Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-04-24

came directly face to face with his
| father and Irene Dawson. The old
man looked him full i'm the face and
without sign of recognition. Irene
with an expression of disgust drew in
her skirts that they might not touch
him. A smile came into his flushed
| face.
81 could show them a thing or two
yet-and the others, too, if il were
worth the while. Is it worth the
while? This sort of thing surely is
not"
Some months later Godfrey Whit
ford, president of Consolidated Trac-
ton system, sat in his private Office
bending over his papers when the
door opened and a man entered.
The man came close to his desk be-
! fore the old man looked up. He faced
his son plainly dressed, perfectly
sober and with clear eyes and steady
hands.
"Well, sir?" he said, frowning.
"Pardon my intrusion, sir" said
the son, II have not come to ask for
anything nor to make apologies. I
simply want TO say to you, that | am
through. l have had all the fun I
want and am now going to work. I
have decided that / will work out my
career here where had my fling and
I have a curious desire TO begin it in
the very business in which / could
have started near the head. /
come only to tell you of my
plans so you may not think !
am doing anything except in the
open. / can doubtless get job down
at the barns washing cars or oiling
tracks or something. l will apply to
the foreman-unless you object. I
will do so under my own name, but
without any reliance on your favor.
Good day, sir"
"Good day." and the old man turned
to his papers. After the door closed
he looked out of the window long
and thoughtfully Then he sighed
and returned to his work.
About this time Irene Dawson re-
ceived letter from Earl Whitford in
which he said that he appreciated
fully how das tardly he had acted and
that he realized what he had lost;
that the only reparation he could
make was to live a decent life and try
to make something of himself; that
he asked nothing from her-indeed
he realized he could not, but for his
own sake he proposed to show her
that she need not draw her skirts
away when she passed him.
Earl Whitford pursued his lowly
work in the barns with the same
ardor of spirit which he had thrown
into his dissipation. His identity was
not known, but his quiet industry and
application told and he was advanced
rapidly, within few months being
placed on a car as conductor. There
the great test came As luck would
have il he was given the run pene-
trating the most aristocratic section
Of the city and was compelled to col
lect fares from those with whom he
had associated in the days Of his
prosperity. But he stuck it out and
made no sign.
Then came the great strike. One
terrible day when everything was at
the worst there was a fearful clash
at Fifth and Plutarch streets and tie
issue depended on the motorman, who
deserted. The conductor rushed
through the car, grabbed the lever
and amid volleys Of bricks. cobble-
stones and bullets won the day
then was carried senseless to the
hospital. Godfrey Whitford when
asked what should be done about il
Git being known by his subordnates
at that time who the hero was) said:
"Follow the usual course" but it
was observed that the old man was
in high feather that night.
But he never relented and Earl won
his way from one place to another
until he became assistant superinten-
dent. Then one fine day the old man
died and 10. and behold, there was
no viii and Earl inherited the entire
estate. There was only one sealed
note from the father to the son. 1t
read:
my boy: you did it your way and
I am proud Of you"
Earl Whitford is now the president
and general manager of the Console
dated Traction system and in his
heart of hearts he knows that he was
the arbiter Of his own fortune.
P. S.-The author forgot to relate
= lady whose face was concealed by
heavy veil visited him daily an as
soon as he was convalescent knelt by
his bedside and buried her face in his
bosom. And that she forgot and for
gave an the past and that they were
quietly married one spring morning
before he returned to work.