The Irish standard., 1914-02-07

Piled In the tone and with the air Of
man seeking rather than comforting
q favor-the air Of q man fearing a
lecture on extravaganza
Carefully folding the check that loo
handed him. Mr.. Kershaw gave his
son a pleasant nod and said:
You're not looking very we'll. my
boy. Working too hard, guess. It
won't do. Joe. You must take caro- Of
yourself"
Eyes. father" Joe answered sheen
ishly.
With the check in his pocket and
whistling an air from the new opera.
Mr. Kershaw walked 1auntily out of
his sons Office.
That night Joe's duties as member
OF the Swifton vigilance committee
took him into gambling room. He
found faro bank and a keno game in
full operation, besides several small
tables surrounded by men plavinp
poker.
At first, the smoke from many
cigars affected Kershaw's sight and
respiration. and before he had become
accustomed to it, he heard his fathers
voice. The old gentleman was Just
saying in the most CHEEKY tones:
Give me $50 worth, and I'll have an.
other flutter."
That was enough for Joe. The
subsequent proceedings interested him
no more. He walked sorrowfully
away.
Though people were, naturally, diff.
dent of saying anything to the young.
er kers' w concerning the old gentle.
mans eccentricities, some things. in
evitably came to Joe's ears. Hardly
day passed on which he did not
hear something Of his fathers contin.
ued evil courses to make him anxious
and miserable.
But things reached climax when,
late one night. on his way home from
the club. Kershaw met his father with
a gang of young roysteners, marching
arm in arm down the middle of the
street, wearing their coats turned in
side out. and singing "Therell Be a
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight"
Catching sight Of his son, Mr.. Ker-
shaw broke away from his compan.
ions and darted up side street. Fol.
lowing. at leisurely, dignifled pace,
young Kershaw ran his quarry to
earth, near his own door.
Won't you come in and take
night-cap, father?" he asked.
The old gentleman accepted the in.
vttation, and over a cigar and a glass
of toddy he was the first to breach
the painful subject that occupied the
sons mind these days to the exclusion
of everything else.
Tell you what 1t is. Joe," he said.
I'm going to reform"
Reform" the young man echoed.
as II he considered his father the
most exemplary old gentleman in
the world
oh. you know, Joe. No need of
pretense between you and me. Fact
Is, Joe, I'm going to the bow.wows,
and you know it,
Il wouldn't say that, father"
why shouldn't say it, when it's
true. I'm disgrace to you, and
there's no use OF your denying it, But
I'm going to alter my hand. Trouble
is that didn't SOW my wild oats when
was young fellow. That was dead
wrong. It's always best to get il over
and done with A man may go along
to forty or fifty and think he's deuce
of swell on the water wagon, but if
he's got bias for playing the giddy
OK, it's bound to come out Still, that
doesn't alter the fact that I've been
trying to do so for long time, Joe.
but it's uphill work. Now, you know
the ropes, Joe; you've been through
the mill yourself. Tell me-what's
the best thing for fellow to do in
order to break away from it all. Give
the old man a straight tip. joe
We'll, father" Kershaw replied,
after moments reflection, you're
not an old man. You're good for
Is or 80 years yet; why don't you
marry and settle down."
You're right, boy That's what !
told you to do, few years ago-to
get married and settle down. Give me
your hand! What's sauce for the
goose is sauce for the gander. Yes.
Ill take my own medicine, too"
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