The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-19
BaShfOrd
Pride
By Marion Gordon

starve!" cried Harry Bashford impa.
tiently.
I'D rather starve than have 1t said
a Bashford worked in the MILL" re.
torted his mother sternly.
WELL" and the young man drew a
deep breath. "all I've got to say Is that
the Bashfords will be pretty thorough.
ly despised root and branch II don't
60 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.
lcally
Il don't know that | mean anything
like that, mother, only it's this way:
OF course | 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 to
work as a common hand--but I'm not
fitted for anything else What do
knOw?-absOlutely nothing save how to
spend money" Harry spoke bit.
terly.
IF your Uncle David had not specu-
lated and lost his own money as we'll
as ours" grOaned Maria, flying to
what was always her last argument
when the matter came up for discus
sion as it did now daily.
We'll, he did lose it, and the mills
passed into other hands, and Uncle
David has been dead and buried for
year nOw-and here am hanging
around eating my head off If you
would only consent. mother, to my go
ing into the mill for awhile anyway
until" lie paused and a worried
frown 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 1t. | am
afraid your poor mother will not long
trouble you with her preposterOus no
lions Of proper self-respect-after
am gone you may disgrace the name
Of Bashford to your hearts content
| shall be beyond caring!"
Mrs. Bashford permitted her Devil.
dered 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
left the house. He paused on the
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-clippcd lawns
dotted with noble trees. Flower beds
b0rdered all the paths and on sunny
slope was a pretty rose garden. It
all showed the care OF the old black
gardener who was now fusslng among
a row Of gorgeous dahlias.
1t was not magnificent home, but
It was handsome one, and Harry
l,ashford had never known anything
different until year ago. lie had
been the petted son Of the great mill
owner. Harry BashfOrd, and had been
permitted to graduate from college
with higher record for athletics and
general good time than for bril-.
Iiancy In his studies Then had fol
lowed two years idlins about Europe
dreaming away most of the time in tn,
music centers of Germany. for Mr.
nashford had Il strange pride in see
ing his only son enjoy the wealth an
: earlier generation had struggled Il
accumulate.
, Let the boy enjoy himself" h,
cried to cXposjulating Friends I've
j. made money enough to keep him The
rest of his days in idlencss Ii h,
1 chooses. The lashford mills are hgil'
on sol foundation of hard cash. AM
G il step out my brother David Will rul
the whole thing. and all Harry vii
have To do will be 10 draw his shar,
Of tho profits"
s lnder no circumstances could Ne
: lieve that you are pursuing SAT,
course with your son" his friend, Or
, Bell had said grayely. Hasn't the Ia,
any ambitions of his ewne"
Full Of 'em-wants TO help me on
In the mill. but | don't want hin
around. Time enough when I'm gon,
II he has a taste for the knitting bust
ness. l never had good time whel
was youngster. and want liarr,
to have his fling" chuckled Bashford
He won't thank you for il. Bash
ford" muttered the doctor. turning OF
his heel and stamping OF
DR.. Bell was right. Harry Bash
ford was recalled from his foreig,
travels to attend the funeral o. hi
father. suddenly stricken with hear
disease. After II was all over Harr
and his mother departed for Europ,
leaving the business in the hands q
David Bashford. man Of many n,
cries and extraordinarily impractica
In business affairs. Balanced By nj
partner, the dead man, he had mar