Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-05-13

his honor. Ii was not | who damned
Mary and Philip Midthorne. They saw
to that we'll enough for themselves. But
| did not mean TO hurt YOU, Forgive
me-
Il can't forgive everything" groaned
the boy.
You owe me a great deal more than
YOU can ever realize. Ii was l, Eric, who
took YOU and Mary by the hand and
lifted YOU up from the dirt. into which
o We're cast. 1t is 4 who have given
you an honored, u noble place in the
world. And how BY means of n
name that, of itself. stands unsullied.
No man has ever questioned the name
of Rladgen. With that name to sup
port you, YOU have become a credit and
a yes, a blessing to Corinth. That
name will carry YOU to fields of greater
honor and distinction. So long as it is
behind % in the-er-Nou might say
the flesh and blood. YOU have nothing
To fear. represent the name, | am
the name. If | east you off, the world
VIII never pick YOU up. There you
have ii. DO | make myself clear
1t did not occur to Eric to resent the
sublime egotism in his speech. All
amy other time he would have snick-
cred. perhaps, for he had a rare sense of
humor, but now he could not fail to be
impressed by the seriousness of his un-
cle's words.
s'lii = ~ IN A'-'' ~ 49,
that if / say anything about Chetwynd
stealing my
Don't use that word,'' snapped Mr..
Blagden.
IF | mention it, modified the boy.
you will kick me out?"
Il VIII not have anyone about me
who wilfully, deliberately seeks to de
stroy the credit of the name ! bear"
said the other, succinctly.
"How about C~hetwynd?'
DO you mean to argue all night with
me-"
81 should have some rights. sir"
You are too young to talk about
rights. You will have them when the
proper time comes. | will see to that.
This little disappointment you've eX-
perienced today is but a trifle in the
harvest of pleasures you may reap
with my help and my friendship. Lis
ten, Eric. l am very serious. must
insist that you look at this from my
point of view. 1t means so much to
me. 1t can mean very little to you. In
a week, Nou will have forgotten the
pangs of disappointment, while | could
never hold up my head again in Cor
NTH if YOU were to tell this story to the
world. People would believe enough
Of it TO make life a hell for me. L
could not beat it down. 1t would never
die. And Chetwynd's only chanc
would be gone. He can be saved. He
must be saved. He is not a bad boy at
heart. He-he has been sopiled."
The mans lip trembled, and his voice
| show ever so slightly in the u]tterance
of this humiliating confession.
1t was on the point of Eric's tongue
to hlurt out the ugly tale of Chetwynd's
treatment of Mary, but he held back his
| words. This was an affair between him
and Chetwynd.
It's hard, mighty hard. Uncle Hor-
ace" he said. dropping into a chair and
| putting his face in his hands.
w all have hard duties to perform.
We all AVE harsh debts to pay, my
lad
What are you going to say to Chef
wynd. if L do keep still? He will know
that / know. TIT will be awkward"
Il shall demand of him the truth. l
shall compel him to go to you and adj
NIT his-er-his error. You nay"
I'd rather you'd not ask him to do
that objected Eric, in stifled tones.
Its best not to do it. Let it go as
it is. Say hat you like to him. Uncle,
but don't let him come to me about it.
Ill-lll& let it stand as it is, but l won't
have anything more added to it. That's
what it would mean if he tried to apollo
gise. We couldn't get through with it
gracefully. that's all"
Mr.. Blagden placed his hand on the
bent shoulder of the defeated boy.
81 am glad that YOU see it rs you
should see it, Eric, You nave taken the
proper course, believe nle l shall not
forget 1t. 1t is understood, then, that
er. aheml-that it goes no farther"
Yes, sir. I'll stand for it," in muf-
fled tones.
The telephone bell tinkled once more.
Eric waited until his uncle motioned
for him to take the message.
His aunt was on the wire, asking
what kept them at the bank. He in
formed her they We're starting for
home at once. Then she said some
smile to his lips. He waited until she
was through. and then said:
NO, it isn't that. Don't be worried.
Aunt Rena."
will you get my hat and stick, now:
We will be late for dinner. P%unctual.
lily is a virtue, Eric, that is only sur
passed by uns~elfishness. All, thank
YOU
He accepted his hat and cane from
the hands Of his nephew, carefully
placing the n on his grey head and
g%rasping the other firmly.
Smith will straighten up the room.
He must be wondering what keeps me
here SO late. 1T is quite dark. Dear
me, Smith must be puzzled. By the
by, Eric, l nay go to Boston this week.
1t has occurred to me that l can, after
all, arrange to lake the room you want
i might say covet-n Cambridge for
next fall. Yon remember ! told you 2
few weeks & 1t wouldn't be possible
on ccount of the expense. Well. i
think 1t can be arranged"
"Thank o uncle" said Eric, rather
iifeIessly.
They passed out of the building and
descended the broad stone steps lead
ing to the sidewalk. Street lamps were
being lighted by men who made a
pretense of hurrying up and down the
quiet ~thoroughfare. Corinth was still
using the primitive gas lamp on its
streets, although the world at large
a been illuminated by electricity for
years. 1t seems that Blagden, ct al,
owned the lighting franchise for the
town. and they believed in letting well
enough alone. At least, until they
could get their price from the outside
capitalists who were ready to put in
a big electric plant. The Corintb
Electric Light company supplied the
homes and the business houses with
light, but the municipality was con-
tent, perforce, to cling to it's ancient
friend, the lamp post-staid and trus.-
ed teetotaler that v went out
nights.
Uncle and nephew walked side by
side up the narrow sidewalk, homeward
N@ MI