The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-01-04
The Inheritance Of His Fathers.


tanned while out with his nurse, but
which the woman managed to conceal
from the father, until time had re-
vealed 1t to him, and at fourteen, In
consequence, barely able to walk with
out the aid Of crutch.
The inheritance Of his fathers!
Farmer Blatherley often remem-
bered the words as he looked on the
Invalid son Of his richer neighbor and
landlord, and compared him with his
own motherless, strong, healthy, hand
some lad. Jack Blatherley was all that
the fondest parent could desire-hap-
py, healthy, honest and open as the
day; laughter-loving painstaking, a
typical specimen Of young England at
Its best. He had mind for book
learning, which had been his fathers
before him, and knew almost as much.
from private lessons taken with the old
vicar as Gilbert Dayle himself up at
the great big house on the hilltop,
where the best of tutors tried to i'm
part wisdom and the love of books to
the crippled lad!
Curiously enough, the two boys, so
different in station, character and
health, were the greatest of friends
The squire, playing cards, and drink
ing heavily day in and day out, hardly
knew 1t, or If he did, he took no no.
tlce; and the friendship between the
two lads was cemented and added to
daily. as ths strong, healthy, young
embryo farmer helped the delicate
scion Of blue-bIooded aristocracy over
the heather-clad moors, where the
golden gorge waved it's yellow blooms
seward and scented the soft air with
Its strong perfume.
Both the boys were fond Of the
sea; In storm or In calm they loved
to gaze at its ever-changing surface,
ripping In the sunshine or foamins
under 4 leaden sky.
One hot afternoon in June the two
boys climbed the steep ascent which
led to their favorite seat on the heather
overlooking the bright blue bay, GIL
| bert, half-carried by his strong young
friend, expostulating to no purpose.
1t was holiday time for them, the
tutors had gone away; Gilbert was
thrown on his own beam-ends, his
father having no use and no desire for
the company Of his crippled son.
Its funny" Jack cried, as he fun.
| himself face downwards on the soft
purple heather. You can do as you
like-you are rich, Gilbert, but L
father says I must be farmer-and
I want to write. to be an authorw
Gilbert opened his large, sad eyes.
BE an author and write booksY he
echoed In an awe-struck voice; "how
clever you are, Jack !"
ITS no good to be- returned the
lad little bitterly. The dads made
up his mind that l must carry on the
farm-we have no money to waste
you see, and 80 It's no use for me to
think of being anything else!"
The two boys were silent for a mo-
ment; from a distant cliff a seagull
dew out, with its melancholy cry.
Gould give you the money, dc
you think" asked the cripple at last
II have some saved saved up in my
money box, and | shall never be good
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 on.
else to help him?" Gilbert's fac,
frightened as the idea came to him.
Jack shook his bright head.
Dad says 1t Is the-inheritance o.
my fathers-that, and my health ant
strensth-oh-"
He bit his lips suddenly, as he real
lied that he was speaking to one will
a very different inheritance.
Its no use, it'll come in tlme-th,
liking for the life, 1 suppose" he wen
on philosophically. ''Hulloa! Tn
squire"
He broke off hurriedly, for acros
the glorious heather, in Gods gloriou
sunshine, came a creature that was a
for neither man nor beast-Suuir
Dayle, his eyes dazed, his lips twitch
ing nervously, his gait faulty-drun
at twelve in the morning!
He came uncertainty towards tn
two boys-Gilbert, his face, white wit
fear; young Jack Blatherley, uprigh
as 4 rock, with his open countenanc
turned fearlessly toward him, and hi
broad shoulders squared towards tn
sea.
"Hulloa! muttered the man wit
an oath, looking at his son. what
Are you frightened Of your own father
What have l done that l should ca
such a coward-son? Stand up, stan
J up, and don't look scared into the mic
die Of next week. Do you hear?"
In moment it had happened. TIL
: father, Infatuated at the sight Of hi
: covering son-intoxicated with drinl