The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-04-01

Given, a boy who has had arrogance
as a birthright, snobbishness as a prod
uct, and moral stealth as a necessity.
add two years OF athletic triumph at
Harvard. and you a C~hetwynd.
He went In for boxing and punching
the bag. This was advised by his
trainers. In college there were stall
warts who could maui him with I'M
puntty-and acknowledgements Chet-
wynd really lacked moral tamina but
when he got C home for the sum
mer vacation or the holidays he rev.
elled in a perfect whirl Of boxing glove
victories. 1t was never quite fair to
hit Chetwynd hard, but it was an edu-
cation to be- slammed vigorously by
this elegant expert.
some time" was his usual response to
their objections" and the sooner the
better. Be a man"
Eric came in for some sound drub-
bings in the name of science. He was
slighter and not SO tall as his cousin,
but he was gamer than the rest of the
boys who put on the gloves with the
magnificent sophomore. While Eric
knew little OF boxing as it is taught,
he could stand punishment for the
sport OF the gaIne-and he could in
fict it, too.
More often thar not, Chetwynd was
compelled TO remind him in the thick
Of combat, that il he couldn't o like
q gentleman and not like q murderer
he would not take him on again.
Whereupon Eric, considerably depressed
and hurs would lose much OF his fierce
observation-disclosures
ness, and, as g result, received q les
son entirely satisfactory to Chetwynd.
"Oh, If I way only big enough!" the
boy cried time and again to old Jabez,
in announcing the result OF his most
recent contest.
You'll grow sonny" unused Jabez.
He's a coward at heart, and II you
wasn't so derned sensitive o could put
it all over him"
One day, toward the close OF the sum-
mer vacation. Eric succeeded IN draw
ing blood from Chetwynd's nose, and
in the fusillade hat followed, landed q
blow which discolored the big boys
eyes-a most ignonlinious illumination.
C~hstwynd. in wild rage, grappled with
his lighter antagonist, and, hurting him
to Il ground, beat him numerically,
all b time calling him a murderer's
son-and even worse.
Eric, as usual, carried his tale OF woe
to the old ama He was bitterly la
menting his unhappy position in the
Blagden family, n the insults he was
forced to endure, hen a stranger ap-
peared on the scene.
1t was q warm September day. and
-A--t - 5000 "a NLAS SA-S AASS
The shade trees just inside the gates to
the park. Eric was nursing g bruised
cheek and g. twisted elbow. He had
experienced some difficulty in evading
his sister and Joan Bright, the one
girl in Corfnth who held an undisputed
place in his loyal young heart. They
were playing croquet on the lawn n
he, in shame-faced defeat, had been
obliged to crawl over a back fence on
leaving the cellar-(where the boxing
f. z1-v.c fnnl- yionaA =, D-S ~ 70 ,~iI
3 meeting and certain explanations. He
would have given much to be able. to
stride before Joan Bright, a victor
over the bully in whom, for reasons in
applicable to Eric. h professed to
have a marked interest Joan, by the
not quite Ii and amazingly pretty.
But, I am OF the point Of DEPRESSING.
It call doesn't matter about Joan al
this particular juncture. She will come
in later, very handily. I'm sure. 1t is
only necessary to repeat that, by sldlful
lodging, he managed to skirt the lawn
without coming face to face with the
girls, and reached the friendly bench
on which he n Jabez vas found by
the strange I came SO lea to over
looking Which would nave been q de-
plorabIe oversight. as he is to have a
most important part in the unrayelIinE
Of this tale.
He was stock. well-put-up sort of
man with a ngularl hard and forbid
ding face, recently shaved; his cold
l grey eyes were set far back in his head
and were shaded by straight, bushy
brows of black His mouth was wide
and rather sinister in Its expression.
There was a suggestion Of a smile in
its corners but not a smile OF rnirth;
rather one of derision- Eric's first
glimpse of him came when he happened
TO turn his eyes, as If urged by an i'm
pulse that was far from voluntary, In
gate. The stranger, in his shirt sleeves
and smoking a short pipe, was leaning
in the doorway, idly surveying the two
on the bench. The boy started for g
moment, the words dying on his lips.
1t was the first lime he had seen g
human being, other than old Jabez
about the little house. He was a
once struck by the fact that the strang-
er was quite at home and on familiar
terms with the gate keeper.
Eric never knew why 1t was, but hi
suddenly found himself contrasting thi,
!, hard featured individual and the ascetic
. pious eyed tormentor of his soul, tn,
i excellent Mr.. Presbrey. He was aft.
/ erward to enjoy the humor of that ludi.
crous comparison.
"Oh," said old Jabez, with a start
that's my son Eric. He's stopping II
{ town for a week or two, SOS he cal
come over to spend his vacation will
me-. Adam. come here and shake hand
with my young friend, Mr.. Eric Mid
. thorne."
! The man came forward, extending hi
i hand. A half smile grew in his weathe
t beaten face.