The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-07-17
CHAPTER XII.

EN- Al,
There had been no fuss made over
Jasper Holt when be was born. They
handed him an honored name from
some free old warrior Of a forebear,
relegated him to a fourth story back
him to himself.
His mother paused long enough be-
fore returning to her interrupted social
career to look him over. declare that
he had nice eyes and she believed his,
hair was going tc curl; then she was
swallowed up in the world from which
she had reluctantly STEPPED aside. She
had little use for a son excep to dress
him in yelvets and Lord Fauntleroy
collars and make of him a toy to amuse
her guests. Until he reached that stage
she saw very little Of him.
OF his stern father he saw less. He
was immersed in business. He was
rich, but what Of that? He had to
make more riches to keep the social
whiri fed.
The baby had a face and form worth
noticing, even in his first days. The;
great blue eyes that had attracted his
mothers fitting attention, could be
gray sometimes. and had in them
depths Of light and wisdom that fairly
startled his practical nurse. He had
thebrow of a philosopher, and gold
hair rippled around the fine little head
like a halo. The old warrior namesake.
must have bestowed upon him that,
firm chin beneath the cupid's bow Of
u lips. and surely an angel had lent
n at smile!
as he grew older there came
il IS eyes a usefulness that was
Ia [ pathetic at times. He was an
af' ~~lionate child. quite embarrassing
his cold, reserved nurse with his dem
o%nstrations, but winning the utmost
devotion ways frcm all who had to
serve him.
ventional acceptatton of the word. He
sweetly sereneIy had his own way in
everything from the time he could
walk and talk. He would neither eat
what he did not like. nor wear what.
he did not fancy. He did not take
kindly to his mothers velvets and
curtis and lace collars. ks always dis
appeared h%opefessly when made ready
for a dress parade. He would fight
ny bully OF the back streets who un-
dertook TO cheat the little lame news
boy, and lie was always trying to take
:he part of some weak dog or child.
Heecould u down the street with the
swiftness of a swallow, his pockets full
of sharp stones, and hit every electric
light in the block as he ran. and he
was forever taking the blame frankly
OF all the broken windows end looted
| garden plots in the neighborhood. In
these days his acquaintance with his
father was limited to severe inter
views in which stern threts and scath-
: ing reprimnds mingled with a CALLING
, srcasm were delth abundantly. 1t was
as his clear res looked steadily, un-
fraidly, into the angry steel ones Of
the man that his young face hardened,
his warrior chin took a firm set, and
!, the light in his face was deadened
by a stab Of pain. He wal growing
wise and losing his faith in the love he
had taken for granted in both father
and mother. It raj at that time that
he lived mostly upon the street, and
companioned with boys of the rousher
class. No n but his nurse knew it,
and she but seldom. She was only too
glad to have the time off duty.
1t was when they discovered a child
ish plot In the ~neighborhood to mob
the president of a d~efaulting bank in
which the hard working parents of
some of his playmates had lost their
all, that Jasper was taken hold of by
the law as leader and financier of the
whole enterprise. Brayely, proudly, he
took the whole blame, generating the
other boys. and dclring himself in
stigtor ofe the affair.
His father paid a heavy fine to hush
1t uLe nd took his son in charge. A
n~lerciless whipping was the beginning
of that interview between them, which
the son received like a gentleman. But
when it was over he l1Ited reproachfu,
eyes. steadied his ~quiceytng warrior
chin and said determinedly. But all
the same. father, l think i was right!
That mar had been stealing those poor
peoples money!"
II ~ . - 1tlS---F I'LL !. ~