The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-11-06
CHAPTER XII.

CHAP Elk 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
I'll 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 10 extend his proficiency In
driving: in fact, he entertained the
ambition to drive a f~our-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
q new trap, and the harness, of course,
uhu Il Soou Duy W hudttI
He did not care for a special groom /;
one of the stablemen would do.
At this point the Major decided to
speak. "You say n of the stablemen
would do?" he inquired, his widened
eyes remaining fixed upon his grand
o n That's lucky, because ones all
there is just at present, George. Old
fat Tom does 1t ALL"
ooh, that will be all right, sir. My
mother can lend me her man."
"Can sheT The old gentleman
smiled family. 81 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. Il
have no interest whatever In the law"
he said. 81 don't care for 1t, and the
idea Of being a professional man has
appealed to me. l was speaking
Of driving a tandem
81 know you were" said the Major
quietly.
George looked hurt. ~ beg your
pardon. OF course IL the idea doesn't
appeal to you" And he rose to go.
The Major ran a tremulOus hand
through his hair, signing deeply. q
I don't like to refuse you anything,
Georgia." he said, II don't know that
I often have refused you whatever
you wanted-in reason"
you've always been more than gen.
erous, sir" George interrupted quickly.
Sand IL the idea Of a tandem doesn't
appeal to you. why-Of course" And
he waved his hand. heroically dismiss
Ing the tandem.
The Majors distress became obvi'
Gus. "Georgie, I'd like to, but--but
drive, and your mother might be anx.
ious. She"
"No, sir; l think not. She felt II
would be rather a good thing-help TO
keep me out In the open air. But II
perhaps your finances"
"Oh, II isn't that SC much" the old
gentleman laughed uncomfortable. 81
guess we could stin afford IA new horse
or two, If need be-"
IL thought you said"
The Major waved his hand airily.
"Oh, a few retrenchments where
things were useless. And If you want
this thing so very much
ITS not important enough to bother
about, really, of course"
well. let's wait till autumn, chem
"Well see about 1t In the autumn. |
you're still In the mind for 1t then
You remind me Of it, along In Sep
tember-or October. Well see wha
can be DONE" He rubbed his hands
cheerfully. "We1l see what can b.
done about it then, George. Wei
see."
And George, In reporting this cor
versation to his mother, was ruefull.
humorous. "In fact. the old BIO,
cheered up SO much" he told hel
you'd have thought he'd got a rea
load on his mind. OF cours ! know
he's anything but miserly; still l can
help thinking he must be sailing a 10
OF money away. l know prices ar
higher than they used to be, but b
doesn't spend within thousands o
what he used to. and we certainl
can't he spending more than we Away
have spent. Where does II all go to
Uncle George told me grandfather ha'
: eoAo some pieces q property. and I
looks~a little queer. I have = -fain