The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-05-27

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wish his son to leave him that had
actuated him until now. He had
talked frankly with his son and told
him many things, all calculated to
wither any budding sentimentalism.
So now Charlie had entered the par
was to come, and he knew what had
gone. before-yes, only short half
hour ago. No wonder his heart was
heavy.
"Well?" said his father, eying him
with disconcerting scrutiny.
Charlie held his peace. In fact, he
could not trust himself to speak. His
eyes were cast to the floor and filled
with unspeakable despair. He could
not trust his voice. His father sat
down with his aching feet on the floor
instead of the stool and again uttered
the one word that meant SO much:
"Well?"
Charlie was so handsome, with his
brown curling hair, his gentle brown
eyes, his big frame and tanned cheeks,
that the old man felt thrill Of pride,
but he never allowed that to check his
determination to have from his son the
last word of what he knew he was
trying to withhold. Finally Charlie
looked up once at his father, whose
sharp glance showed him the misery
in the soft brown eyes Of his son.
Again he said "Well?" adding that he
was listening. Finally Charlie lifted
his head, saying:
"You need not worry. 1t is all off,"
whats all off? Tell me the hull
thing from first to last"
1--WE finished our practice, and all
started for home, and the rest hurried
off, but Laurena and I, we walked
along slower. She said she had some
thing TO say that she could not put Off
| So we walked along"
"You said that before. It isn't to be
supposed that you rode along or few
along or sailed along. Go ahead"
"Well, you know, father, that ! am
! fond Of Laurena. told you from the
beginning
"And so you've been and asked her,
you ungrateful boy, after all I've said
and DONE
mo; l haven't asked her nor told
her, but feel as though should have
done so. We walked among the graves
and didn't talk much at first. Then
she said: Charlie, want your advice.
We have been such good friends al
ways"
eyes, / see, I see She thinks you
can be caught with such chaff, but go
on, go on"
81 said that we had, and then she
continued: You know that folks have
habit of taking things for granted.
/ am not blaming any one, but we
have been going together so much-for
four years since we grew upland now
II think | must say that this can't
| go on any longer Bert Junel asked
me to Larry him. and / thought
would ask your advice before l answer
him."
| ga trap. a trap" shouted the old
man, "and you fell into it like the soft
ninny that you are! Didn't l tell you
| that I'd searched out her family on
both sides to see if they had any de-
scending ailment and that her father
died of a decline? Didn't go to their
house and eat myself sick twice to
find out how they cook and set table,
and they're all eXtravagant? And her
| sperrits Is too Oneven One time she
| is full of laugh ard the next looks ali
in the Dumps She may know how to
/ h1,t no
more about singing than anything.
She's too Eighty | won't allow you to
have her. | won't tell you! What
did she do then?"
"Why. nothing" replied Charlie mis-
erably. "for we stood a minute still
and silent. didn't dare to tell her
how felt till had seen you. and she
ment and cried.
"Yes, she's artful, sly and smart.
I give her the credit. but she's got me
to deal with. She got tired OF waiting
| for you to bite at her bait and just
give it a witch to make you snap at
it. am older than you and know all
about women. You have to live all
the rest of your life with the one you
choose, and it stands you In hand to
look about and see them au--weigh
every ones faults and advantages. A
| pretty face amt all, nor Is good
| singing voice Now, I've pointed out
to you the failings Of all the others
from the time you began going out In
society Jennie Tubbs was too young
and too weakly, Annie Stark too silly,
Mary Blake too pretty and vain, and
so on, and none Of 'em could cook or
take care Of a house, and all Of 'em
was poor and had raft Of poor rela-
TONS"
The old man stopped to take breath,
while Charlie said half heartecly, 81
know you are trying to watch out for
my good, but father, Laurena has
none of those faults
"Never mind that, but 60 on and tell
me. What did you do then-when she
pretended to cryw
I'll said Don't cry and things like
that, but she couldn't stop. tried to
take her hand to comfort her, but she
broke away from me and ran as fast
as she could I followed to see that
she reached her gate safely and then
came home, and, father, I wish you
would think it over / am very fond
Of Laurena She is good and hand
Soma ond-ond-vUo 1Nun ono another