Middletown transcript., 1910-01-22

0OAAAAS OAAeSU = A~SO5
nized you at once.
As Edward Herrick?
OF course.
While / was looking around
for Freddy?
Yes.
That was good of you. He
nodded with a pleasant smile.
Freddy seems to need a little
disciplining.
Does he?
Yes. I've heard Bob say ayFreddy
was always ready for mischief.
What else did Robert say?
He said Freddy was spoiled by
the whole family. How old is he?
Freddy is about-well about 20.
Not going to college, Ell?
No, private school.
I'm afraid that's a mistake, he
said. College would have discip-
lined the youngster and brought
him in contact with young men of
his age and made man of him.
Think Of it! murmured the girl.
I'm afraid you are prejudiced
againstthe lad, said the stranger.
You are so capable, so independ.
ent, so vigorous yourself that you
cannot tolerate the boys rather
eliminate ways. Isn't that it?
The girl shook her head.
Freddy isn't really so very bad,
you know, she told him.
Of course he isn't, the young
man hastily remarked. He comes
of fine stock. His trouble may be
simply lack Of proper training.
I've no doubt at all that Freddy
is very lovable.
The girl suddenly chirruped
to the black horse. Freddy never
seemed lovable to me. she said.
And yet Robert spoke of the
boy in a most affectionate way,
the young man went on. I re-
member that he once showed me
a velvet-lined box with some es-
pecially nice perfume in cut
glass bottle and he said it was
for Freddy. He looked at the
girl and shook his head.
Silly, wasn't itP she said.
Rather. I meant to talk to Bob
aboutit, but didn't get the chance
The man looked at the firm
hands that held the reins.
1t is strange, he said, how we
fall into the habit of making pic.
lures of things we have never
seen-mental pictures. of course.
I am making one Of the spoiled
Freddy at this very moment.
The girl threw a quick glance
at him. It is a very harmless
game, she said. Let me hear what
you make of the spoiled child,
He shook his head. His ex-
preston changed. No, he said,
that that iien isn't right Let us talk Of |
something else. shouldn't have
mentioned the boy at all if it
hadn't been for the debt of graf.
itude l owe him for staying away. |
The girl laughed merrily. And
how do you know that Freddy
didn't stay away purposely just
to give you a chance to say such
nice things.
He laughed with her.
Come, he said, we will dismiss
Freddy with just a small sugges-
tion. I am going to recommend
to Robert that the boy be placed
in the bands of Old Barclay for
a little while.
The girl started.
Good gracious! she gasped.
Oh, I'm sure Dick would be
careful. He's used to boys. He
likes them. He likes to discipline
them, too. l know Old Barclay
pretty well, you can trust him.
The girl gasped again.
That smudgy giant ! How
dreadful
Not at all dreadful, he correct
ID her. Old Barclay wouldn't try
% make football player out of
,he boy, but really believe he
would add to his manliness. He i
ooked around at the girl. What {
10 you think of it? he asked.
The girl shook her head until
1er hat was loosened.
1t is absolutely out of the ques-
ion, she declared. Don't ever {
mention such an absurd idea
again.
And she shook her head until
he much harrassed hat was back /
n place,