The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-08-08

Ihen5 he started up with a cry as one
who has been rudely awakened from a.
dream.
Come here, boy he said in tone
that shook with emotion II want to
look at you. Who taught you that
song? Who gave you that voice? What
strange mixture are you?''
Craig" said Lisle in surprise, not
needing the questions, "what is the
matter? Are those tears in your eyes
tears because [ sang to your
Yes, they're tears. Do you think
that am ashamed of them? Men shed
tears only when they are necessary to
keep the heart from bursting. Mine
burst long ago, but somehow 1 got it
together again, and maybe the cement
! used wears a little with time. Any
how, that song of yours opened a seam
or two in the old wound. That song
brings back memories, and memories
are p'izin things to have around if they
amt just the sort that a Teller wants.
Who taught you that song?'
Nobody. l learned it myself. II
came with some music that father Or
dered years ago. He does not like it.
never sing it to him. / have not sung
it before in long time I do not know
why thought of it tonight ~
Il do. 1t was just my heart speaking
to yours, Lisle. Will you be offended,
boy, if l tell you that you have got
voice like woman's-just like the
voice Of woman whom l used to
know, the sweetest and best woman
who ever lived? She was my sister,
Lisle, and she used to sing that song
to me. I liked it because her name
was Alice, like the song. It's a good
many years since saw her, Lisle, and
l don't know whether she is alive or
dead. Don't you see, kid, why nv cal
lous old heart filed up with tears SO
that it would have burst if I hadn't
shed a few?''
II am sorry, Craig. very sorry, that
selected that song"
Don't you be sorry; be glad. 1t
saved me from one of my fits, for one
of 'em has been coming on ever since
I have been here"
"Shall sing something else for you?"
"No; don't sing; don't play. 1 don't
want to get the taste Of that one out
of my mouth. Sit here and talk with
me. We won't have another evening
together for long time-maybe new
er."
why do you say that?'
I'm going to light out in the morn
ing before that fit comes on. You
think Lam older than your father, don't
you?"
II should say that you are, by sew
eral years."
"Well, reckon am in some ways.
1t comes of having fits, suppose, but
Dick Maxwell is five years older than
I am. He's 4S or thereabout, according
to his say. l look about IS, but I'm
only 43. Do you know what am get
ting at?'
"No."
"This: I'm prea ching, lad. Every one
Of those years that rest Oh my head
without having come into my life was
put there by a piece of scoundrelism
that l committed when was just the
age that you are now, and hadn't any
more excuse for getting into it than
you have now either. l don't say that
you'll ever get into place where you
may be likely to do anything that amt
right, but if you do there will be time
to think-there always is, for thinking
ICr fyy 111i 1J~
time ever does come you remember
what I have said just now and stop
long enough to hum that song over to
yourself before you cut loose from the
outfit and 60 it alone. Life amt going
to be all roses for you, Lisle Maxwell,
and don't you forget it! Your father
hasn't brought you up right to my way
OF thinking. You needn't get huffy. l
amt criticising him. I'm Analysing
you. You don't know any more about
the world outside of this ranch than a
hog knows about skating, and that
amt much to speak of. I've been
you while I've been here,
and there are a whole lot of things that
you have got to learn between now and
the time when you will have to 90 it
alone, and nobody ever knows when
that time is coming. It's just like
blamed Injun and draws a bead on
your yitals from behind a bush or
rock when you amt looking, and it's a
dead shot every time. You can't throw
a loop over circumstance and drag it
along willing captive. like we did that
steer. It's got way of slipping out
and roping you instead, and you've got
to post yourself about things so that
you will be ready to keep one hand out
in just about the same way that you
poked yours through the loop Of Jim
Cummings RATA over in the Smoky. 1
don't wonder that some of the boys
have said that you look like woman.
You do, and you do not. You do be-
cause you have got tender heart, like
a woman's, and it sticks out through
your masculine garb just as plain as
daylight when you amt thinking. Dick
Maxwell has trained you right enough
as far as he has gone, for all I know,
but he's a good ways from going far