Williston graphic., 1904-09-01
! !,.'T' THE FAMILY
DIPL>OMAT%
\. BY, JULIA TRUlTT BISHOP
Copyright, lsoA, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,


. IF there was anything in the world
Il Of which Mr.. Donald Farley, New
Galena, La, hardware merchant and
millionaire, knew with a definite
knowledge, it was that he could man
age. his son with greater deftness and
skill than any other person in the
world could have brought to that task.
He often took occasion to inform his
wife of that fact; who, being only the
boys stepmother, could not be ex
,pectel to know much about managing
him. In exactly the same tone Mr.
Farley sometimes told her. when she
.ventured to make suggestion about
business, that she would do better to
,confine her attention to embroidery
He had never told his son, young Tom
Farley, the same thing, but II he had
ever felt tempted to do so It was on
this particular morning, when young
Tom having asked for a few minutes
conversation in the study, had then
and there upset all his fathers plans
and calculations for rs years.
: .But why? But why?" demanded
the old man, raging up and down the
limited space. "If you even had a rea
son for it-but there you sit. like a
mummy, sir, and say over and over
that you don't care to go into the bust
ness, and that you are going out west!
What do you think have been educat-
ing you for, sir?-to 90 out there and
dig in the mines, to chase cattle and ride
bronking sbuckos?" The old man had
said this in his wrath, and was not
really responsible; therefore it was
very wrong for Tom to grin; but his
face was gloomy the next moment.
I'm awfully sorry l have disap.
pointed you," he said, apologetically.
"But L don't see anything else for it.
I must go-I am going to get out Of
the country at some rate. You can
easily get some one else into the busi
ness that will do better work than I
was likely to do."
Don't be an idiot" said the old
man, f1ercely. "This year that you
have been in the place shows what
YOU gould do if you tried. I could
have left the whole thing in your
hands after while-1 wanted to make
you partner next year-and now you
play the fool and gallop of, without
even the ghost Of reason! Great
Scott don't know what man raises
his children for, anyhow! Well, when
do you propose to start? Don't delay
on my account! wouldn't detain you
for the world!"
s'3I hadn't thought of going so soon,
but now I think I'll get off to.day-on
the II o'clock train," said the young
man, moodily. II might as we'll get
it over with. I'm sorry, father--hon.
estly. am. I've got my traps packed
-I'll send up after them. Good-by,
father-you not going down to the
Office this morning?-Ill write as soon
as I get settled anywhere. I wish I'd
turned out di1ferently-for your sake"
He left his father sitting in the
study with his head on his hand and
passed through the curtained doorway
into the dining-room. A quiet, brown.
eyed, self-contained woman, but few
years older than himself, was working
turned the. brown eyes upon him with
earnest contemplation.
II have heard it all. Tom," she said,
with little sigh, holding out slim
hand that had a firm clasp which made
people remember her. Il won't ask
you what the reason is. for If you
won't tell your father I am sure you
wouldn't tell me. Whatever it is, I'm
sure it's right-and want you to sue
ceed. But we shall miss you very
much-and If you should think it over
afterward-and should think that you
might come back-that you had any
possible excuse for coming back, I do
hope you will come. Will you promise
me that. Tom?"
"Oh, there's not likely to be any ex-
cuse," he said, hastily and grimly.
She shook hands with him again and
stood motionless while he went out of
the room and down the long hall and
out Of the house. Then, all at once,
she flew rather than hastened, to the
telephone, which hung by the door.
SIS that exchange?" the voice Of the
insect seemed to be saying. ''Yes?-
Give me 2631. please.-Oh, Mrs. Down
ing, is that you?-Is Gertie there?-
Yes-tell her to hurry please-tell her
I'm in a great hurry. Oh, Gertie-how
do you feel this morning?-No-there's
no news-Oh, no-I just wanted to ask
you for that sleeve pattern-send Will
lie over with it tomorrow, won't you?
That's 80 sweet of you!-Say, Gertie
Il almost forgot to tell you about
Tom-oh, he's going away, somewhere
out west-a thousand miles from
everywhere. - Yes rather sudden
leaves on the IL o'clock-and it's near
ly half past ten, now Oh, his fathers
awfully disappointed, but think it
will be great thingf for Tom-so many
opportunities for young man out
there, you know.-Oh, of course, there
are dangers in a life like that. Yes
such rough class of people-and they
all carry pistols, I've heard@and hu-
man life isn't worth anything out