Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-03
THE FAMILY DIPLOMAT By JULIA TRUITT BISHOP
tcopyrdght. 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col

IF there was anything in the world
 of which MT. Donald Fairley, 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- pected to know much about managing him. Tn exactly the same tone MT. Fairley 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 Fairley, the same thing, but if he had ever felt tempted to do so 1t 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 25 years.
 But why? But why?" demanded the old man, raging up and down the limited space. eff you even had a req son for it-but there you sit, like 8 mummy, sir, and say over and over that you don't care to go into the busi- ness, and that you are going out west! What do you think 1 have been educat- ing you for, sir?-to go out there and dig in the mines, to chase cattle and ride bronking buckos?" 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 awful1y sorry have disap- pointed you" he said, apologetically. "But 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 was likely to do.''
 Don't be an idiot!" said the old man, fferce1y. This year that you have been in the place shows what you could do if you tried. could have left the whole thing in your hands after while-I wanted to make you partner next yearand now you play the fool and gallop off, without even the ghost of a reason! Great Scott-I don't know what man raises his children for, anyhow! We'll, when do you propose to start? Don't delay on my account! wouldn't detain you for the world!''
 T hadn't thought of going so soon, but now think I'll get off to-day-on # 6n ~ 1ya rofl man, moodily. "I might as we'll get 1t over with. I'm sorry, father hon estly, am. I've got my traps packed -I'1l send up after them. Good-by, father-you're not going down to the office this morning?-IIl write as soon as get settled anywhere. I wish I'd turned out differently-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 a few years older than himself, was working with some flowers at the window, and turned the brown eyes upon him with earnest contemplation.
 "I have heard it all. Tom,'' she said, with little sigh, holding out slim hand that had firm clasp which made people remember her. T won't ask you what the reason Is. for if you won't tell your father am sure you wouldn't tell me. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's rfght-and want you to suc- 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, 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.
 Is that e1change?" 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 great hurry. Oh, Gertie-how do you feel this morning g?-No-there no news-Oh, no-I just wanted to ask you for that sleeve patternx-send Will lie over with it tomorrow, won't you That's so sweet of you!-Say, Gertie .I 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 II o'clock-and it's near 1y half past ten, now. Oh, his fathers awfully disappointed, but I think ii will be great thing for Tom-so many opportunities for young man out there, you know.-Oh, of course, there are dangers in 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 oui there-but, no doubt, Tom'll do we'll Didn't I tell you?-on the Il o'clock --Oh, not at all--I am telephoning tc