The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-01-22

more than very ready ana 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 a 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 az white as
mine
He was morbidly sensitive about the
change In his looks, though he had
come by it so honorably, and l have
seen tears in his eyes when strangers
have spoken OF Dorothy as his daugh-
ter. / think that he had always held
too high an idea Of youth. 1t is a 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
grip Of time. This is the natural sor-
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, aud
sotlhe bNFpparI R"lked dawn to the of.
upOl thc OluSE oluS VI thS SliSCt iAoih
the factory. was witness Of a most
affectionate greeting. Donaldson was
very proud Of his son, as he had every
reason to be, and the boy loved him
heartily. Afterward Donald paid his
respects to the office staff, especially to
| old Jim Bum, our cashier, and his
crippled assistant, Tim Healy, some.
times called Tiny Tim, youth who sat
on very high stool and kept the hand.
soonest set Of books in the state Of New
Jersey.
| lost sight Of Donald for a 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 it2 You're not
worried or anxious"
"Anxious" said l. Certainly not.
What should be anxious about~
81 don't know" said he. with hesita.
ton. perhaps l 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.
81 wish knew what to do" he said
ut last. 81 feel very uneasy"
"In regard to whatf" / inquired.
"That's just the point" he replied
"What is it all about? I don't know"
He had a despondent and tormented
air, and the sight of it carried me back
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.
was aware Of n strange sensation
that this was something for which I
had been waiting-a long expected oc-
currence. There came to me also an
, indescribable depression Of spirit and a
sense Of chill.
"Do you mean I began. But he
] begged me hastily not to ask him any
. thing.
"Ths is a queer business, Uncle
john" said he. 81 think I'm on the
point of getting myself into all kinds
of tangle, and l don't want to do II
, the very first day I'm home. Please
, let me think 1t over"
"Speak when you are ready, Donald" "
said 1. "It was always habit of
). yours"
q We were interrupted by the advent
n of Dorothy, who had come down from
h the house in pony phaeton. She wore
o a sober gray gown, but 1t had the dain.
:. ty grace of all her raiment. Dorothy
z never takes any pains to dress either
!. young or old. Her clothes are for Dor
a othy. They would not suit anybody