Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-06-26
copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary
Press.)

starve!" cried Harry Bashford impa-
tiently.
I'D rather starve than have it said
a Bashford worked in the MILL" re-
torted his mother sternly.
Well" and the young man drew
deep breath, "alI I've got to say is that
the Bashfords will be pretty thorough
ly despised root and branch if l don't
so to work and earn some money
somehow"
Il suppose you mean that I'm the
root, and you're the branch, seeing
that we're the only two BashfOrds
left" remarked Maria Bashford, iron
really.
Il don't know that I mean anything
like that, mother, only it's this way;
of course I understand your feeling
In the matter-it would be a come
down after the mills being in the Bash
ford family for so many generations,
for me, the last one of them, to go 10
work as a common hand-but I'm not
fitted for anything else. What do |
know ?-absoluteIy nothing save how to
spend money" Harry spoke bit
terly.
If your Uncle David had not specu-
lated and lost his own money as well
as oursl" groaned Maria, flying to
what was always her last argument
when the matter came up for discus
sion as it did now daily.
Well, he did lose it. and the mills
passed into other hands, and Uncle
David has been dead and buried for
a year now-and here I am hanging
around eating my head off! If you
would only consent. mother, to my go
ing into the mill for awhile anyway
until" He paused and a worried
3rOwn crossed his brow.
Maria was preparing for one of her
bad spells" that invariably ended all
unpleasant discussions She closed
her eyes and leaned her head against
the back of her chair
please don't continue this discus
sion, my dear" said Maria feebly. Il
really don't feel equal to it. am
afraid your poor mother will not long
trouble you with her preposterous no
lions Of proper self-respect-after l
am gone you may disgrace the name
of Bashford to your hearts content
I shall be beyond caring!"
Mrs. Bashford permitted her bewtl-
deted son to kiss her smooth brow, to
draw the blinds and leave her
to recover from the shock of the in
terview.
Harry Bashford took his cap and
V.F l. IA
wide driveway that led to the iron
gates, and looked up at the comfort
able white house that he had always
known as his home. There were
acres Of rolling close-clipped lawns
dotted with noble trees Flower beds
bOrdered all the paths and on sunny
slope was a pretty rose garden. 1t
all showed the care of the old black
gardener who was now fussing among
a row Of gorgeous dahlias.
It IVES not a magnificent home. but
it was a handsome one. and Harry
Bashford had never known anything
different until a year ago. He had
been the petted son of the great mill
owner Harry Bashford. and had been
permitted to graduate from college
with a higher record for athletics and
a general good time than for bril-
Iiancy in his studies.
Let the boy enjoy himself" he
cried to expostulating Friends. I've
made money enough to keep him the
rest of his days in idleness if he
chooses. The Bashford mills are built
on a sol foundation of hard cash, and
if I step out my brother David will run
the whole thing, and all Harry will
have to do will be to draw his share
of the profits"
Under no circumstances could be
lieve that you are pursuing a safe
course with your son." his friend, Dr.
Bell had said gravely. Hasn't the lad
any ambitions of his OWN"
Full Of 'em-wants to help me out
in the mill. but l don't want him
around Time enough when I'm gone
if he has a taste for the knitting bust
ness. never had a good time when
was a youngster. and l want Harry
to have his fling" chuckled Bashford.
He won't thank you for it, Bash
ford" muttered the doctor. turning on
his heel and stamping of
Dr. Bell was right Harry Bash
ford was recalled from his foreign
travels to attend the funeral of his
father. suddenly stricken with heart
disease. After it was all over Harry
and his mother departed for Europe.
leaving the business in the hands of
David Bashford. a man of many the
cries and extraordinarily impractical
IN business affairs. Balanced by his
partner. the dead man, he had man
aged TO pin himself down to conserva-
tive business methods
Now that his brother was dead and
the widow and son were travelling
abroad, David allowed himself full
swing in the matter of experimental
Improvements in the mills as well as
q dip into the excitement of Wall
street speculation.
When Harry and his mother we're
summarized hOFna by n OarPm nforv "a