Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-10-28
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Young George paid his respects to
his grandfather the following morning,
having been occupied with various af-
fairs and engagements on Sunday I'M
til after the Majors bedtime; and top
les concerned with building or exca-
vations were not introduced into the
conversation, which was a cheerful
one until George lightly mentioned
some new plans of his. He spoke of
his desire to extend his proficiency in
driving: in fact, he entertained the
ambition to drive four-in-hand. How
ever, as the Major said nothing, and
merely sat still, looking surprised,
George went on to say that he did not
propose to ego in for coaching just
at the START" he thought it would be
better to begin with a tandem. He
was sure Pendennis could be trained
to work as a leader; and all that one
needed to buy at present, he said,
would be Comparatively inexpensive
a new trap, and the harness, of course,
and a good bay to match Pendennis."
He did not care for special groom /;
one of the stablemen would do.
At this point the Major decided to
speak. "YOu say one of the Stablemen
would do?" he inquired, his widened
eyes remaining fixed upon his grand
son. That's lucky, because ones all
there is just at present, George. Old
fat Tom does it ALL"
"Oh. that will be all right, sir. My
mother can lend me her man."
"Can she?" The old gentleman
smiled family. Il wonder" He
paused.
"What, sir?"
whether you mightn't care to go
to law school somewhere perhaps. I'd
be glad TO set aside a sum that would
see you through"
This senile divergence from the topic
in hand surprised George painfully. 81
have no interest whatever in the law"
he said. Il don't care for it, and the
idea of being a professional man has
never appealed to me. | was speaking
of driving tandem"
81 know you WERE" said the Major
quietly.
George looked hurt. 81 beg your
pardon. OF course if the idea doesn't
The Major ran tremulous hand
through his hair, signing deeply. Il
l don't like to refuse you anything,
George" he said. 81 don't know that
l often have refused you whatever
you wanted-in reason"
you've always been more than gen.
erous, SIR" George interrupted quickly.
"And if the idea of a tandem doesn't
appeal to you, why-of course" And
he waved his hand. heroicaNy dismiss
ing the tandem.
The Majors distress became obvi-
Gus. George, I'd like TO. but-but
I've an idea tandems are dangerous to
drive. and your mother might be anx-
ious. She"
''No, sir; / think not. She felt 1t
would be rather a good thing-help to
keep me out in the open air. But If
perhaps your finances"
"Oh, 1t isn't that so much" the old
gentleman laughed uncomfortably. 81
guess we could still afford new horse
or two. if need be-"
81 thought you said"
The Major wavedB his hand airily.
"Oh, few retrenchments where
things were useless. And if you want
this thing so very much"
"It's not important enough to bother
about, really, of course"
well, let's wait till autumn. then"
said the Major in a tone of relief.
"we'll see about it in the autumn. if
you're still in the mind for 1t then.
You remind me of 1t, along in Sep
tember-or October. Wen see what
can be DONE" He rubbed his hands
cheerfully. "We'n see what can be
done about it then. George. Wen
See."
And George. in reporting this con-
verSation to his mother, was ruefuIly
humorous. ''In fact, the old boy
cheered up so much" he told her.
NAO0SAl AC u SOt u
load off his mind. OF course | know
he's anything but misery; still | can't
help thinking he must be sailing a lot
OF money away. / know prices are
higher than they used to be, but he
doesn't spend within thousands of
what he used to, and we certainly
can't be spending more than we always
have spent Where does il all go to-?
Uncle George told me grandfather had
sold some pieces of property. and it
looks little queer. / have faint
suspicion. not that he's getting misery
NOT that at all-but that old age has
begun TO make him timid about money.
There's no doubt about IT, he's get
ting little queer: he can't keep his
mind on a subject long. Right in the
middle of talking about one thing he'll
wander off TO something else; and l
shouldn't be surprised If he turned
out 10 be lot better off than any of
US guess"
Isabel had bright idea. George /,
Instead Of a tandem wouldn't 1t inter-