Gilpin observer., 1918-12-05


to hurt your feelin's. Excuse me, I
was thinkin' out loud, sort Of"
She did not answer at once, but turn
ed away. to 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"
It was an unfortunate remark, mas
much as it drew, in her mind, q 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 it. She made
no reply.
II was thinkin'," continued the cap
tain, conscious of having made mis-
take, "that maybe we might celebrate
somehow, in a quiet way"
mo. am not in tho mood for-cele-
brations."
"Oh, 1 didn't mean fireworks and the
town band. just thought
"Please don't. 1 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, a cherished me-
mento, to be kept as long as she lived.
Each year Rodgers Warren took infln-
ite 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 his beard.
"Well," he observed ruefully, "then my
weak heads put my foot in it again, as
the Teller said. If amt careful ri be
like poor cracked Philander Baker,
who lives with his sister over at Dem
boro Center. The doctor told Philander
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. I kind Of thought
you'd like to have him here"
"Oh, I should like thati But win he
conner Has he written your
"Hey? Yes, I cal'late he1l be On
deck. He's-er-yes, he's written me-
He smiled a. 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 busanesslike
on his own. The boy On his return TO
college had found conditions" await.
ip % hin, opd tho Mount ~ h.~S -..,
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 q 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. II 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 1t II you will. Fact is
I guess you've got to. So sail in and
show US what you're made Of"
Stephens answer was a i've page
declaration Of independence. He re-
fused to be bullied by any living man.
He had made arrangements to come to
Now York on the following Monday,
and he was coming. As to being sent
back. he wished his uncle to under.
stand that It was one thing to order
and another to enforce obedience. 10
which he received the following note:
can't stop you from coming, Steve. ak.
cspt By going to New Haven and holding
you BY main strength. That don't pro-
pose to DO for two reasons-first, that IL
- too much trouble. and second, that II
Amt necessary. You can come home once
IN awhile to sec your sister. but you
mustn't do II till say the word. II Won
do shall take the car fare out Of your Al
iowance likewise board while you are here
ana stop that allowance for q month as n
sort OF fne for mutiny. 30 you bettsr
think II over . spell. And II I was you /
wouldn't write Caroline that was coming
or thinking Of coming till I had my mind
made up. She believes you are WORKING
nard At your lessons. I shouldn't disap-
point her, especially a. Il wouldn't ba arv
use. Your affectionate uncle,
ELISHA WARREN.
The result Of all this was that Ste
phen, whose finances were already in
q precarious condition, did think n
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 blaxes," and the only
satisfaction he got from It was his ne.
moval from the society Of the "old.
tyrant from Cape Cod"
he accepted the tyrant's invitation
to return for the week end and his AZ.
ter's birthday with no hesitation what
ever, and his letter Of acceptance was
20 polite a. to be almost humble.
He arrived on an early train Satur.
day morning. Caroline met him AZ the
station, and the Dunns' car copv.v.s