The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-07-17

the posture of Atlas long enough
to permit several Of his companions to
crawl out to safety who would other
wise have been shut in. A maze of
tradition has grown up around this in
cident, but it really involved nothing
more than very ready and brave use
of great physical strength Though he
escaped broken bones or any specific
hurt to which the best of doctors could
give location or name, he was never
the same man afterward He began
to stoop in the shoulders and to move
more slowly, and upon his forty-sec-
ond birthday his hair was as white as
mine.
He was morbidly sensitive about the
change in his looks, though he had
come by it so honorably, and | have
seen tears in his eyes when strangers
have spoken of Dorothy as his daugh-
ter. l think that he had always held
too high an idea of youth. 1t is COM
mon fault and was exaggerated in him
by his love of Dorothy, who would not
grow old She seemed to stand still
while he was dragged onward in the
/
row of women, but one which men are
rarely called upon to bear.
! When Donald came home that June
day, his father was busy about some
matter of immediate Importance, and
so the boy and walked down to the Of
fee, as we call it, a separate building
upon the other side of the street from
the factory. l was witness of most
affectionate greeting. Donaldson was
very proud of his son, as he ha0 every
reason to be, and the boy loved him
heartily. Afterward Donald paid his
respects to the Office staff, especially to
cid Jim Bum, our cashier, and his
crippled assistant Tim Healy, some
times called Tiny : i'm, youth who sat
on a very high stool and kept the hand
soonest set of books in the state of New
| Jersey.
lost sight of Donald for little
while and subsequently discovered him
in my private office. He was sitting in
my chair, with his head thrown back
and his clasped hands pressed hard
across his eyes. asked him what was
the matter, and he started up and be
gan to walk around the room in a pc
culiar, aimless fashion.
"Uncle john" said he at last, "every
thing is all right, isn't it? You're not
worried or anxiousY'
"Anxious?" said l. Certainly not
What should | be anxious about?"
81 don't know" said he, with hesita
ton. perhaps / oughtn't to have ask
ed you the question"
"Ask me whatever you please, my
boy" said 1.
He resumed his restless wandering
about the room.
II wish l knew what to do" he said
at last. Il feel very uneasy"
"In regard to what?" l inquired.
That's just the point" he replied
"What is it all about? l don't know"
He had a Respondent and tormented
air, and the sight of it carried me back
a good many years to the day when
had first seen his father. 1t was i'm
possible to shake my mind free of this
memory. The scene of long ago in
Bertram's eating house required with
startling vividness.
l was aware of a strange sensation
that this was something for which /
had been waiting-a long expected oc-
currence There came to me also an
indescribable depression of spirit and
sense of chill.
"Do you mean l began But he
begged me hastily not to ask him any
thing. '-.-,,.4~-.,-ep---..--~.,
"This is a queer business, Uncle
JOHN said he. II think I'm on the
point of getting myself into all kinds
of tangle, and l don't want to do it
the very first day I'm home. Please
let me think it over"
Speak when you are ready, Donald"
said l. at was always a habit of
yours
We were interrupted by the advent |
Of Dorothy, who had come down from
the house in pony phaeton She wore
a sober gray gown but it had the dain-
ty grace of all her raiment Dorothy |
never takes any pains to dress either
young or old Her clothes are for Dor
othy. They would not suit anybody
else, and they have nothing to do With
years.
Donald surveyed her with affection
ate admiration.
my incredible mother!'' said he,
drawing her close to him and looking
down into her face
Then saw the tears come suddenly |
into his eyes. He drew quick, deep
breath and stood sharply erect, so that |
he seemed to grow both in breadth and
height, while she looked almost like a
frightened child in the embrace of his
arm.
BE carefulr' she cried, with a gasp
and a laugh. you will break my
bonesr' .A-.,sssirs.,-.s ;f4 sez,ea.,~.s- $50
ibid hurt you, little mother?" said
he. "Well, by the same token, nobody
else ever SHALL" .s.,-.e~.
ITO what do we owe the honor of
this visit?' l asked Dorothy, and she
replied that she had come to take my
nephew, Carleton Archer, across to the
TOWN of So1way, where our other fac
tory was situated Archer was AZ
able, energetic and ambitious young
man who had been brought into my
service about two years before to be
Donaldson's assistant and tighten his
burdens. He lived at my house and
was the leading spirit in all our recre-
atoms. He was blessed with unfailing