The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-02-21
A PUSH IN TIME.
MISS FRIEDA DRESSED,


VINO, after n run across the fields. was
tanning himself with his straw hat
ot course. / cant prevent your in
Viting MIN 10 your camp. Ralph-and 1
cant absolutely forbid his going. OTIS
Is old enough now 10 decide for him
sef. But | do wish would nave your
headquartcrS-for-fun somewhere else
than on Cider Mil Hill"
There's no place In town can hold
candle to IT," declared Ralph i'm
patiently. There's boating. shooting
hShinS and all kinds of larks within a
minutes reach, and the boys needn't
go there unless they like. Honestly
MIS-. Kent, II we fellows haven't brain
furnishings enough TO keep straight
IN spite Of Ii little temptation. do you
think were worth saving? And what s
drink OF sweet cider, anyway"
Its the FIRST step, the easy begin
nlng- Ralph Thayer. I'm going TO tell
you something I've never spoken OF yet
TO a living peraon"-she opened a
small locket hanging from a chain
around her neck-"do you know this
| picture?-no, 1t Isn't Otis It's his
father. taken at the age Otis Is now.
You've heard all your life that he
died OF consumption-most people in
the village believe 1t. but It isn't true.
| He died of-yes. Ralph, he died OF
| drink. And now you know what fear
for Otis"
Hello. old man" called a chcery
voice, as Ralph walked away from the
| door Stand and deliver the matter
that wrlnkleth thy classic brow, When
is that shindy OF yours at the camp
coming off? Don't say this afternoon.
because I've got to drive to the sta
tion for Ethel and her four hundred
and thirty-seven trunks"
Sure. It's this afternoon" returned
Ralph absently, staring at his chum.
Otis was barehcaded and branished a
tennis racquet aloft. He was a hand
some lad. with bright, delicate. like
able face-no other boy In school was
so popular as Otis Kent But Ralph
saw him now under the shadow OF a
threatening something that made him
turn his eyes away. 1t couldn't be
that this brilliant light.hearted fellow
would ever come to-that, The
thought was monstrous.
This afternoon II Is then. think
you might have consulted your uncle
about the date. but you needn't look
so sheepish over It," laughed Otis.
III look after the girl and the trunks
and be with you as soon as | can"
The meeting at the camp was at
o'clock. All the boys OF the Featherland
club-such was It's suggestive name
were there except Otis Kent and Ralph
paclfied the company by telling them
that the missing member would soon
be along, The camp was a shanty of
boards built on the top OF high hill
overlooking the river The slope to.
ward the river fell away sharply, but
the other side Of the hill was a success
sion of long, easy rises covered with
orchard lands belonging to neighbor-
Ing farms. Loads of newly gathered
apples were creeping up the winding
road to the elder mill at the edge OF
the woods near by.
"Hooray. here's the vintage-come
on, boys" cried Charlie Wendell. ca
pering around bonch on which a keg
stood In the shade of a low branching |
oak tree at the back OF the camp /
Mice lad, TO have 1t all ready for us,
all cool and ripe"
Polite little boys always wait till
the refreshments are passed, round.
suggested Ralph. hoisting the caperer
neatly over the bench and rolling him
into 4 convenient bed of burdocks,
The target practice comes first, fel- |
lows. no use waiting for Otis for that
he can't hit anything but a tennis
HpFpFC a
silver arrow to proclaim the proWess
of the winner"
They were soon in the midst OF an
exciting contest all talking at once
as If It were a contest of tongues In
stead of firearms But all the timo
Ralph was thinking so deeply that he
hardly heard them The winsome face
Of his friend seemed to hover before
him In the sunny air. and always
above it there was that threatening
shadow. But, after ALL he must let
Dds live his own life Be couldn't, if
ne would, guard all the steps of his
way. Temptation to drink was every
"here-the only thing to do was TO
ace and overcome 1t. And glass of
sweet cider-what was that TO make
fuss about? THE easy beginning"
Mrs Kent had said. Pshaw, that was
he cry of women and weaklings-,
Look here. Ralph of the stony
leart!" Charlie Wendell with a Won.
lrously plaIntlve face, was holding up
he silver arrow he had won-"can
'ou longer refuse TO pledge your vic.
orious knight In the contests Of that
,eg? A toast would be no more than
4
manners"
Ralph did not answer. He was look
ng away down the hill at a light ath-
atic figure swinging up the road TO [
he accompaniment OF cheerful whIs- [
e. The memory Of that pictured face :
the lockct came to him with the [
uddenness Of revelation. Once t
lat other boy, Otis father. had looked I
nd moved Ike that And all his I
heerfulncss and youth and strength S
adn't held him back from that doom, !
Ralph's mental conflict ended all at d
nee He turned and quietly put his (
'ot under the bench that held the leog, t
vigorous lift and push, and bench
nd keg together went bounding and
nmplng down the steep side OF the {
III into the river, and the host Of the d
lrty wheeled about and faced his
ucsts with steady eyes. q
Hello, the reformers have roped in h
1othcr man." q
THE chief of the Featherheads is on g
le water wagon," "
Some OF the exclamations were ban. Z"
ring, some amusing. some sneerine. a.
1T Ralph's eyes kindled as he con. b.
onted them a
Look here. fellows" he said firmly. oI
hats tho last cider you'll ever see g,
this camp while I own 1t. You NAV n