Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-07-05

Don't feel bad, dearie. l didn't mean
to hurt your feelin's. Excuse me,
was thinkin' out loud, sort Of"
She did not. answer at once, but turn
ed away 70 remove her cap. Then she
answered, without looking at him.
"He never forgot Them" she said.
Course he didn't. Well, you see,
didn't forget either"
1t was an unfortunate remark, mas
much as 1t drew, in her mind, a COM
parison between her handsome, digni-
fed father and his rude, uncultured
brother. The contrast was ever pres
ent in her thoughts, and she did not
need to be reminded of 1t. She made
no reply.
II was thinkin'," continued the cap
tain, conscious of having made mis-
take, "that maybe we might celebrate
somehow, In quiet way"
mo. l am not in the mood for-cele-
brations."
"Oh, I didn't mean fireworks and the
town band. just thought
please don't. I remember other
birthdays too WELL"
They had been great occasions, those
birthdays Of hers ever since she was a
little girl. On the eighteenth she made
her debut in society, and the gown she
wore on that memorable evening was
laid away upstairs, cherished me-
mento, to be kept as long as she lived.
10 oh roor ID oduoro Worran tool, ip6n
tie pains to please and surprise his
idolized daughter. She could not bear
to think Of another birthday, now that
he had been taken from her.
Her guardian pulled hie beard.
"Well," he observed ruefully, "then my
weak heads put my foot in 1t again, as
the Teller said. If amt careful I'll be
like poor cracked Philander Baker,
who lives with his sister over at Den
boro Center. The doctor told Phila1der
he was threatened with softenin' of
the brain, and the sister thanked him
for the compliment. You see, Caroline,
I wrote on my own hook and asked
Stevie to come home Saturday and
stay till Monday. l kind Of thought
you'd like to have him here"
"Oh, I should like that! But will he
come? Has he written your"
Hey? Yes, carlate he'll be on
deck. He's-er-yes, he's written me-"
He smiled as he answered As a
matter of fact, the correspondence be-
tween Stephen and himself had been
lengthy and voluminous on the part of
the former and brief and businesslike
on his own. The boy on his return to
college had found conditions" await
ing him. and the amount of hard work
involved in their clearance was not at
all to his taste. He wrote his guardian
before the first week was over assert
ing that the whole business was fool
ishness and waste of time. He
should come home at once, he said, and
he notified the captain that such was
his intention. Captain Elisha replied
with promptness and decision. If he
came home he would be sent back, that
was all. II realize you've got a job
ahead Of you, son." wrote the captain,
'but you can do it If you will. Fact Is
1 guess you've got to. So sail In and
show us what you're made Of"
Stephens answer was a five page
declaration of independence. He re-
fused to be bullied by any living man.
He had made arrangements to come to
New York on the following Monday,
and he was coming. AS to being sent
back, he wished his uncle to under.
stand that 1t was one thing to order
and another to enforce obedience To
which he received the following note:
I can't stop you from coming, Steve, ex-
cept by going to New Haven and holding
you by main strength. That I don't pro
pose to do for two reasons-first, that It
| Is too much trouble, and second, that It
amt necessary. You can come home once
IN awhile to see your sister, but you
mustn't do 1t till l say the word II YOU
do shall take the car fare out of your al
lowance. likewise board while you are here
and stop that allowance for month as a
sort of fine for mutiny. So you better
think 1t over spell. And il was you I
wouldn't write Caroline that was coming
or thinking of coming till l had nv mind
|
hard at your lessons. l shouldn't disap-
point her, especially as it wouldn't be any
use. Your affectionate uncle,
ELISHA WARREN.
The result Of all this was that Ste
phen, whose finances were already in
a precarious condition, did think 1t
over and decided not to take the risk.
Also, conscious that his sister sided
with their guardian to the extent of
believing the university the best place
| for him at present, he tore up the long
letter of grievance which he had writ.
ten her and in that which took its
place mentioned merely that he was
grinding like blazes," and the only
satisfaction he got from it was his re-
moval from the society Of the sold
tyrant from Cape Cod"
He accepted the tyrants invitation
to return for the week end and his sis.
ter's birthday with no hesitation what
ever, and his letter of acceptance was
so polite as to be almost humble.
He arrived on an early train Satur.
day morning. Caroline met him at the