The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-30
CHAPTER xxxv.-contlnued.
BY HARRY LEON WILSON.
Copyright 1907 by Lathrop Pubushins o.. Boston.


CHAPTER xxxv.-contlnued
The News Broken, Whereupon an Engage
ment Is Broken.
Wei, no need to scare body out Of
their wits-scaring his mother to death
won't bring his money back, will 1t? II
it's gone it's gone"
But ma, it is awful cried Psyche.
Listen to what Uncle Peter says. We're
poor! Don't you understand? Perez has
lost all our money"
Mrs. Bines was eating her soup def
antly.
Longs hes got his health" she began.
And me windin' up in the poorhouse, "
swfined Uncle Peter.
think Of it, ma! Oh, what shall we
do?''
PercivaI entered. Uncle Peter did not
raise his head. Psyche stared at him.
His mother ran to him. satisfied herself
that he was sound in wind and limb, that
he had not treacherously donned his sum-
mer underwear, and that his feet were not
wet. Then she led him to the table.
Nov you sit right down here and take
some food. If you're all right, everything
Is all right"
With weak attempt at his old gayety
he began:
Really Mrs. Crackenthorpe-'' but he
caught Psyche's look and had to stop.
I'm sorry, Sis, clear into my bones. I
made an ass of myself-a regular fool
right from the factory
Never mind, my son; eat your SOUP"
said his mother. And then, with honest
intent to comfort him, Remember that
saying Of your pas, 1t takes all kinds of
fools to make a world
"But there amt any fool like a damn
1ool! said Uncle Peter, shortly, l-been
tellin' him.
i,1s 81 Lot i'm a
spoil his appetite, first thing you know.
My son, eat your soup, now before it gets
Cold
IF I only hadn't gone in SO heavy
lgroaned Percival. 'Or If I'd only got tied
UP In some way for a few Weeks-some-
thing could tide over"
Yes" said Uncle Peter with a cheerful
effort at sarcasm, "it's always easy to
think up lot of holes you could get out
lof-some different kind of hole besides
the one you're in. That's all some folks
can do when they get in one hole they
say. oh. if was only in that other one
nov. how slick I could climb out!'
ain't ever met a person yet was satisfied
with the hole they was in: Always some
lcomplatn int to make about en-
t' And I had a chance to get out a week
ago"
Yes. and you wouldn't take it, of course
you knew too much-swellin' around
and a Shepler and Wizard of Wall Street
land all that kind Of guff-and you
wouldn't take your chance. and old Mr..
lChance went right off and left. you. that's
what. I tell you, what some need is a
breed OF chances that'll stand without
Percival braced himself and began on
his soup.
Never you mind. Uncle Peter. You re-
member what told YOU
THAT takes different man from what
you are. If your pa was alive now
but what are we going to do?" cried
Psyche.
First thing you'll do,' said Uncle
Peter, promptly. you go write letter
to that beau of your n. tellin' him it's all
off. You don't want to let him be the one
to break it because you lost your money,
do you? You go sign his release right
"Yes-you're right, Uncle Peter-I sup
pose it must be done-but the poor fell
low really cares for me-"
''Oh of course" answered the old man,
It'll fairly break his heart. You do it
Just the same!"
She withdrew and presently came back
with a note which she dispatched to Maui
burn.
Percival and his mother had continued
their dinner, the former shaking his head
between the intervals Of the old mans
lashings. and appearing to hold silent con-
verse with himself.
This was an encouraging sign. It is a
tcurious fact that people never talk tc
themselves except triumphantly. In mo.
ments Of real despair we are inwardly
dumb. But observe the holders Of mag.
mary conversations They are conquer.
ors to the last one. They administer
singing rebulSes that leave the adversary
writing. They rise to Alpine heights
lnf 73o6o 1oo !, ~,
ITO founder ignobly in the mire Of his owr
faulty. They achieve repartee the bril-
lance Of which dazzles him to con-
temptible silence. If statistics were a.
hand we should doubtless learn that ne
man has ever talked to himself save BY
tway of demonstrating his own godlikt
superiority, and the tawdry impotence o
all obstacles and opponents. Perciva
talked to himself and mentally lived tn,
next five years In a style that reduced
Uncle Peter to grudging but imperativ,
awe for his superb gifts of administration
He bathed In this imaginary future ash
the waters of omnipotence. AS time wen
on he foresaw the shafts of Uncle Pete
being turned back upon him with sucl
deadHness that, by the time the roas
came. his breast was swelling with pit.
for that senile scoffer-
Uncle Peter had first declared that TIL
thought of food sickened him. Prevaile,
upon at last by Mrs. Bines to taste TIL
soup. he was soon eating as those presen
had Of lately rarely seen him eat.
"Tain't a natural appetite, tho.'' h
warned them. Its a kind Of a mani;
before I go all to pieces. I s'pose.''
Nonsense! Well have you all RICH
in a week said Percival. Just remem
Vi her that I'm going to take care Of YOU
my son can do anything he makes III
his mind to- declared Mrs. Bines-"jus
anything he lays out to do
They talked until late into the nigh
of what he should clay out to do.
Meantime the stronghold of Mauburn'
optimism was being desperately storme6
rs In an evening paper he had read of Per
II lcivaTs losses. The afternoon press {