The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-03-18

holding your tongue said Mr.. Blagden
quite severely. When he spoke in that
tone or voice, Chetwynd always sub
sided. LAS 1 was saying, Presbrey, we
may as well defer in the case of Mary
though God knows 1 do not want to
run the risk of being too late"
IT fancy no harm can come to her
for some years. She is 9, I believe"
said Mr.. Presbrey.
Nine" said Mr.. Blagden. last
April"
"of course" agreed three voices, al
most in unison.
Eric Is developing very marked
traits that-er, ahem!-You might say
they are quite ominous," said Mr..
Blagden. H has a temper and a ten
dency to let go of it without any eff
fort at self restraint. I regret to say
that he has formed the habit of throw
ing stones at Chetwynd-frequently. so
my boy informs me, when his back is
turned. THAI trait, believe me, is dis
tinctly hereditary. 1t isn't necessary,
I'm sure, for,me to go into the private
history of his father. Suffice it to say,
he was a man of violent temper, with a
disposition to-er, ahem-to shed blood.
l regret to add hat the children's
mother also took q lawless view of the
proprieties. 1t is our duty to paint the
picture as strongly, as vigorously as
we can for Eric's sake. He must be
made to see the handwriting on the
wall. He must be warned in time. We
may be able to check or divert the
evil tendencies that accrue to him by
nature"
I'm other Words said Mr.. Presbrey,
we must obstruct nature. I quite UNI
derstand my dear Mr.. Blagden.r
Precisely" agreed Horace.
we should pray for the poor boy"
hegan Mrs. Presbrey. Mr.. Blagden
with 3 deprecatory smile. He was still
vaguely conscious of a remote period
IN his life When his admiration for Julia
Crowden rose almost to the Importance
or love. That was when he was Is and
she was %. He was now 45. and she
had been the wife OF his pastor for IL
years. He never looked at her with
out experiencing a sort of speculative
wonder, very faint, very vague and
plainly reminiscent
The time for prayer has passed." he
protested. I'VE must use a little COM
mon sense now He fastened to set
hihaseif arlsht: DC not misunder-
stand me, Julia. ST MANY of nv pray
erS nave been answered that I. least
OF all. should deny the efficacy of
prayer. l Will say, however. that nv
prayers have always been supplement-
ed by a certain amount of purely hu-
man ~endeavor." He was unconscious
" humorous, despite his serious mien.
HNhat l mean is this: We can't HELM
Eric with prayer unless we are able to
secure his cooperation. We can't OBJ
tain that without first telling him
what its all about. Do you get nv
m~eaning?"
1T is perfectly clear" said Mr.. Pres
orey, folding his napkin with grave
preciscion, so that the initial "B" re-
manned in view.
Perfectly" his wife agreed.
"Wfat would you suggest?" asked
Mrs. Blagden.
NJ: Presbrey was tactful. He lev
elied his gaze upon a huge Delft platter
on the plate rail above Mrs. Blagden's
prim couture, and pondered. He pom
dersd long enough to permit his diplo-
macy to bring results. The effort was
successful. Mr.. Blagden offered the
Suggestion.
Il suppose we'd better nave Eric in
tne library at once. Ring for Martha.
please. He directed the request to his
wife, who at once tangled the little sill
yer hand bell that stood beside the
Warsaw candlestick. Martha" said he
when the ancient domestic ppeared
in the door. send Master Eric to the
library at once"
49, x as IIoidCe was concerned tina
conference was over. 1t was now time
for action.
"Eric's gone to bed sir" announced
| Martha.
1T isn't his bedtime" said Mrs. Blae-
den sternly.
No, ma'am, but he said his face was
hurting him So"
"Eis face?" demanded Mr.. Blagden.
who had not heard of the in
the arbor.
He said he fell off the fence and
bruised 1t, sir" said Martha, who
would not have repeated a lie for the
world. ~
Mrs. Blagden cleared her throat IN
easily. Her first impulse was to re-
man silent, but. on second thoughts.
she say a chance to discredit the bow in
the eyes Of his uncle. She knew that
Horace detested a lie.
Fell off the fence?" she exclaimed
He did nothing Of the sort. He at
tackled Chetwyrd, who was compelled
to thrash him sounGiy. Now, WHY
should he tell such a lie as that?"
Mr.. Blagden possessed a sense Of ms
ace. You are much larger than Eric,
Chetwynd," he said, turning a BIT red
in the face.
He threw a brick ut me. I punched
him in self defense" said his son. after
a scowl of amazement at mis- mother.
You may go, Martha" said Mr..
Bladgen, for once a bit c~onfounded
But stay. If he isn't asleep. tell him
TO get up and come down at once
Pound hard on the door before Won
ask him II he's asleep" advised the re-
sourceful Chetwynd.
Continued next week.)