Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-09-06

sort OF scientific interest for him
which was deeper than the personal
and over which the disappointed mag
nate would ponder.
AS Gene grew older and his intern
perance assumed more serious proper
tons, the fathers scorn grew more
open and was augmented by a sort or
exasperated dislike. The bonanza
King had no patience with those who
failed from ill-health or the persistent
prosecutions OF bad luck. His conten-
ton was that they should not have
been Ill, and they should have con-
quered their bad luck. He had not eX-
cuses for those who were beaten back
against the waii-oniy death should
be able to do that. But when 1t came
to a useless, hampering vice. weak
ness that in itself was harmless
enough, but that was allowed to gain
paralyzing proportions, his original
contempt was intensified into fierce
intolerance which would have been
terrifying II It had not been tempered
with an Indifferent disdain.
Roses attitude toward her brother
was a source Of secret wonder to him.
She loved the feeble youth; a tie OF
the deepest affection existed between
them, upon which Genes intemperanCe
seemed to have no effect. The Bonan-
"a King had always admitted that the
ways Of the gentler sex were beyond
10 han hfff hxa
women he had known best-his wife
and his daughter-should have Law
ished the tenderest love upon an In
temperate. incompetent, useless weak
ling was to him one OF the fathomless
mysteries Of life.
1t was Roses suggestion that Gene
should be withdrawn from temptation
by sending him to the country. AS
the only son OF Bill Cannon he was
the object OF variety Of attentions
and allurements in the city to which
a stronger-willed man might have sue
cumbed. The father readily agreed to
the plan. He could graciously sub
scribe to all Rose said, as the removal
Of Genes amiable visage and unin-
spired conversation would not cause
him any particular distress or sense
Of loss.
But when Rose unfolded the whole
Of her scheme he was not 80 enthu-
siastically in accord with her. II was
that Gene should be put on his fathers
ranch-the historic Rancho OF the
Santa Trinidad near San Luis Obispo
as manager. that all responsibility
should be placed In his hands. and
that II, during one years probation.
he should remain sober and maintain
a record OF quiet conduct and general
good behavior, the ranch should be
turned over to him as his own prop
erty, to be developed on such lines as
he thought best.
The Rancho of the Santa Trinidad
was one of the finest pieces OF agri'
cultural property in California. The
Bonanza King visited 1t once a year,
and at intervals received crates OF
fruit and spring chickens raised upon
II. This was about all he got out
Of It, but when he heard Rose calmly
arranging to have 1t become Genes
property, he felt like a man who sud
denly finds himself being robbed. He
had difficulty in restraining a roar
of refusal. Had It been any one but
Rose he would not have restrained 1t
or course he gave way to her. as he
always did. He even gave way grace
fully with an effect of a generosity toe
large to bother over trifles. not be
cause he felt It but because he did
not want Rose to guess how 1t went
against him" Under the genial bland
ness of his demeanor he reconciled
himsel. to the situation by the thought
that Gene would certainly never keep
sober for a year, and that there was
therefore no fear Of the richest piece
of land in the state passing into the
, hands of that dull and incapable
young man.
The year was nearly up now. II
had but three months to run and
Genes record had been exemplary
He had come to the city only twice
when his father noticed with a jeal
ously-watchful eye that he had been
resolutely abstemious in the matter OF
liquor and that his interest in the
great property he managed had been
the strongest he had so far evinced In
anything The thought that Gene
might possibly live up to his side OF
the bargain and win the ranch caused
the old man to experience that feeling
of blank chagrin which is the state OF
mind Of the Unexpectedly swindled
He felt like a king who has been dar
ingly and successfully robbed by a
slave.