The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-10-26

my hands full" said Alexander.
Every Irregular said the father.
you think of no one but yourself"
II do not see that I have much to
gain in bringing back my elder broth
er," returned Alexander, shrewdly.
The answer pleased the old man; he
smiled. "Well, we'll, will go into this
after breakfast" said he.
I'm sorry about the table," said the
son. 10.
The table is a small matter; think
nothing of that" said the father.
cts another example, continued the
son, "of the awkwardness of a man
having no money of his own. If 1
had proper allowance, like other fell
lows of my age, this would have been
quite unnecessary" ~ -.
"a proper allowancew repeated his
father, in tones of blighting sarcasm,
for the expression was not new to him.
Il have never grudged you money for
any proper purpose"
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 wakened me last
night" interrupted his. father.
WAS it not some similar affair that
first got John into a mess?" asked the
son, skillfully evading the point.
But the father 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.
Il have had cause to complain of that
too Often" said Mr.. Nicholson. "But
still do not understand. Did you keep
the servants up?"
Il propose to go into all that at
length after breakfast" returned AL
exander. There is the half hour go
ing; We must not keep Miss Mackenzie
waiting"
And greatly daring, he opened tine
door.
. Even Alexander, who it must hive
been perceived, was on terms of COM
-parative freedom with his parent; even
|sAlexander 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 ,anples
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 feature of i'm
posing impudence; it had dealt him a
staggering blow. Then ther{nRas the
reference to Johns original aight-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 surpftses and re-
minders, and of his sons composed
and masterful demeanor, there began
to creep Oh Mr.. Nicholson sickly mis-
giving. He seemed beyond his depth;
if he did Of. 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 dlning-room. During these few
steps ne once more mentally revolted,
and once more, and this time finally,
laid down his arms; still, small voice
in his bosom having informed him au-
chemically of a 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
his son; he might be proud of him;
the boy had character and grit, and
knew what he was doing.
These were his reflections as he
turned the corner Of the dining-room
door. Miss Mackenzie was in the place
OF honor, conjuring with teapot and
a cozy; and, behold! there was another
person present, large, portly, whis-
kered man of very comfortable and
respectable air, who now rose from
MS seat and came forward, holding
out his hand.
Good morning, father" said he.
VI the contention of feeling that ran
hlen IN Mr.. Ncholson's starched bosom,
no outward sign was visible; nor did
ne delay long to make choice of con-
quot. Yet in that interval he had re-
viewed a great field of possibilities,
Doth past and future; whether it was
possible he had not been perfectly wise
IN his treatment of John; whether 1t
was possible that John was innocent;
whether, II he turned John out Sec
ond time, as his outraged authority
suggested, it was possible to avoid a
scandal; and whether, If he went to
that extremity, it was possible that
Alexander miphf rnho1