Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-03
Chapter XXI.

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Copyright, 1917, Star Company.
Two days later Tom Norton's school
report reached his father.
/ was informed of this fact by Mrs.
Gore. / had noticed at breakfast a
prevalent atmosphere of gloom. Tom
was quiet, and his face was dark. Mr..
Norton was taciturn, eating rapidly,
as was his wont when perturbed. MIS-.
Gore made an occasional futile re-
mark which fell fiat. At last she, too,
lapsed into silence.
Isn't daddy displeased this morn
ing, Miss Dart?" Grace questioned
me as we left the dining room. Per
haps Toms done something naughty,
don't you think?"
Hush, dear, he will hear you,"
warned.
who was right behind us, did.
"Stop in my room for a minute,
won't you, Miss Dart?" she proposed
as we reached the second floor.
Grace, you can run away and tell
your father goodby before he goes
downtown, then come back up here.
l did not protest, although / feared
the child might interrupt some con-
ference between father and son. 1t
was not my business to interfere with
what Mrs. Gore thought right and
proper.
"Grace was asking you If Tom had
been naughty" the widow said when
we were alone in her room: The
truth is that my poor brother is much
upset about Toms report, which
reached him last evening. 1t seems
that the boy has failed again in alsc-
bra and geometry. I cannot under
stand why he does such things"
Perhaps he has no aptitude for
mathematics" I suggested. 'I heard
1T hof Il them
mo, and he never has. But that's
no excuse for his failing as often as
he does. I could blame him less If he
was not able to pass in everything
else. That he does pass in other
studies proves that he has fair mind
and could get good marks in algebra
and geometry If he took the trouble
"oh, 1 hardly think that, Mrs.
Gore!" I demurred. II have known
cases of students who, for instance,
had no difficulty in acquiring Ian
guages and yet failed lamentably In
mathematics. ] am sorry for the boy"
A Scolding for Tom
ct am sorrier for his father" Mrs.
Gore retorted. tom worries him
dreadfully. AS for me, ! don't pre-
tend to understand the child. He re-
sents any suggestions of mine as TO
his manners and ways. ] hate to see
Brewster all upset like this over his
only son."
'what is Mr.. Norton going to do
about it?" asked.
well, I don't quite know. If Tom
! is to pass his examinations next fall
| for college he will have to make up
for lost time by studying this summer.
He will have to be sent away to come
place to study-or he will have to
work at home. Personally, believe
the former plan would be The better
| to send him away from home again."
My heart ached for the boy; but ]
held my peace. Grace. coming in Just
then. spared me the necessity of
| further reply. When she and were
upstairs preparing to begin her les-
son she confided to me that when she
went downstairs just now her father
was scolding Tom very hard"
$50 didn't stay there" she added
shrewdly.
That noon Grace and I. having fin
ished the mornings lessons. were
strolling together along Riverside
/ Drive and met Tom Norton. His
hands were in his pockets, and he
was gazing moodily on the path at his
feet. Grace stopped short in front of
| him.
"Hello. Toni" she greeted him.
| He started nervously. "Oh. hello!"
he returned gruffly. Then. seeing me,
At that instant Grace ran over TO
steamer. This gave me an opportuni-
If you are not in a hurry, why