The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-03-27
CHAPTER. v.

CHAPTER V.
Mr.. Hardy was a man of great will
power, but this scene with his drunken
son crushed him for moment and
seemed to take the very soul out of
him. Mrs. Hardy at first uttered
wild cry and then ran forward and.
Selling her elder boy, almost dragged
him into the house, while Mr.. Hardy.
recovering from his first shock, looked
sternly at the companions of the boy
and then shut the door. That night
was night of sorrow in that family.
The sorrow of death is not to be com
pared with it,
But morning came, as it comes alike
to the condemned criminal and to the
pure hearted child on holiday and
after a brief and troubled rest Mr..
Hardy awoke to his second day. the
memory of the night coming to him at
first as an ugly dream, but afterward
as terrible reality. His boy drunk!
He could not make it seem possible.
Yet there in the next room he lay in
drunken stupor. sleeping off the effects
of his debauch of the night before Mr..
Hardy fell on his knees and prayed for
mercy. again repeating the words. ri
mighty God help me to use the remain
ing days in the wisest and best man
ner.' Then calming himself by ire
mendous effort he rose up and faced
the days work as bravely as any man
under such circumstances could.
After a family council. in which all
of them were drawn nearer together
than they ever had been before on ac-
count of their troubles, Mr.. Hardy out
lined the days work something as fol
lows:
First. he would so and see James
Caxton and talk over the affair with
him and Clara. Then he would go
down to the Office and arrange some
necessary details of his business. If
possible, he would come home to
lunch. In the afternoon he would go
to poor Scoville's funeral, which had
been arranged for 2 o'clock. Mrs.
Hardy announced her intention to go
also. Then Mr.. Hardy thought he
would have a visit with George and
spend the evening at home arranging
matters with reference to his own
death. With this programme in mind
he finally went away after an Affection
ate leave taking with his wife and
children.
George slept heavily until the middle
of the forenoon and then awoke with a
raging headache. Bess had several
times during the morning stolen into
the room to see if her brother were
awake. When he did finally turn over
aud open his eyes, he saw the young
girl standing by the bedside. He
groaned as he recalled the night and
his mothers look, and Bsss said timid-
ly as she laid her hand on his forehead:
George, I'm so sorry for you! Don't
you feel well?"
Il feel as if my head would split
open. 1t aches as if some one was
chopping wood inside of it,
What makes you feel so?" asked
Bess innocently. did you eat too much
supper at the Bramleys'?'
Bess had never seen any one drunk
before, and when George was helped to
bed the night before by his father and
mother she did not understand his con-
dition. She had always adored her big
brother. 1t was not strange she had no
idea of his habits.
| George looked at his small sister Gu
riously; then, under an impulse he
could not explain, he drew her nearer
to him and said:
'Bess, I'm bad fellow was drunk
last night! Drunk do you under
stand? And I've nearly killed mother!'
Bess was aghast at the confession.
She put out her hand again.
| ooh, no, Georgew Then with swift
revulsion Of feeling she drew back and
said, "How could you, with father feel
/ ing as he does?"
And little Bess, who was a creature
of very impulsiye emotions, sat down
crying on what she supposed was a
cushion, but which was Georges tall
hat, accidentally covered with one end
of comforter which had slipped off
the bed. Bess was very plump little
creature, and as she picked herself up
and held up the hat George angrily ex-
claimed:
You're always smashing my thingsv'
But the next minute he was sorry for
the words.
| Bess retreated toward the door, quiz
ering under the injustice Of the charge
At the door she halted. She had some.
thing of Clara's passionate temper, and
once In awhile she let even her adored
brother George feel it, small as she
was.