The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-12

AMBITION AND REALIZATION

Yes, father, l a mgoing to study law
that has been my souls desire ever since
knew anything of learning; I've always
had miraculous visions of what 1 might
be were nthe right channel
He sat down. He had been reasoning
with his parents for several weeks in re-
gard TO what vocation he should take up
in life. Just a few moments prior to the
entrance of his father into his room he
had been repeating and mumbIing to him
self Samuel Rhodes, attorney at-law.'
And as his imagination portrayed to him
the existence of an eminent lawyer wear
ing golden spectacles and frowning states
manlike and Independent and lounging in
dewny folds of fortune and pleasure. he
would occasionally glance at his little
collection of books, then at his home
small but comfortable then at the tas-
selling fields of corn the blooming rows of
cotton and the green pastures variegated
with rowing cattle and horses. a hundred
thoughts and ideas and pictures crept
through his mind and nothing seemed to
him so grand as to become lawyer.
All yes" he would say TO himself,
''even you. Louise, whom l have revered
since childhood. with whom l have cal
culated on the future, to whom am even
now betrothed-yes, Louise l would
throw you aside if l could only soar to the
height of an attorney-at-law." And with
worried, unconscious twitch of the body
he flung Louises photo to the floor.
My son. listen to me-" His fathers
deep bass voice came like cannon shot
Were l a rich man and able to send you
to good law college l should willingly
consent for you to carry out your plans. .
But you understand your father and /
mother are poor only farmers, and you
are old enough to know that we can not .
afford such an expenditure with our mea- /
ger income"
Yes. What world oh. why were
some created poor and others rich?' ejac-
ulated the son.
Again, my 10y, Mr.. Banks has inform
ed me that you are engaged to his daugh
ter. Louise. How in the world do you
expect to study law, love and marriage at
the same time? ] never yet sw the young
man that could make education and love
together a success.
Curse me anyhow" muttered Samuel
Just so is your condition. Make of it
what you Will. but my boy, you had bet
ter a damned sight, make of yourself
respectable and honorable farmer than a
weak, jack-leg of a lawyer
IL
There was tapping at the door and
Samuel sprang to his feet with alacrity.
although carrying somewhat Of a worn
out, depressed countenance. He opened
the door and there stood his friend and
companion. Dick Wise
Il say. ole boy" said Dick. were gOin'
to have a rag over at Dawsons tonight
and say, kid. that girl O yourn said for
you sure to be there.
We'll. Dick. I'm sorry, but l just can't j
go" replied Samuel You see"
oh. Sam. come off; we all know you
like your books mighty well, but say now.
Sam, that girl Louise would go plumb ,
wild if you weasnt there. What's books.
anyhow, when there's rag around" ,
"Oh. well, then. l guess III come" an t
swered Samuel. :
Dick was off in a jiffy on his invitation I
tour and a very courteous so long, Sam !
uel. 50 long ole boy" resounded in the ,
air as he quit the premises $
Samuel sauntered back into his room. i
Ills mother had come in and seated her s
self beside her husband K
There they were-father mother and
son-in a little room they had set apart !;
as SamueTs The mother sat bothered Y
and restless; the father appeared angry
and morose. q
Now, son, there it is again. You want :
10 hc "a lawyer and here YOU are going To =
a dance where they always have those @
drunken carousals and very often. you O.
know. a killing Especially here in the "
west. son. they haven't yet adopted good s
culture and at these country dances they
permit the use OF whis6ey too much. Its @
he ruination of you, / fear. This manner is
If sporting and your study will never go G.
hand in hand.
NO. my Samuel" presumed the good s.
mother tenderIy this won't do. Your n
IA is right.
The Rhodes home was a gloomy specta-
lie that evening. \ ghostly glamour dan
yled in the room and had it not been for
he occasional walking about and low con
-eIsatious of the saddened parents it n
would have seemed as solitary as a de-
erted cabin. Ii
Samuel let slip from memory all his al
PARENTS had said and utterly disrCgaded n
heir premcditated warnings and careful y,
Instructions. Dressed about as well "a 80
ne average country young man he went
% the dance. there t. meet with his many e.
friends. both boys and girls and to de
ide to a certain extent his future career. III
The rag terminated exactly as san -
els folks had predicted TWO or three .,
runken fellows. fight and several ar =,
ests, and what was to Samuel worst of -,
H. his faithful Louise had given him >,
the left hand" ard told him she didn't :,
Ike him any more. He had plead and :
rgued the trouble reasonably and hon
rahly but to no avail. This wrought
i'm mp tolerably we'll :,
Samuel was an cocentrical sort of "a
How. when he fell III love he was solely
I'D completely wrapped up in his subject -,
nj on the other hand. he could hate just "a
s earnestly. But this offended him and 49,,
rushed his love-sick heart more than
aythng that had ever happened in his Ii
fe The result was he and his success -
Il rival had private combat -
After the dance was over and the lads
nd lasses were coupled of and scamper- eF
G merrily toward their respective homes u!
lighted Samuel caught his opponent in tu'
dark raviue and administered unto him Wa
kincly bouncing. But for this he paved as
,arly in the justice court the next morn i Il
g Being his first time in a court it
as rather trying ordeal. ms
III. N'
The following afternoon found him at
,me with a sad. drowsy. melancholy =,
cling lie was very sorry Of all that Se'
I'd occurr.i. He had cut deep into the aiI
arts Of his parents by his sheer disobe-
ence; he had made several enemies at an
? ARRAY last night: he had lost the girl pa'
thought and dreamed OF so much and Out
hi