The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-03-23
thence while laboring under this i'm

i
thence while laboring under this i'm
pression?"
II have already thought over that.
Yes; believe l ought to go right on.
I don't see what would be gained by
severing my connection with the COM
pany."
"Will you tell the company you
have only Mrs. Hardy could not
say the words. They choked her.
"What would you do, Alice| asked
her father, turning to his>oldest daugh-
ter, who, although cripple, had more
than once revealed to the family great
powers of judgment and decision.
81 would not say anything to the
company about it" replied Alice
finally
"That is the way feel" said Mr..
Hardy with nod of approval. '"They
would not understand it. My successor
in the office will be young Wellman, in
all probability, and he is perfectly COM
petent to carry on the work. feel as
If the matter were one that belonged to
the family. shall, of course, arrange
my business affairs with reference to
the situation, and George can give me
half day for the details. But you
know, Mary, have always kept my
business in such shape that in any case
of accident or sudden death matters
could easily be arranged. Thank God!
/ shall not have to take time for those
matters that ought to give to more
serious and important duties"
1t was true that Mr.. Hardy, always a
man of very methodical habits in a
business way, had always arranged his
affairs with reference to accidental re-
moval. His business as manager ne
cessitated his being on the road great
deal, and he realized, as many railroad
men do realize, the liability of sudden
death.
But such thought had not had any
influence on his actions to make him
less selfish. He thought, as all men do.
that he should probably live right
along after all; that death might take
the engineer or conductor or fireman.
but would pass him by.
Suddenly Will spoke up: Gather, do
you want George and me to leave col
lege?"
Certainly not, my boy. What would
be gained by that? want you to keep
right on just as IL were going to live
so years more"
George did not say anything. He
looked at his father as If he doubted
his sanity.
His father noticed the look, and
terrible wave of anguish swept over
him as he recalled the part of his vi
sion In which he had seen his oldest
son in the gambling room.
Again the prayer he had been silently
praying all the morning went up out Of
his heart, Almighty God, show me
how to use the seven days most wise
ly."
"Father," said Bess suddenly, what
will you do about Jim and Clara? Did
you know they were engaged?"
"Bess! said Clara passionately. Then
she stopped suddenly. and, seeing her
fathers brow grow dark, she covered,
afraid of what was coming.
But Mr.. Hardy looked at the world
differently this morning. Twenty-four
hours before he would have treated
Bessie's remark as he usually treated
her surprising revelations Of the Sc
crets of the family. He would have
laughed at it a little and sternly COM
manded Clara to break the engage
ment If there was one at once, for
James Caxton was not at all the sort
Of man Mr.. Hardy wanted to have
come into the family. He was poor,
to begin with, and, more than all, his
father had been the means Of defeating
Mr.. Hardy in municipal election
where place of influence and honor
was in dispute. Mr.. Hardy had never
forgotten or forgiven it. When he be-
gan to see his children intimate with
going to the house, with the result al
ready described.
Mr.. Hardy looked at Clara and said
very tenderly: "Clara, we must have
good talk about this. You know your
father loves you and wants you to be
happy, and Mr.. Hardy stopped in
his emotion, and Clara burst into tears
and left the table,
Come" cried Mr.. Hardy after mo-
uC1e, Jul Ing WHICH uO one seemed III
clined to speak, "let us ask God to give
us all wisdom at this time"
George madea motion as if to go out.
"My son." called Mr.. Hardy after
him gently. won't you stay with the
rest of us?'
George sat down with shamefaced
look, Alice and Clara came back. and
Mr. Hardy read that famous sixth
chapter of Ephesians, beginning "Chil-
dren, obey your parents in the Lord"
Then in brief but earnest prayer he
asked Gods help and blessing on all
the day and rose to face it, the great
burden of his responsibility beginning
to rest upon him for the first time. He
sat down for moment by his wife
and kissed her, putting his arms about
her, while Bess climbed up on the side
of the couch, and the boys stood irreso-
lutte and wondering. Any outward
mark of affection was so unusual on
the part Of their father that they felt
awkward in the presence of IL Mrs.