Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-08-01


apply 10 this one I've a better idea
yet I'll telephone Lucy the minute
l get to the ofllce!"
whats the use of being in such
hurry about it?" Jennings demanded.
now openly exasperated.
Wetherell looked at him in surprise.
why, what are you so worked up
over?"
"I1l tell you what" Jennings laid
his hand upon Wetherell's arm as
though to detain him, lust leave 1t
to me and I'll fix It for you. I'll see
that Barbara gets the advice IL have
to give It to her myself" he declared.
implying a magnanimous sacrifice
upon his own part.
Their conversation quickly veered
in another direction as fellow sub
urbanite Joined them.
That night as Wetherell rounded
the corner that brought his house into
view, his spirits mounted in anticipa-
tion of seeing his boy.
And when the click of his key in
the door brought a veritable young
athlete in appearance, pounclng upon
him with childish affection, Wetherell
forgot the beaded issue In the subllm-
ity of that moment.
AS he regarded the handsome, boy
fish face before him. with its fearlessly
frank eyes, he came more nearly than
ever before to an understanding OF
his wife's tender solicitude for the
boy.
Barbara's kiss and smile of well
come seemed If anything a little hear
tier than usual this evening, as though
doubly anxious that all should be in
happy accord.
Even the dinner attained to a rank
above an everyday affair. Ellen, the.
cook, adored the boy who had, in
years gone by, plundered her sweet
meats at the most inopportune mo-
ments and tantalized her in every con-
ceivable way. Nevertheless, in his
years away at school. her happiest
time had been when preparing the
contents of a feast box" to be sent
him.
Tonight there appeared in goodly
array all of Juniors favorite dishes,
with Ellen carefully scanning his plates
upon their return to the kitchen, and
solicitous inquiry from the serving
maid as to how Master Junior" was
enjoying himself. OF this he assured her
in person at the end of the meal
Then he Joined his parents for a
chat. Flinging himself upon the couch,
piled with pillows, he exclaimed:
Gee, but this is the the first real
soft place I've lain on since l left
here,"
why. was your bed at school
hard?" Mrs. Wetherell's motherly In
stinct instantly asserted itself
well, they're not exactly like this,
mother. But you could hardly expect
that"
81 told you ought to have gone
back with him and settled him. AL
LAM" casting a glance OF mingled re-
gret and reBroach toward her hus-
band.
Suddenly Junior spoke:
Say, folks, do you know what I'm
going to do this summer"
Wetherell felt a gloomy apprehen-
sion settle upon him. The achieve
ment of disciplining his son during
this vacation seemed suddenly de-
feated
mo, what dear?" 1t was his moth
err who answered. Her voice was of
syrupy sweetness that already i'm
piled her assent
I'm going to work." the boy an
nounced.
His father, after the first startled
moment of comprehension, expert
enced pang of remorse, known only
to a father who has underestimated
{ n son.
While his mother, with the sensi-
tiveness of a weathervane to the
slightest change of wind. shifted her
attitude to meet the prevailing mood
of her boy.
$50 you think you would like to try
; your wings little. do you, dear?"
. His wife's tone of docility amazed
J Wetherell no less than his sons
, words.
= Upon reaction, however, his brain
) fairly sang a paean of Joy! BY Jove!
/ n boy that could be trusted to disci'
: pline himself was a wonder!
l The proud father was even consid
: ering an automobile as n reward for
such virtue. when his cherubic OF
. spring spoke his answer
. TITS not exactly that" he explained
but you see I'm up for certain frat
\ at school and they've put up the stunt
| that in order to qualify we've got tc
q work for two months during our va
a on!"-Mother's Magazine.
| 70