Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-02

WHICH toe woman managed to conceal
from the father, until time had re-
vealed 1t to him. and at fourteen, In
barely able = walk with.
out the aid Of 4 crutch
The Inheritance Of his fathersl
Farmer Blatherley often remem-
bered the words ~ be looked On tho
Invalid son Of his richer neishbsr and
landlord, and compared him with his
own notherless, strong, healthy. hand
some lad. Jack Blatheriey was al that
the fondest parent could Aesire-hap-
py. healthy, honest and open a the
day; laushter-loviAs. painstakias. a
typical specimen Of young England at
its best. He had q mind for book
learning. which had been his fathers
before him. and knew almost a. much,
from private lessons taken with the old
vicar - Gilbert Dayle himself up at
tho great big house on the hilltop,
where tho best of tutors tried to I'M
part wisdom and the love Of books to
the crippled ladi
Curlously enough, the tive boys so
different In station, character and
health. were the greatest Of friends.
The squire, playing cards, and drink
Ing heavily day In aud day out, hardly
knew 1t, or II be did, be took 10 no.
tice; and the frieadship between the
two lads was csmented and added to
daily. as the strong, healthy, young
embryo farmer helped the delicate
scion Of blue-bIooded aristocracy over
the heather-clad ncors, where tho
golden gorge waved its yellow blooms
seward and scented the soft air with
IT, strsng perfume.
Both the boys were fond Of the
sea In sesrln o. In calm they loved
to gaze at its sver-sbanging surface,
ripping Ia the sunshine or foamisx
under 4 leadsn sky.
One hot afternoon in June the two
boys climbed the steep ascent which
led to their favsrite seat on the heather
overlooking the bright blue bay, Gil
bert. haif-oavried By his strong younr
friend, e1pestulating to no purpose.
1t was holiday time for them, the
tutors had gene away; Gilbert was
thrown q his swn beam-ends, bis
father having 10 use and NO desire fer
the company Of his crippled son.
ITS funny" Jack cried, 90 he 6ung
himself face downwards on the soft
purple heather. You can do a. you
like-you are rich, Gilbert, but l.
father says must be a farmer-and
I want to write. b be an authofr
Gilbert epeaeA his large, sad eyes.
BE an author and write booksf" he
echoed In An aws-struck voice; ''how
clever you are. Jack r
ats ne good to be-" returned the
Lad 4 little bitterly. The dads made
up his mind that I must carry on the
faru-we have ~ money to waste.
you zee. and - It's no use for me to
think Of being anything else!'
The tive boys were silent for q mo
meat; from 4 distant cliff a seagull
few out. With it, melancholy cry.
Gould give you the money, do
you think" asked the cripple at last.
II have some saved saved up in my
money box. and I shall never be coed
for anything, you know. Let me give
you enough to help you write
books"
But then there'd be the farm"
Jacks straight brows were puckered.
Couldn't your father get some ono
else to help himf" Gilbert's face
frightened as the idea came to him.
Jack shook his bright head.
Dad says 1t Is the-inheritance Of
my fathers-that, and my health and
strength-oh--"
He bit his lips suddenly, as he real
lied that he was speaking to one with
a very different inheritance.
"It's no use. it'll come in tlme-the
liking for the life. suppose" he went
on philosophically. "Hulloa! The
squire"
He broke off hurriedly, for across
the glorious heather, in Gods glorious
came a creature that was at
for neither man nor beast-SQuire
Dayle. his eyes dazed, his lips twitch-
ing nervously, his gait faulty-drunk
at twelve in the morning.!
He came uncertainty towards the
two boys-Gilbert, his face, white with
fear; young Jack Blatherley, upright
as a rock, with his open countenance
turned fearlessly toward him, and his
broad shoulders squared towards the
sea.
"Hulloa !" muttered the man with
an oath, looking at his son. what!
Are you frightened Of your own father?
What have | done that l should call
such a coward-son? Stand up. stand
up, and don't look scared into the mid
die Of next week. Do you hear?
In a moment it had happened. The
father, Infatuated at the sight of his
son-intoxicated with drink,