Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-05-09

BY w f. ROSE

A
~BY WR~ ROSE
racked her mind in an effort to guess
his Grand
Presently he spoke.
We've had very good year." he
said.
eyes"
81 mean in our business-at the
mill"
I'm glad to hear it,"
II thought you'd be interested. It
was an unusually good year-and this
year promises to be still better"
Why should he tell her all this?
Il understand you had talked of en-
larging the MILL"
II knew you were interested. Yes.
we may build an addition to our mill
number two" He looked at her with a
new expression on his kindly face. "It
depends" he said, and his voice was
quite solemn. 1T depends"
Eyes" said the girl. She wondered
what he meant
Robert has third interest in the
mill, you know"
Il didn't know"
"Eh? That's strange Well, he has.
And some time he'll have it ALL" He
paused and wiped his forehead. "I'm
putting a good deal Of dependence on
Robert. He becomes more valuable to
0vprU Ho ,oo,7eo5
When he spoke his voice trembled. 81
Il hardly know what I'd do if Robert
should leave me-"
But Of course he won't" said the
girl.
Roberts father half closed his eyes.
Il don't know" he said, II don't
know"
But why should he leave your"
He looked at her earnestly.
"Why, indeedY
Doesn't he like the business 2"
"He likes the business we'll enough"
'Then what reason can he have?"
He moved his chair little closer.
Don't you know?" he asked In a
half whisper.
The girl recoiled a little.
"How should 1 know"
His glance wavered.
Il had hoped" he said, chat Robert
would marry and settle down here, and
and take up the business when
have passed beyond"
Eyes," she said encouragingly.
when he married I meant to give
him the Fennimore cottage for home.
You know the placer"
"Yes. 1t is charming"
"I'm glad you like it. And he should
have a wedding tour to New York and
down to Florida, and be gone a month
or longer If he liked"
THAT would be generous"
"And l meant to raise his salary as
superintendent to $4,000 a year. And
he'd have the earnings from his third
interest, too"
"Ycu are a very kind father, Mr..
Chalmers"
Hes my only son, Miss Susan. I'd
be willing to do almost anything to see
him happily settled"
And again his searching glance made
her feel little uncomfortable. She
was at a loss for words
docs your son know Of these plans ?"
Eyes. I've told him. It didn't seem
to help matters any. He appears deter
mined to go away"
ITO go away? Why should he want
to go away?"
I'll tell you what he says. Would
you like to hear his reasons?"
"Why, yes"
'He says he's lost all interest in the
business"
eyes,"
"He says he wants to get away some
where and rough It."
"Yes."
"He says he wants to get away from
the village"
"Yes."
"And when 1 asked him If he meant
to come back he said he didn't know"
He wiped his forehead again. Chats
rather unpleasant talk for an indulgent
father to hear, isn't it," And he wiped
his brow again.
A sudden wave of sympathy thrilled
the girl.
Robert really seems ungrateful," she
said.
Hes a good boy" Roberts father
hastily assured her, "and a straightfor-
ward boy. He wouldn't go away unless
be had some specially good reason for
going"
"And haven't you any idea what that
reason may BET"