time finally,
laid down his arms; a still, small voice
I'D his bosom having Informed him au-
chemically of piece Of news: that
he $was afraid Of Alexander. The
strange thing was that he was pleased
to be afraid Of him. He was proud Of
LIS Sun ue miSnI& De proud of him !;
the. boy had character and grit, and
knew what he was doing. ..., .,, Z
These were his. reflections as he
turned the corner of the dining-room
door. Miss Mackenzie was in the place
OF honor, conjuring with a teapot and
a cozy; and, behold there was another
person present, a large, portly, Whis-
kered man Of a very comfortable and
respectable air, who now rose from
his seat and came. forward. lolding
out his hand. II 81 n s 81 49, I.=s z,;sE
GOOD ID morning, father, said he.
the contention Of feeling that ran
h tlge IN IN MI. Mich olson,s starched bosom,
h q. outward sign was visibl e: nor did
| ne delay long to make choice OF con-
|. DUCT yet Yet in that interval he had re-
viewed Y '1 great field Of possibilities,
| 90 both past and future; ~ neither twas
20 he had not been perfectly wise
IN 81 us is treatmen Of j ohm whether it
3 as possible thu } ohm was innocent;
I ". hether If he turned ] ohm out sec
I o 9nd time as his outraged authority
suggested, it was possible to avoid q