Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-06-02

turned TOT q moment ana raised MS
eyes to the blue wedge of sky showing
through the Office window, as II Sallie
were just behind it, 81 did me best,
lass; don't grieve, don't take on; JUST
think 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 20 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 Mt all: it was nobbut mel"
Mr. Hawthorn waited. He caught
word here and there OF the low, whis-
pering voice. He could hear that Zlck
was accusing himself. At first he
feared that the shock had been too
much for the old man, that it had I'M
hinged him. but when it seemed TO him
that ZIck was acquiring comfort from
his monologue. he waited.
At length, when the quietness fell IN
the little room, ami the thud of the
engines and all the miscellaneous
sounds Of the workaday world came
in, Mr.. Hawthorn began again.
There are many temptations to
young lad coming fresh into an Office
such as this"
There isl ac1uiesced the same dull
voice.
There are more temptations to
clever lads than TO the dull ones"
Maybe" answered Kick
''Rube is the brightest lad we have
ever had"
aye" said Zick. with long sigh.
81 said that myself this morning." and
the contrast between his exultation at
the dinner hour, and his despair before
the tea hour came. caught him, and
seemed to grip at his heart until he felt
suffocated.
The master came round. touched his
workman on the shoulder.
MY friend,' he said. and tie two
stood side by side while the master
spoke persuasively. "let us say that it
was sudden temptation. Perhaps.
since it was the first step aside. it will
be the last. l have made up my mind
to give RUDE another chance. shall
let him stay on. No one knows. so 1t
will be easy for him. 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"
Again there was silence In the plain
bare room. with the japanned boxes.
instead of pictures. ranged on shelves
round the wall, and q great drawing
of machinery over the fireplace. The
sun suddenly streamed through the
dingy window: Zick watched the parti-
cies Of dust as they danced to and fro.
up and down, slanting wedge Of gold
en- brightness.
There was war in the old mans
heart The fiercest. the hottest Of all
human battles was being waged there.
The fight was not only between princi-
pie and love. 1t was between duty and
a fathers great affection.
Godfrey remembered his empty peck
ct. He remembered that 1t was the sec
ont occasion on which his 1owance had
been missing; he remembered that
Amelia Ann had declared that 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 Rube had taken it-nay.
more. in his heart Of hearts was he not
sure?
Me-. Hawthorn waited. new sur
prise, a new perplexity gradually over
spreading his face.
Can you trust RubeT Mr.. Haw-
thorn asked.
Godfrey flung up his arms
"Lord help me. l can't" he cried out
He turned He put up trembling.
shaking hands to the slanting band Of
sunlight. as though he saw In it an
angels ladder leading from earth to
heaven. looked with tear-blinded eyes
10 where he knew that the wedge Of
blue sfill frightened the sky
.SaIlie. lass he implored. "don'i
take on Eide comfortable up there
He Is your lad, know, and you oass
/ ipfr him with me for our bit here. Bur
what could do? I couldn't lie. and
wouldn't say aught but what I have
said. anG tell the truth"-The Sketch
Even solomon. with all hts wisdom.
never succeeded in handing friendly