Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-05-27
turned for moment and raised his
eyes to the blue wedge of sky showing
through the office window. as IL Sallie


turned for moment and raised his
eyes to the blue wedge of sky showing
through the Office window, as IL sallie
were Just behind 1t. II did me best,
lass; don't grieve. don't take on; just
think l was an old fool, and not good
enough for the job you left me. 1t Is
me who is to blame. Me-! Not him.
your little lad, that saw you sewing
'em bits of things for the last time you
and me sat side by side before the fire.
Think, lass, as how my fingers was all
thumbs with Rube's little clothes when
he was too small to do for himself! 1t
has been the same with learning him
proper. 1t has been me that had moth
Ing but thumbs at learning him proper.
1t wasn't your little lad that you died
for ut all: 1t was nobbut mel'
Mr.. Hawthorn waited. He caught
word here and there Of the low. whis-
pering voice. He could hear that Zick
was accusing himself At first he
feared that the shock had been too
much for the old man, that 1t had un--
hinged him, but when 1t seemed to him
that zick was acquiring comfort from
his monologue. he. waited.
At length, when the quletness fell in
the little room, and the thud Of the
engines and all the miscellaneous
sounds Of the workaday world came
In, Mr.. Hawthorn began again.
grhere are many temptations to a.
young lad coming fresh into an Office
such as this"
'.rhere Isl acquiesced the same dull
voice. ~
"There are more temptations to.
clever lads than to the dull ones"
Maybe" answered Zick.
"Rube is the brightest lad we have
ever. had"
AYE" said Kick, with long sigh.
II said that myself this morning and
the contrast between his exultatlon ut
the dinner hour, and his despair before
the tea hour came. caught him, and
seemed to grip at his heart until he felt
sufrocated.
The master came round, touched his
workman on the shoulder.
"My friend" he said, : and the two
stood side by side while the master
spoke persuasively, "let us say that 1t
was q sudden temptation. Perhaps
since It was the first step aside, It Will
be the last. I have made up my mind
to give Rube another chance. l shall
let him stay on. No one knows; 80 It
4 will be easy for him. 1 shall have him
in here all by myself, and I shall tell
him that, as his father can trust him
to be honest for the future; can..ss
| Again there was silence In the plain
bare room, with the japannedi boxes
instead of pictures, ranged on shelves
round the wall, and a great drawing
of machinery over the fireplace. The
sun suddenly streamed through the
dlngy window; Zick watched the parti-
cies Of dust as they danced to and fro.
up and down, q slanting wedge Of gold
en- brightness.
There was war in the old mans
heart. The fercest, the hottest of all
human battles was being waged there.
The fight was not only between prlncl-
pie and love, 1t was between duty and
fathers great affection.
/ Godfrey remembered his empty pocls-
ct. He remembered that 1t was the sec
ond occasion on which his 'lowance had
been missing; he remembered that
Amelia Ann had declared that a penny
or two had lately gone three or four
times out of the mug where the house
keeping money reposed. Zick had not
seen Rube steal from the mug, from his
pocket He could say he had seen moth
| ing. But did he, In his heart of hearts,
believe that RUDE had taken lt-nay,
more, in his heart of hearts was he not
sure?
Mr.. Hawthorn waited. new sur
prise, a new perplexity gradually over
| spreading his face.
"Can you trust Rube| Mr.. Haw-
thorn asked.
Godfrey flung up his arms.
Lord help me, can't" he cried out
He turned. He put up trembling,
shaking hands to the slantlng band Of
sunlight. as though he saw In 1t al
angels ladder leading from earth to
heaven, looked with tear-blinded eyes
| to where he knew that the wedge of
blue still Frightened the sky.
"Sallie. lass" he implored. don't
take on. Bide comfortable up there
He is your lad, know, and you onl.
left him with me for our bit here. But
what could I do7 couldn't lie, and J.
wouldn't say aught but what have
said, and tell the trnth."-The Sketch
Even Solomon, with all his wisdom.
never succeeded In handing friendly