The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-04
The Schooling Of
JONES P|0thNOe.
ny W. R. ROSE.

saw dark eyed young fellow with bi
shoulders and resolute chin. At leas
those were the distinguishing character
istics the elder man first noticed.
flames Protheroe," he murmured
Then he added with little gasp, mo
the son Of my old boyhood pard, Georg
ProtherOeT
The young man smilingy nodded.
Whereupon the older man seized hin
BY both hands and forced him into
chair.
"My dear boy" he cried, where wer,
my eyes? Why, you're just like your dad
Well, well! Bless him, l haven't seer
him for 20 years. Calls you James, Ell
Who's that forY
you, SIR" said the young man.
"For me! Shake hands again, name
sake. You are remarkably fine youni
man. And how's father?"
Every well, sir. He sends you a let
ter" and the young man drew 1t from
his pocket. ti
The capitalist glanced 1t through with
kindliny eye.
Sounds just like old George" he
chuckled. "Um-um-um. Loan you my
boy Jim. Teach him little business
Got some capital he might invest. Good
boy Um-um-um. See here, my boy, you
must come along with us to Bevington.
We are going down there on my private
car; 30 mile ride over our new sub.
urban road. I've got business with a
man at Bevington that must be attended
to this noon. Then I've got to be back
here at o'clock to meet New Yorker
= who is passing through. My daughter
Ethel, Miss Mayer, her companion, and
two young college fellows of her &C.
quaintance, will go on the trip with me.
Ethel will take along hamper and feed
hs in the car, and we ought to have a
jolly time. want you to meet my daugh.
ter"
THANK you" said the young fellow,
Il believe l have already met her. |
went to your home to see you and found
you had left the house a little earlier
than usual, and your daughter-Im quite
sure 1t was your daughter-kindly told
me that you never transacted any bust.
ness at home"
The two men laughed together.
"But You told her who you were?"
mo, / didn't" replied the young man.
After her remark l couldn't very we'll.
It's business. you know, that brings me
to Cleveland"
James Norcress laughed again.
"She probably took you for collec.
tor" he chuckled. But, here, We must
be off. We have to meet the others at the
square in just ten minutes"
They were there and waiting when the
two men approached.
Ethel" said the older man, II want
you to become better acquainted with
Mr.. james Protheroe of Kansas, whom
believe. You have often heard me speak
of his father"
The fair young girl, with just q slight
fash, extended her hand.
"Thc name of Protheroe is household
word with u.s." she said with smile that
Jim Protheroe thought the sweetest he
had ever seen. Then she presented him
to Fraulein Mayer and made him ac-
Quainted with Mr.. Hosmer and Mr.. Bar.
rington.
you've surely heard of Mr.. Barring
ton" she said. HE was on the harvard
football team Of 1893, and Mr.. Hale is
the champion Splinter of his college,"
Young Protheroe bowed grayely in &C.
acknowledgement of the honor conferred
upon him in coming in personal contact
with such special distinctions.
Are you college man, Mr.. Proth.
eroe?" inquired the eminent Darlington.
"Yes," replied tho Kansas youth.
adams, '97."
The young men looked at each other.
They had never heard Of Adams.
Just then the car got under Roadway,
and Ethel's father called Jim to step to
tho rear door and have look at the
roedbed. Ethel had surprised the glance
that passed between Hosmer and Bar
rington. 1t made her feel little cha.
grinod. They were evidently sneering at
the western young man. Really there
was something different about him. His
clothes were not quite like the other
mems. He didn't wear them with just
the same nonchalance. He appeared
rather heavy and slow. Very likely he
was as dull as he acted. And yet he Ger.
tainly seemed very presentable youth.
Some people might even call him hand.
some.
Her train of thought was interrupted
by her fathers voice.
"Why, bless my soul. my boy" he was
saying, you know more about railway
building than l do! Where did you pick
It up3"
"Helped lay out a road in western
replied Jim. "That's one of the
things we learned at Adams. I believe l /,
have the right to put civil engineer after
ny name"
So he did know little something,
bought the girl, but 1t seemed like such
knowledge. Truly he was
different from the eastern boys.
Then her father and Jim came into the /
.ar. and the conversation became gen.
'ral.
Ethel noticed that Jim held his own
,retty well when he did talk. but for the
most part he was but listener. There
vas oAe thing she was grateful to him
for. She knew he admired her. His
frank, open glance told her that. But ha
had the good sense not to annoy her by
my special attentions.
Pretty soon the little party scattered,
Jim and the young men going out OH the
rear platform to smoke, leaving father
md daughter and chaperon in the car.
"What do You think of Jim?" said the
capitalist.
"Rather strong Of Kansas, Isn't her"
aughed Ethel.
"Oh, l don't know" said her father
He doesn't make any parade Of his tai.
,nts. He's just like his old dad. There
wasn't keener boy in town. We were
huns, you know, and both of us started
n without dollar. ! fancy we've both
lone pretty WELL"
as Mr.. Protheroe's father a man OF
inquired Ethel.
Il should say he was. The last heard
bout him he owned the opera house. the
lotel, the bank, the finest residence in
own and held first mortgage on the !
biggest meeting house. Jim's financial
uture Is all right. He's an only child,
OIL know" ....,.
"No. l didn't know" said Ethel.
The big hamper turned out to be most
ountifully loaded. and everybody
rousht along a picnic appetite. Then
hey rolled into Bevington. and, leaying
he ladies' In charge 81 the two eastern
ven, James Norcrors ! t0Ok the Kansas
"A and staFted t. kvep his enGaseuIsnt
no the losal toNnst1ausA II Yas gut 4 \,