The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-03-02


Tom; but for that reason and to free
himself a little from the ever in
creasing presence of his wife S lsolici-
tude in respect to his work, and eager
anticipation of something from him,
he took during the holidays the great
est interest in the boy; going out with
him, sometimes riding, sometimes
to the meet, when Toms eagerness
was scarcely to be restrained. Mr..
Beaufort himself did not hunt. He
was not an ungraceful horseman for a
moderate and mild canter; but if he
had ever been possessed of sufficient
energy to follow the hounds, that
energy had long left him. He did
not dislike, however, to ride to the
companying them upon his pony.
Lady Car thought it was nothing less
than devotion to her son which in
duced him to depart from his studious
seclusion on account of the boy. She
was very grateful to her husband for
this, yet deprecated it greatly. you
are very, very good to Tom; but
can't bear to think of all the sacri-
fees you are making for him, Ed
ward, wasting your time which is SO
much too valuable to be thrown away
upon little boy"
II wish my time was more valua-
BILE, to show you how willingly
would give it up, for anything be-
longing to you, Carry, not to say for
your boy"
"Oh, thanks, thanks, dear Edward;
but can't have you bdrdened with
Tom"
Il like it." he said. II like-boys."
1t was almost too much for him to say
that he liked this particular boy.
@And Tom interests me very much,
he added. Carry looked at him with
wistful curiosity. A glance of color
passed over her face. Was it possible
that Tom was interesting to such
man as Edward Beaufort? She felt
guilty to ask herself that question.
She had been afraid that Tom was
not very interesting, not child to at
tract any one very much who did not
belong to him. To be sure the child
did belong to him in a sort of way.
$50 you like school, TOMB said
Beaufort, looking down from his tall
horse at the little fellow on his pony,
keeping up with him. Had Beaufort
been a more athletic person he would
have appreciated more the boys de-
termination not t. be left step be-
hind.
WELL" said Tom, reflectively, II
like it, and don't like it. l think
lessons are great rot"
"Oh, do your" said his tall COM
panion.
Don't you, Beau? They don't
teach anything a fellow wants.
What's the good of Latin, let alone
Greek? They're what you call dead
languages, and we don't want what's
dead. When you've got to make your
living by them it's different, like
Halls sons that are going to be the
schoolmasters when he dies.
Ibid you think of all that by your
self, Tom?"
NO." said the boy after stare of
moment, and some hesitation. at
wasn't me, it was Harrison major.
His fathers very rich, ard he's in
trade. And Harrison says what's the
good of these things? You never
want them. They're only an excuse
for sending in heavy bills, Harrison
says"
"He must be a great authority"
said Mr.. Beaufort gravely.
HE knows a DEAL" said Tom rea-
soning, for he had some doubts
whether Harrison majors opinions
would have been received with the
Difference they deserved Hes the
biggest fellow in the school, though
he's very small in learning. But he
doesn't mind. He says fellows that
are to have plenty of money don't
want it.
That's a frequent opinion of peo-
pie in trade" said Beaufort. IT
would not put too much faith in it,
if l were you"
"Eh?" cried Tom, opening his big
light eyes under his dark brows more
widely than ever, and staring up into
his stepfather's face.
you will have plenty of money,
suppose?" said Beaufort, calmly.
"Oh, don't you know? I'll be one
of the richest fellows in Scotland,
cried the boy.
who told you that, Tom?"
Il don't know ! can't tell you. !
know it, that's all 1t was perhaps
only nurse" he added with reluct-
ance; "but she's been to my place,
and she knows all about it. You can
ask her if you haven't heard"
$50 you've got place besides be-
ing SO rich?" Beaufort said, in calm
interrogation, without surprise.
Tom was very much embarrassed
by this questioning. He stared at his
stepfather more than ever
Hasn't mother told you? thought
she told You everything"
$50 did /. But all this about your
place ! never heard. Let's have the
rest of it, Tom"
"Oh, / don't know that there's
much more." said the boy. "It's a
great big place with high tower, and
flag flying when I'm at home like
the Queen---the acres upon acres in
the park 1t was my fathers. don't
you know? and now it's mine.
"How old are you. Master Tom?"
"Eleven in April" said Tom,
promptly.
"Then it will be ten years before
you have anything to say to your
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