Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-12
tilda to get your clothes ready for we
!ooua

tllda to get your clothes ready for we
leave tomorrow"
Mr.. Chandler turned to his desk and
resumed his writing while Jack limp
ed out of the study. He went upstairs
to his room and shut and locked the
door. He sat down by the window and
leaned his head on his hand. The
gray eles did not see the pretty scenes
at which they were gazing-the late
afternoon sun hanging over the snowy
mountains, the clear quiet lake below,
dotted here and there with white sails
and the tops Of the beautiful fir trees.
Instead they saw big school room
with rows and rows of seats filled
with bright, healthy-looking boys,
biackboards covered with mysterious
figures and signs and charts hanging
on the wall. They saw one bashful
boy, hanging his head in disgrace,
while his heartless schoolmates laugh
ed at his foolish mistakes. Oh. the
thought was unbearable! He never,
never, could stand to go, but he knew
it was useless to try to argue with his
father, for, although Mr.. Chandler
was always kind to the motherless
boy, he was very firm.
II suppose 1 am worthless kind
of chap" unused Jack, land perhaps
father is tired of having me around.
Oh, why am | not strong and well
What wouldn't l give to know that
father was proud to call me his son.
But he is ashamed. He can not help
being"
Mr.. Chandler went down town soon
after breakfast the next morning,
leaving Jack to spend the last day at
home as he liked The servants all
watched him with aching hearts as he
wandered about the place, for they
were fond of this lame boy, in spite
of his odd ways.
Dear old Rover" said Jack as he
caressed the dogs shaggy head. What
will you do when am gomez"
The dog licked his masters hand
and looked into Jacks mournful eyes
appealingly, as much as to say, "S@s
me with you, Master Jack"
Matilda said the boy, don't ever
forget to feed Rover, will you? sd
pet him sometimes, for he will be lSNA
ly when-when-"
eyes, yes, Master Jack. don you
worry about any of your pets. I'll take
the best care of them and they'll all
be happy and fat when you come
home"
Father hasn't said anything about
my coming back, Matilda. Somehow,
don't believe he wants me home any
more"
"Oh, pshaw; don't talk that way. Of
course he does.''
But when Jack rode away from
home in the carriage and left all the
servants standing on the porch wav
ing fearful farewells, he thought in his
old-fashioned way that he would never
see them again and next to his faith
er he loved them better than anybody
else in the world, for they had been
part of the household ever since he
could remember, and they had always
been good to him and done all in their
power to make him happy.
Mr.. Chandler noticed with impa-
thence how his son shrank from the
gaze Of the people at the station.
"But he will soon overcome his tim
idity," he told himself. II have kept
him too closely at home all these
years The change will do him good
His thoughts were interrupted by a
friend, who stepped up.
How do you do, Mr.. Chandler?" he
said, cordially.
"Mr. Briggs, let me introduce my
son to you"
What" exclaimed Mr.. Briggs. "This
boy your son! l noticed him back
there and wondered what was the
trouble with him. He limps badly:
rnCn1f Nf
Great disappointment to have a child
turn out that way. Taking him away
for his health?"
NO" said Mr.. Chandler, che is 60
ing to school,"
All, understand, getting the house
cleared for the coming event. Wise
man"
Pardon me- said Mr.. Chandler, as
he nervously moved away, "but we
must get our baggage checked"
Jack breathed sigh of relief as
soon as the laxative Mr.. Briggs was
lost in the crowd. But his unkind
words were not SO easily lost, and
the boy chung to his father more than
before, fearing lest he should meet an
other acquaintance
Sitting in the soft-cushioned Pull
man seat, watching the mountains and
trees pass by the window was decid-
eddy novel experience for Jack and
after the train started he forgot his
troubles for while. He did not talk
much to his father, for since yesterday
he had felt estranged from him.
Whe night came and Jack lay in
his berth beside his father he did not
close his eyes for many hours. One
thought was uppermost in his mind.