Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-04-22
CHAPTER Ix.-fcontinued.\

CHAPTER IX.-(continucd.t
At dinner that evening Gene was
very laxative. He told of his life on
the ranch, of iLe methodicaI monot-
ony, of its seclusion, for he saw little
of his neighbors and seldom went in
TO the town. Rose listened with eager
interest, and the old man with a sulky,
gloWering attention. At intervals he
shot a piercing look at his boy, eying
him sidewise with a cogitating intent
ness of observation His remarks
were few, but Gene was so loquaci0us
that there was little opportunity for
another voice to be heard He FRAT
tied on like a happy child, recounting
the minutest details of his life after
the fashion or those who live much
alone
In the light of the crystal lamp that
spread a rufTied shade Of yellow silk
over the center of the table. he was
seen to be quite unlike his father or
sister. His jet-black hair and Uniform
ly pale skin resembled mis- mothers.
but his face in its full, rounded con-
tours, slightly turned-up nose, and
eyebrows as thick as strips of fur.
had heaviness hers had lacked
Some people thought him gCod-looking.
and there was a sort OF unusual, Latin
picturesqueness in the combination OF
his curly black hair, which he wore
rising up in a bulwark of waves from
his forehead, his white skin, and the
small, dark mustache, delicate as an
eyebrow. that shaded his upper lip. It
was one of his fathers grievances
against him that he would have made
Il pretty girl, and that his soft, affec
tionate character would have been
quite charming in a woman. Now.
listening to him, it seemed TO the
Older man as If 1t were just the kind
Of talk one might expect from Gene
The father had difficulty in suppress
ing snort of derision when he heard
the young man recounting to Rose his
troubles with his Chinese cook.
Before dinner was over Gene ex-
cused himself on the plea that he was
going to the theater.
I'm such a hayseed now" he said
as he rose, that don't want TO miss
a thing. Haven't seen a play for six
months and I'm just crazy to see any
thing, Monte Christie" Uncle Toms
Cabin" 'East Lynne" I'm not par
icular, anythingll suit me"
Don't you go over TO San Luis?"
grOwled his father sulkily They
have plays there sometimes, l sup
pose"
or. yes, but I'm keeping out of
harm way. The boys in San Luis
don't understand and I'm not going to
put myself in the way of temptation.
You know, father. want that ranch"
He turned laughing glance on his
father: and the old man, with a sheep
ishly-discomfted expression, grunted
an unintelligible reply and bent over
his plate.
He did not raise his head till Gene
had left the room, when. looking up.
he leaned back in his chair and said
with a plaintive sigh:
What a damned fool that boy Isl"
Rose was up in arms at once.
Why. papa, how can you say that!
Especially when you see how he's i'm
proved. It's wonderful He's another
man. You can tell in a minute he's
not been drinking. he takes such an
interest in everything and is so fun
of work and plans"
rs he?" said her father dryly.
Maybe so, but that don't prevent him
from being a damned fool"
You're unjust 10 Gene. Why do
you think he's a fool?"
Just because he happens to be one.
You might as we'll ask me why think
the sun rises in the east and sets in
the west. That's what il does, and (
when l say it does. I'm not criticizing
or complaining. I'm only stating the
plain facts"
Rose made murnur of protest and
he went on.
You're queer cattle. you women. | |
suppose a Teller could live in the
world hundred years and not under
stand you There's Della Ryan, for
example, the brainiest woman I know. !
could give most men cards and spades
and beat EN- hands down. Last night
az ROCKY bar NneN were telling me
that she's written 70 the operator there
and told him she'll get him posi-
ton here in the Atlantic and Pacific
Cable Company. in which she's a large
stockhoder, that1l double his salary
and give him chance he'd never
have got in this world. She wants 10 I
pay of a mortgage on ranch Perley I
has in the Sacramento Valley and (
she's sent Mrs. Periey a check or
i've hundred dollars She's offered
Willoughby a tirst-rate job on the Red
Calumet grodp of mines near Sonora
in which Con had a controlling inter
est. and she's written 10 the doctor 70
come down and become one OF the
house physicians OF the ST. Filomena /
Hospital, which she practically runs.
She's ready to do all this because OF
what they did Cor Dominick. and yet
she. his own mother. won't give the
boy a cent and keeps him on starva-
PLAN SIBERIAN SEA ROUTES