Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-28
CHAPTER I.
TO the Money Born.


rose.garden where his mothers maid
with Irish blue eyes and bit of a
brogue, was gathering roses for her
mistress to take to the hospital on her
daily charitable round. Mrs. Todd sat
at her desk and regarded her sons
back with stern disapproval. She was
talking and emphasizing each of her
remarks with q little rap Of the paper
cutter.
mo wonder life is burden to you,
Algernon." @
1T isn't, mama" returned Algernon
cheerfully reassuringly. wealth. he
added with gentle eloquence, turning
q moment from his contemplation OF
the girl in the sunshine among the
roses to regard his mother in mild
benevolence. wealth is the express
WAGON for most OF the burdens Of life. "
Mrs, Todd frowned. THAT is pre-
cisely my objection, Algernon, to your
way Of living. You think because
YOU have wealth that nothing is re-
quired Of you" :, ;,
Nothing is, mama, but my wealth,
and Algernon heaved a gentle sigh.
"You know that that Is not so. Al
gernon. Even If you are rich, you are
. man and the world requires you to
play the part OF one. You should
have something to live for and work
for, something. worth while. You
dawile time away like so much rub
Dish. Why should your life, you, your.
self. be absolutely worthless just be-
cause your parents are rich? You are
thoroughly lazy, Algernon, just as
lazy as one OF these tramps you can
see any day, sleeping by the roadside.
There Is no difference between you.
They refuse to work and so do you.
You are as worthless as they are.
Can't you see It? Can't you feel It,?
I am very firm about this, Algernon,
for It touches me so deeply
"That's a deuced pretty girl" said
Algernon. "Jove, mama, l admire
pretty face"
"Aigernon, have you been listening
to me?"
eyes, indeed. Heard every word
you said. II you are through. l think
/ shall do as the song says, go gather
the rosebuds while I may" And hum
ming softly, he fumbled with the latch
Of the French window
Mrs. Todd lprided hirself on her self.
control "Algernon," said she coldly,
politely suppressed, ''if 1t will not inter.
fere with your pleasure too much, |
simply request that you kindly wait
until I am through talking with you"
Algernon turned sweetly. That's
all right mama. Don't aqouogize. l
would Just as lief wait as not" He re.
moved his glass, wiped it carefully and
replaced il with contented sigh.
"Algernon, would like your entire
attention. Kindly take that chair
and stop ogling my maid"
Algernon sank into more comfor.
table chair than the one his mother
indicated, tucked some pillows behind
his back and smiled sweetly, cheerful
". II shall take this one If you do
not mind" said he. "And if 1t is all
the same to you, mama, shall smoke
and then we shall both be comfortable
and can enjoy long chat" He drew
out little gold cigarette case, select.
ed a cigarette with great care, lighted
Il and leaned back. "Ah," he sighed
contentedly, "cigarettes and being in
love which Is the more fascinating?
But go on, mama. You were saying?"
'l was saying that you are thorough
" lazy and shiftless," snapped the
good lady. "Algernon, why don't you
make something Of yourself and your
opportunities"
Algernon waved his hand. THAT is
1ust the trouble, mama, have no op-
portunities. An opportunity is SIM
ply the chance to make money or
obtain fame. have all the money
want, and what Is fame?" He half
closed his eyes, waited little cloud
of smoke upward and smiled thought
fully as it hung in mid-air, perfect
ring, before slowly disappearing.
'"rell me, Algernon, in what way are
you any better than one Of the toughs
you see on the benches in the park
warm afternoons, while his poor wife
is taking In washing so the lout can
have money for his tobacco?"
'sGive it up" said Algernon. II was
never strong on conundrums."
II am serious, Algernon. Please do
me the honor Of being so, too. Your
f1ippancy is uncalled for. This is the
most important time of your life, the
time when you can choose your
Cdu ldhO w udl lSe'o you "oAS'
Later, it will be impossible You will
have to follow for good or evil the
path you choose now, in your youth.
If you have no ambition for yourself,
ask you to have some for me. |
want to see you something more than
a lazy good-for-nothing nonenity like
the rest Of the crowd you persist in
going with. Have you no ambition?'
1T is so warm. In winter am am
bilious, mama, and you know it. Last
winter made the polo team in south
ern California and the winter before I
won the pennant in the Florida-Ber-
muda races. Some fellows 60 in for
summer sports, I know, but Just as
soon as it gets warm, I lose all desire
to shine"
'You know quite well that l do not
mean any Of those things, Algernon.
Sport is only the rich mans excuse to
kill time. By ambition, mean the de-
sire to do something fine that will
bring honor to our name and will give
me reason to be proud of you"
"What do you want me to do?
asked Algernon, politely concealing a
yawn behind his long white hand.
Get place in the office, write
take an interest in the political affairs
u III