Middletown transcript., 1911-04-29
A Young Mans Record
BY JEANNE OLIVE LOIzEAUx


been blushingly told to task
papa," when he has asked for an
interview that he may do that
same, when he has no reason to
believe that "papa" favors him,
when the moment for that inter-
view is at hand-wellI That
young man would rather charge
up San Juan hill five times than
knock at The library door and
face the within. But for the girl
bracing him he might leave the
house bareheaded.
Harrison Forrest, twenty
three years old, late of Harvard,
athletic, baseball, swimming,
some thoughts of law, good
family, good fellow and intend
ing to settle down and leave wild
oats behind him-that is the
young man!
Miss Prue Wilson, twenty,
daughter of Banker Wilson, very
much in love, afraid of her dig
hifed father, not a bit afraid of
her mother, hoping dad will con-
sent, but afraid he won't, in
which case it is suicide, cheeks
scarlet, heart going pit.a.pat-
that is the young woman!
It is the crises of two lives and
no earthquake can postpone it.
Mr.. Forrest knocks at the
library door. Mr.. Wilson bids
him enter and he is lost to the
view of the girl in the hall. Ac-
cording to precedent she should
rush back to the parlor and sit
down and shiver and tremble and
recall her "Now I lay me down
to sleep" but-she does nothing
of the sort.
Like a nice, sweet girl she ad-
Vances to the library door and
kneels down and applies her
eyes to the keyhole to see and
hear what is going on in that
fateful room.
Mr.. Wilson, begins the young
man as soon as his head stops
swimming. I have asked for
this interiew to tell you that
You needn't tell me, interrupts
the banker, Us he holds up a
finger. I have it all here!
And Mr.. Wilson takes a manu-.
script from a drawer and says:
I have known for a long time
what brought you to this house
and have made something Of an
investigation, so as to be ready
for you. It's by no means COM
plete but I will read what I have:
Played football and was an
oarsman in college. Was never
perfect in a lesson. Had the re-
putation of being a slugger.
Came near being expelled on
several occasions for pranks.
Said pranks consisted in damag-
ing property and slugging police
men, with tearing down lamp
posts as q side issue.
Cleaned out one table d'hote
and two saloons in New York
and was stabbed in the arm.
Ran away with a professors
auto and damaged it. Paid the
damage, but guyed the pro-
fessor.
Raised a row on a New Haven
train.
Was the principal feature in
an amateur boxing contest. Left
his man insensible.
Saved a man in Boston from
drowning, but slugged two
policemen Is minutes later.
Family well to do and respect.
able.
Young man may turn to law,
or he may turn to the prize ring.
Laid to dote on his mother, but
was fined $25 for roofing up a
sidewalk at Fall River.
Mr.. Wilson read that far and
then laid the report aside, and
looked at the young man for a
long minute before saying:
And now you may go on with
what you came in here to say.
That-that report is true, sir,
was the reply in a trembling
voice, but please don't believe
me vicious. It was what they
call exuberance of spirits. When
you were a young man
] was, not troubled that way,
Mr.. Forrest!
But-but-
When do you enter the roped
arena to meet all comers2
But I'm no slugger. All these
things just happened so. I have
put them all behind me,