The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-05-13

~NNE ~ AASh l1A IN W. AA|f -
chance to save a boys soul, as we'll as
his honor. 1t was not | who damned
Mary and Philip Midthorne. They saw
to that we'll enough for themselves. But
l 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. 1t was l. Eric, who
took you and Mary by the hand and
lifted you UP from the dirt, into which
you were cast. 1t is / who have given
you an honored, a noble place in the
world. And how? By means OF a
name that, of itself. stands unsullied.
No a has ever questioned the name
of Bladgen. 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 IL Is
behind you in the-er-you might say
the flesh and blood, you hav nothing
to fear. l represent the name. I am
the name. If / cast you off, the world
Will never pick you up. There you
have 1t. Do l max myself clear?"
1t did not occur to Eric to resent the
sublime egotism in this speech. At
any other time he would ave snick-
cred, perhaps, for he had a rare n OF
humor, but now he could not fail to be
impressed by the seriousness of his I'M
cle's words.
Am I to understand, Uncle Horace,
that II l say anything about Chetwynd
stealing my"
Don't use that word" snapped MI.
Blagden.
IF I mention it." modified the boy,
you will kick me out?"
Il will not have anyone about me
who wilfully, deliberately seeks to de-
stroy the credit Of the name i bear
said the other, succinctly.
How about Chetwynd?"
do you mean to argue all night with
me?"
Il should have some rights, sir"
You are too young to talk about
rights. You will have them when the
proper time comes. l will see to that.
This little disappointment you've ex-
perienced today is but a trifle In the
harvest of pleasures you may rear
with my help and my friendship. Lis
ten, Eric. I am very serious. must
insist that you look at this from my
point of view. 1t means so much to
me. 1t can NEAR very little to you. In
a week, you will have forgotten the
pangs Of disappointment, while I could
never hold up my head again in Cor
NTH II 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.. It would never
| ul6. ana Sutl" IIu > OIly CLdIlCc
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, inc his voice
show ever so slightly in the utterance
OF this humiliating confession.
1t vas on the point of Eric's tongue
to blurt out the ugly tale of Chetwynd's
words. This was an affair between him
n Chetwynd,
ITS hard. mighty hard, Uncle Hor-
ace" he said, dropping into a chair and
putting his face in his hands.
we all have hard duties to perform.
We all have harsh debts to pay, my
lad"
What are you going to say to Chef
wynd, If l do keep still? He will know
that l know. lit will be awkward
Il shall demand of him the truth. l
shall compel him to go to you and ad-
NIT his-er-his error. You may"
I'D rather you'd not ask him to do
that" objected Eric, in stifled tones.
It's best not to do 1t. Let 1t &c as
1t Is. Say what you like to him, Uncle,
but don let him come to me about ii.
rl-Tli let 1t stand as it is, but 1 won't
have anything more added to II. 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.
II am glad that yOu see 1t as you
should see 1t, Eric. You have taken the
proper course, believe me. 1 shall not
forget 1t. 1t is understood, then, that
er, ahem!-that 1t 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 h wire, asking
what kept them at the bank. He in
home at once. Then h said mn
thing that brought a bitter, scornful
smile to his lips. He waited until she
was through, and then said:
mo, it isn't that. Dom be worried,
Aunt Rena."
will you get my hat and stick, now:
| We will be late for dinner. Punctual-
passed by u~nselfishness. All, thank
you"
He accepted his hat and cane from
the hands Of his nephew, carefully
placing the n on his grey head and
grasping the other firmly.
Smith will s%traighten up the room.
He must be wondering VIA keeps me
here so late. 1t is quite dark. Dear
me, Smith must be puzzled. By the
by, Eric, l may go to Boston this week.
1t has occurred to me that 1 can, after
all, arrange to take the room you want
Il might say covet-h Cambridge for
next fall. You remember l told you O
few weeks ago It wouldn't be possible
on account Of the expense. Well. I
think II can be arranged"
Thank o uncle" said Eric, rather
lifelessly.
They passed out of the building and
descended the broad stone steps lend
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 it's
streets, although the world at large
had been Illuminated by electricity for
years. 1t seems that Blagden, ct al,
owned the lighting franchise for the
town, and they believed in letting we'll
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 Corinth
Electric Light company supplied the
homes and the business houses with
light. but the municipality was con-
tent, p~erforce, to cling to its ancient
friend, the lamp ~post--staid and trust
| cd faafOfQIar that naVaF wont nnf