Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-10-24
The Boy and
the Man -
THE Boy came at 1880 p. m. ant
BY J. N. JONES

THE Boy came at 1880 p. m. and
stayed.
[ did not want him. I knew that
the moment might como when his
presence would be positively OBJ.
noxious, yet could not get rid OF
him. He was well-meaning Tin so far
as he could be said to have mean
ing), light-haired, long-legged.
He sat on the sofa, and put himself
into 80 distinct attitudes, not one OF
which was graceful. could not ex.
actly tell him to go, and anything
short of that he disregarded.
He wore pink-striped waistcoat
and blue tie.
He did not admire me; his idol was
in short frocks ana fuzzy hair. Other
boys worship the seasoned belle, but
his taste in enslavers was the only
peculiar thing about him. !. never
cared for the very young attached to
me; and the very young despairing
for another is even worse.
He did not eve n talk of Her. I wished
he had. ! could have sympathized to
the best in my power. Presumably I
was too antique in his estimation Il
was 27) to take an interest in such
things. He talked of love to make up
for his silence on the nearer subject.
listened and wearied, and took out
the fancy work kept for the Boy,
and never finished.
He spoke with the superior air of
one instructing the ignorant. was,
am afraid, absent-minded, and he
languished after awhile.
offered him sweets and insulted
him into ruby blush.
After that he stared sadly at me,
MS if he had come for no other pur.
post than to feast his eyes for one
last time on my adored features.
He was very like the immortal
Toots.
At last the conversation got upon
its legs, and, in rickety fashion,
managed to keep moving.
The marriage question mot the i'm
proper marriage question: seemed to
interest him greatly. He did not ask
for my advice, but merely solilo-
quized at some length. He mentioned
the desirability of early marriages.;
the impossibility of asking q girl to
share ten shillings week; the ex-
pense of bringing up a young family;
there was the education of the sons
and the portion for the daughters.
"You would not educate them?" !
inquired, smothering an incipient
laugh.
He thought he would let them
choose between an education and an
income. Besides, they might marry
ITO be sure" I assented. t"And
there might be grandchildren"
A puzzled look came across the
Boys face; he had not thought OF
the grandchildren.
20, that would be all right" he
said, after short silence.
"A man is only responsible for his
own family. Directly responsible, of
course" Here l threaded needle.
"But there is no harm in looking at
things from all Sides"
However, we had plunged too far
into futurity even for the Boy; he
took another bypata from the same
thoroughfare.
II think it very wrong for people
to throw obstacles in the way of
marriage" he remarked, solemnly.
But on the other side," then said
!. lit would never do to encorage the
thing too much; if the couple quar-
reed they would lay the blame of the
position on you.''
This was evidently new idea; he
pondered on it some time.
The Man came in, sat down, and
waited.
people might sometimes interfere
unintentionally," the Boy said, re-
flectively.
'"rhey might" I agreed = hope
not grimly.
The Man looked at the clock and
fidgeted.
rs that the right time?'' he asked,
1.-TWO minutes Slow" said the Boy.
Thanks" said the Man. Il have
to catch the S:35 train.''
My needle would not thread. Then
I said: $50 soon!" and "When do
you return?"
II don't know" he answered. 'sIt
depends
Don't get fever at the Rock said
the Boy, paternally. II have known
such lots of fellows to go off like
you, and they never come back"
II hope this will be an exception
] said. 20, would no one take the
Boy away and bury him?)
THANK YOU" said the Man.
The Boy got up-was he going?
He merely looked at the photo
graph over the mantel piece and sat
down again.
That il . nice-looking girl he re.