The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-11-18

been to the telegraph and the police
office, and Mr.. Macewen's. Oh, l had
my hands full" said Alexander.
Very Irregular" said the father.
"You think of no one but yourself"
IL do not see that | have much to
gain in bringing back my elder broth
err" returned Alexander shrewdly.
The answer pleased the old man; he
smiled. well, well, l will go into this
after breakfast" said he.
I'm sorry about the table," said the
son.
"The table is a small matter; think
nothing of that" said the father.
ITS another example, continued the
son, "of the awkwardness Of a man
having no money Of his own. If l
had proper allowance, like other fell
lows of my age, this would have been
quite unnecessary"
"a proper allowancew repeated his
father, in tones of blighting sarcasm,
for the expression was not new to him.
Il have never grudged you money for
any proper purpose"
mo doubt, no doubt" said Al7xan-
der, but then you see you ar'n't always
on the spot to have the thing explained
to you. Last night, for instance"
you could have Weakened me last
night" interrupted his father.
WAS it not some similar affair that
first got John into a mess?" asked the
son, skilfully evading the point.
But the father was not less adroit.
"And pray, sir, how did you come and
go out of the house?" he asked.
81 forgot to lock the door, it seems"
replied Alexander.
II have had cause to complain of that
too often" said Mr.. Nicholson. 'But
still do not understand. Did you keep
the servants up?"
Il propose to go into all that at
length after breakfast" returned AL
exander. There is the half hour 60
ing; we must not keep Miss Mackenzie
waiting"
And greatly daring, he opened the
door.
Even Alexander, who 1t must have
been perceived, was on terms Of COM
parative freedom with his parent; even
Alexander had never before dared to
cut short an interview In this high
handed fashion. But the truth is the
very mass of his sons delinquencies
daunted the old gentleman. He was
like the man with the cart of apples
this was beyond him! That Alex
ander should have spoiled his table,
taken his money, stayed out all night,
and then coolly acknowledged all, was
something undreamed of in the Mich
| olsonian philosophy, and transcribed
comment. The return of the change,
which the old gentleman still carried
in his hand, had been feature of i'm
| posing impudence; 1t had dealt him q
staggering blow. Then there was the
| reference to Johns original flight-a
subject which he always kept resolutely
curtained in his own mind; for he was
a man who loved to have made no mis-
takes, and when he feared he nigh
have made one kept the papers sealed
In view Of all these surprises and re
minders, and of his sons composed
and masterful demeanor, there begal
to creep on Mr.. Nicholson a sickly mis-
giving. He seemed beyond his depth
II he did or said anything, he nigh
come to regret it. The young man, be
sides, as he had pointed out himself
was playing a generous part. And 1
wrong had been done-and done t
one who was, after, and in spite of al
Nicholson-it should certainly b
righted.
All things considered, monstrous a
1t was to be cut short in his inquire!
the old gentleman submitted, pockete
the change, and followed his son int
the dining-room. During these FEY
steps he once more mentally revoltet
and once more, and this time FINAL,
laid down his arms; n STILL small vote
in his bosom having informed him au
chemically of a piece of news; tina
he was afraid of Alexander. TIL
strange thing was that he was please
to be afraid of him. He was proud {
his son; he might be proud of hin
the boy had character and grit, an
. hiic" W nat was
, These were his reflections as b
turned the corner Of the dlning-rool
/, door. Miss Mackenzie was in the plaC
Of honor, conjuring with a teapot an
, a cozy; and, behold! there was anotht
a person present, large, portly, whil
kered man OF very comfortable an
), respectable air, who now rose fro
his seat and came forward, holdin
out his hand.
A Good morning, father" said he.
n or the contention OF feeling that "a
. nigh In Mr.. Nlcholson's starched bosor
q no outward sign was visible; nor d
q ne delay long to make a choice OF col
= duct. Yet in that interval he had r
!, viewed a great field OF possibilitie
! both past and future; whether 1t wi
a possible he had not been perfectly vii
o In his treatment Of John; whether
II was possible that John was innocen
q whether, II he turned John out Sc
II ond time, as his outraged authori
l suggested, it was possible to avoid