Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-09-11
TOM THE TEMPTER.


Il know, dad, but Tom got pony ict
Christmas, too, and he can ride anywhere
he cAooses.'
you forget that Tom is y, while you
are not yet ten. am wiling that you
snould ride when William can 60 with you.
bat you must not 90 alone"
So young Dick Wilmer tried TO he con
tented, ail4ougl there was a sore spot down
deep ~ lis .e-ti. a.. OF bis cAlns rode,
and not one OF &. Gnu lad to have norrid
man trotii along teAind. 1t wasn't right
that he should he uea.ed Ike a baby, when
he was fully % tail as Tom ard tie other
iellowA No one could guess tras ne was
neaty three years younger. lie went sor'
row.uily out 10 Hronch0 stall, ana put his
own curly read -gaintt toe soft dark name
OF tie yong Thoroughbred.
For se,eial weeks after his fathers man
date had gone forth Dick turned deaf ear
10 all OF Toms entteaties, and endeavoied
10 forge, the neat little tootmah while dash
Ing tnrough the long, winding country
roads. Bu; a day came when al Of Dicks
good resolutions we've thrown to tie winds.
It was Saturday. NJ. Brown, bis tutor,
had Just left tte house. and the .essun books
we're put away until Monday SO, with
flee heart, Dick bounced downstairs,
buclled on ais higi riding bouts, shpped
into his heavy coat and set Ne er.ct car
well is aL on ne curly aead. Mr. Wilmer
had gone TO Washington on hutitss, and
Mrs. Wilmer WAS out calling bi-E knew
By experience that 1t would protah.y he
dark te.lfe she would return, and It was
too Lonesome in tie house. Even Mr..
Brown. i,uo had been expected U stay, was
telegrspaed for, as bis wife was taken sud
denly III.
So when left alone Dick ran down to VIII
iam's room, over the stable His hand
was on the knob, and he opened his mouth
to call the groom. Just then Toms mock.
ing voice cried:
Go on, baby; call your nursel"
Dick wheeled around, his deep blue eyes
all ablaLe with indignation.
II am not a baby, and you know il, Tom
Sinner"
Then why do you always have him."
pointing a disdainful finger toward the
closed door, tagging after you' When
you are man you'll have a keeper, | sup
pose
81 won't have you talking that way to me.
I'm not baby, ard you know don't want
Willam-und only tave him because dad
SAID must :" cried Dick, sturdily.
Don't you ever expect to have mind OF
your own dare you to 90 to-day without
him" taun,ed Tom.
Dad sad | mustn't"
william isn't there; he went out just
Is ! clms in so he can't go, and you know
Henry 10 driving your mothers huis;s
WHAT sball do, then" Dick stood for
moment debating 1t was glorious day,
cold and clear, except for heavy bank of
clouds slowly rising in the north 1t was
too lovely to stay stuffed up in the house
all the afternoon.
at won't hurt you. I'll take care Of you,
and wen only 60 on the nearby roads.
Come on, Dick, tempted the visitor
Il ought not to, said Dick, slowly. 1t
was so hard to refuse, for he wanted 80
much to go.
DO as you like" said Tom. 81 am 60
ing" And he carelessly threw himself on
the waiting pony.
Just at that moment a low, sorrowful
whinny came from Broncho's stall. That
decided Dick; he would not be gone long,
and he would be very clreful-oh, very
careful.
At first his conscience prcked him lit
tie, but once out IN the soft, warm sun
shine, and galloping swiftly down the long
roads, he forgot his scruples aud never be-
fore had he enjoyed ride 90 much 1t was
strange that neither OF them noticed when
the sun sank behind the clouds until they
were completely covered with a soft white
veil u snow.
Come, Tom. let's hurry home" called
II. F.... -. g h.a
hour.
ITS jolly now-I am not going until the
ground gets covered" laughed Tom.
81 tell you it's going 10 be a bad storm.
am going home now, Tom, aud you can
come when you please Dick wheeled his
horse around as he spoke. and galloped in
bhe opposite direction
HI, I say, D.ck, come back" called the
older boy, but he was already out of hear
ing Tom shrugged his shoulders and rode
merrily on.
It was dark when Mr. Wilmer reached
home and found his wife IN tears and nearly
wild from anxiety. II was bitterly cold,
and ahoady the snowfall was quite deep.
Between her sobs Mrs. Wilmer told him
that Broncho had Just come nome with the
saddle turned
NJ. Wilmer did not hesitate an instant.
There was only one boy with whom Dies
could have gone, and very soon the anxious
father was catechisiug Tom Stimer.
Dick hasn't got home yetH Tom asked,
terrified look coming over his face
"No. Did you make him goI'
Tom looked down. There was no use in
denying it. suppose Dick was lying hurt
or frozen IN the woods.
YES, sir, | asked him to 60, but didn't
think 1t would hurt, said rom, slowly.
Come with me, sir, aud show me whore
he left you" commanded Mr.. Wilmer,
steruly
1t was not an easy task, for the binding
snow made them almost lose their way IN
the most familiar roads, Hours were spent
in the search. and Mr. Wilmer, Mr. Stimer,
their servants and the ueighbors looked un-
I'll they were discouraged
suddenly a joyful yclp from Dicks dog,
great uastlii, brought the half lf-irozen
baud together, and the dim lantern Light
shed faint red glow upon a small figure,
lying lali burled In a driit while beside
him. with head dropped, stood the mas, III
Ttut,ry the father lifted his unconscious
boy and carried MIN home, No one suffered
as nue. as Tom during the doctors con.
sultatou, huddlod up In little heap out
side Dicks door. Hours wore by, aud still
no sound from the room, At length the
door .oI,ly opened, and the kind old family
physician came cut.
"MAy Tom, What are you doing hers"'
81. he-ls he dead" sobbed Tom,
"No, my boy, he ,svery much alive, and
in a few weeks he will he as well as you are.
Was Do You who took him,"
"Nc, DOCTOR said Tom, manfully; Il
desp,se myself for 1t; he didn't want TO
GO. and tauuted bun into It, | am much
older than be is, SOC. Don't you think he
will always hate mcF'
"l think, un the contrary that YOU and
Dick will De bcttor friends than ever You
have learned that the way OF the trans
grrs,or is uo; an euv'ahle one" remarked
the old doctor, ,sEeN
And t.c doctor, prediction came true.
for in th,,r boyAood, university and man.
hood days p,sk Wlmcr aud Tom we're in.
ssparab,e y y. Tribune
CONSUMPTION
Is often no more nor less than q
neglected case of Catarrh which il
/ time creates hacking cough anC