Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-08-26

If a bolt ,tia from the n neaS, ahc
midst of the little group seated about
the breakfast table 1t would hardly
have created more CONSERVATION.
Julia Saylow, stout and impressive,
put down her coffee cup with q de-
liberation and eyed her husband In
open-mouthed wonder.
Violet and Mignonette pushed back
their chairs as If second outburst
would precipitate immediate flight,
and looked anxiously at>their mother.
Only Willoughby, the nine-year-old
scion of the house. retained his COM
posure to any extent. He was accus-
toner to violent surprises in his daily
walk and recovered himself quickly.
"Why not?" he asked, boldly.
because you can't-that's why" re.
turned his father sharply. "You all
hear me. don't you?" -
1t was quite evident that he had been
heard, although no reply was forth
ceming. The girls feebly played with
their food; Julia's face underwent
various changes of color, which finally
settled into an aggressive red; and the
boy broke into a long whistle Of be-
wilderment.
"Will, you may leave the table, y
said Mr. ~Saylow. sternly.
Willoughby gazed thoughtfully at
him for moment, then seized slice
OF toast and vanished. He had seen
thattir his fathers eye which remind
ed him of AN almost forgotten hour OF
sadness, closely associated with the
tingling recollection Of strap. So he
went.
"He meant it," he ruminated as %
slipped away; eyes, I'm sure he meant
it! What's got into himT'
SayIew was not an imposing figure
as he folded his napkin and rose to
depart. A thin, understood man, with
much gray in the light brown hair and
struggling beard. He stopped slightly
from close attention to his desk, and
there seemed az az of physical weak
ness about him, in strong contrast to
bis portly wife and bouncing daugh'
tiers.
But his usually kind gray eyes
wrinkled at. the corners with his per-
petual smile of conciliation, were now
quite fierce, as he stopped with his
hand on the door knob and looked sew
ereIy at Julia. "You heard me" he
said with emphasis.
When the sound Of his quick little
nervous steps was heurd fading away
in the passage the feminine tongues
were unloosened.
The repression Of Julia now burs1
forth. "My dear children" she be
gan, rapidly, but impressi"ely, Il trus
you observed that I controlled myself
Il thought it better to say nothing II
: reply, nor to open an argument. There
will be no argument-we shall 60 as
I have planned. vi. you may invite
Edgar; Min. you may order the wag
onette from the stable. We shall go
Tell .Willoughby. We start Ut eleven
"Of course we Will 60" cried vi. 81
knew we would all the time. Let's
get the luncheon ready"
Trips to the lakes, FIVE miles from
the town, had become weekly occur
rences. Alfred had sat down to lone
ly midday meal so frequently that III
could scarcely remember the number
And these meals had been occasions
of trying thought.
"It cannot go on" he had said to him
self again and again. ~ do not se'
what Julia is thinking Of. 1t is too ex
penslye. The bill from the stable ii
something enormous-and they ge
boatszapd men to. Tow them and hir'
fishing tackle. I can't bear to sa!
auything-they enjoy themselves,
suppose~out Julia should know bet
ter. She is so thrifty in some way
and so improvident In others. 1 do no
understand IT. I am so out Of th'
habit of finding fault at home that
don't know what to say. I shall log
my self-control some day; 1 know
SHALL" r -.
And he had. No one bit he knew th
volcano smouldering under the erup
ticn-it was but. the hiss Of the put
of steam from the safety yalve Of tn
boiler of q surcharged mind, anx!ou
and worried and shrinking-hating t
give offence and having to.
Saylow attended to his business tina
morning with a certain feeling Of eS
alted emancipation. He had asserte,
himself. He had not intended to b
so cross, but his voice had sounde
different from what he meant it should
Still, they had said nothing, arM
would be all right by dinner time, an
he would exert himself to be yer
pleasant. .ss,ss5
"Goingw queried Willoughby, 1
great astonishment, when he was not
fed. "Why. father said we couldn't
INA says we are, and she is th
one" answered vi. "He didn't mea
anything. Hurry up, Will, and 60 owe
to Edgar's."
1.-THE boy shook his head dubiousl,
"I don't know about this" he said, ca,
ticusly. "He did mean it. They sa
pas awful in the Office when he gel
cross"
"Oh, come on" laughed his siste
she is a dear, harmless old thing, an
will be all right by tonight. Ru
along: We are going to fish to-da.
you know. The wind is just right"
"Tell Mr.. saylow that we will |
back about six O'clock" called JUL
to her maid, as they drove away
style behind q pair of grays. "Giy
him a good lunch. Margaret"
'It is q lovely day. I almost wis
they had gone." sighed Alfred, as
walked into the house at noon. II ha
to do 1t, though. will try to make
up to them in some other way-wh
where is, everybody? Hullo, Juli