The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-07-16
BACK TO HIS
IDEAL

Aeohuru moore was going home.
The war In question had nothing To
DO with England, France or Germany.
1t was a private family war-between
Leonard Moore and j. Grffen Moore.
Perhaps II had better be termed rup-
ture In relations, for no shots were
fred.
In his hand Leonard held the terms
OF peace. They were contained In n
letter from ]. Griffen Moore, who hap
pened to be his father. The situation
was summed up In the closing para
graph Of the letter:
$50 the doors of the old home are
open to you. learn from reliable
sources that you have settled down
and made good as an automobile sales
man. It has been trying three years
Tor me, all alone In the big house ex-
cept for the servants. but believe II
has done us both good, and we will
understand each other better when
you return. There Is only one Obliga-
tion / will place you under; that Is
that you marry at once, and Of course
1t must be some one In your own class.
Maize Dixon would suit me. and you
used to appear extremely fond of her.
I'll look for you shortly"
1t was the first communication from
his father since the latter sent him out
into the world to shift for himself
three years ago. IT was after LeOnard's
second expulsion from college that the
break occurred.
ri baI 20
shoulder any responsibility In life, had
never been vicious, but had travelled
with a clique that was not noted for
its thrifty propensities or it's mild
forms Of amusement; had openly de-
fled hard and fast regulations of the
school and had ended his career there
with an extemporaneOus valedictOry
address delivered in the presence of
the faculty when the latter summoned
him before ii and which was far from
being q eulOgy.
The summons had resulted from
series of misdemeanOrs which had
come to the faculty's attention, but
when the faculty tried to express its
opinion as to the merit Of Leonard's
the stage and expressed his ideas con-
corning the faculty, collectively and in
dividually. He went home by the next
train, bag and baggage.
When J. Griffen Moore shut the
door of his magnificent home that
night Leonard was on the outside with
$500 In his pocket with which to "try
40 nf
1t woke Leonard up and. taking an
inventory Of himself. he decided II
was high time to assume a different at
titude toward life. Heretofore he had
been irresponsible. because his father
was wealthy and he was the only heir;
consequently there had been no occa-
sion to shoulder responsibility.
Now. Of a sudden. there was plenty
of occasion. He had been disOwned
by his parent, and his reasoning facul-
ties told him J. Griffen Moore was
right. SO he went to work.
Three years later found Leonard a
successful salesman, rOoming mt a
place where other young business men
and women made their homes. He
had responsibilities, and he was glad
of 1t.
Not once had he implored aid Of his
father. He was proud of himself, but
not too proud to go back home when
invited. Leonard had no particular
liking for hard work. and he knew his
father would get him position where
that kind Of activity played minor
role. He had worked hard, but be-
cause he had to.
His heart filed with exultation,
which showed in his eyes, he left his
room and walked down the hall, paus.
ing before a door, on which he knock
ed. 1t was opened by pretty bru.
nette, rather diminutive, attractive, in.
telligent young woman, who smiled
him welcome and invited him to O
chair.
"It's come, Minnie," he announced
gleefully. "Father has relented, and
I'm to go home The world Is rosy
once more"
She walked to the window and
looked out. The smile disappeared
from her face when her back was
turned to him.
"Tell me about It," she said.
He did. There was no reason why |
he shouldn't, because Minnie had been
his confidante ever since he came to
room here. They had been great
frends-nothing more than that-and
had spent many an evening together
discussing their hopes and ambitions
Minnie edited the woman's page or
one of the newspapers, but had an in
tense yearning to become q police re-
porter
They don't have women police re.
porters," she said, "but | don't under
stand why, seeing that they have WON
en- policemen. Anyhow ! want TO he
one. I'm tired of fashions and divorces
md ,narrin ppS and other heart thrObs