The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-01
CHAPTER ~.
THE ENTRANCE OF ADAM CARR

THE ENTRANCE OF ADAM CARR
MI. Presbrey came the next day and
for many days thereafter with a reg
ularity that deserved something more
Il was about to say better) than he
mere salvation Of two small souls.
Sometimes he got 1t, and sometimes
he didn't. 1t all depended on what
Mrs. Blagden had in the house.
In any event, he was sincere in the
task unto which he had set himself. I
am not trying to make Mr.. Presbrey
out a hyprocrite. He was not that. He
honestly, firmly believed that he va
following the dictates Of a Christian
spirit in bedevilling the heart sick boy
with his words Of advice, and caution,
and consolation. At least, there was
attached to his prerogative all the vir-
tues to be found in good wool-it wore
well and did not shine.
Eric, after the effects of that cruel
night had washed themselves away in
tears, rose manfully to the e~xigencies
forgetting his own troubles In he re-
solve to lessen hers. She could not
fail to respond to the strength and
earnestness Of his devotion. Young as
she was, she recognized the spirit Of
unselfishness, the real heroism that
moved him to think first of her, hen
OF himself She was never to forget
liz OA6N AC" u"yo ~ Ab6 NAAc
wretched awakening. Somehow 1t
came to her that Brio was a grown
man and a strong one, with the will
and the power to stand between her
and all adversely, all things cruel and
unkind.
Together, they submitted to the i'm
portunities Of the good pastor. endur-
Ing with a grace that had all the
marks of a patient sullenness. They
were temporarily broken; they had no
power Of initiatives; they could not
even nourish the resentment that
ploughed, narrowed hearts. They lis
tened numbly to the ~unceasing repeti-
ton Of such sentences as these, com
ing not only from the Presbreys, but
their uncle and aunt as well: .
TT Is all for the best, my dears."
you will hank us some day"
God Is good. He will show you the
way" ss..
"a contrite heart, etc"
you must not b. allowed to follow
in the footsteps Of your unhappy faith
er, Eric?"
I'VE would not be doing our CHS
tan duty If we failed to warn you
against the impulses that wrecked your
misguided mother"
your uncle knows best, Eric?"
your aunt knows best, Mary"
, ''Mr. Presbrey knows best, children
TneSe, ana oLner co~nconntantS OF
woe.
Chetwynd's ~oft-repeated fling was
this, with appropriate variations:
" You're q nice n to talk, you are
The older boy lever missed the OPP
~portunity to grill his wretched victim
with s%cornful illusions to the Mid
thorne courage" ''the Midthorne hon
or" the Midthorne virtue" ''the Mid
thorne prospects,"
Eric's half hour with that unfor-
tunate. though kindly prevaricator.
Jabez Carr, was N that the old man
was not likely to forget, ven In his
years OF falling memory. The boy
burst in upon him while the ignoble
wounds in his heart were still tester
ing, and his pathetic arraignment of
the old seaman was the very essence Of
gall. He did not blame, but rather
thanked the old man for his deliberate
deception, and yet there was that In
his words which compelled Jabez to
look upon himself as the veriest black
guard unhung, the most misguided fool
alive. Fol days thereafter, the bluff
old fellow moped; and when he was not
moping, he was cursing himself; and
when he was not doing that he was
cursing Horace Elagden. / will not
attempt to enumerate the countless
and varied devices practiced. by the
old man to win back the confidence OF
HIS young friend, nor viii ! try to de-
scribe his alternating moods as these
devices ~prospered or shriveled. This