The Adair County news., 1921-02-09
CHAPTER v.

Of Sequoia Bryce Cardigan and his
father walked arm in arm, their
progress continuously interrupted by
well-meaning but impulsive Sequoians
who insisted upon hating the pair to
shake hands with Bryce and bid him
welcome home. In the presence OF
those third parties the old man quickly
conquered the agitation he had felt
at this long-deferred meeting with his
son, and when presently they left the
business section of the town and
turned into a less-freQuented street,
his emotion assumed the character
of a quiet joy, evidenced in a more
erect bearing and firmer tread, as
If he strove, despite his seventy-six
years, not to appear homogeneous as
he walked beside his splendid son.
i wish could see you more clear
1y," he said presently. His voice as
well as his words expressed profound
regret, but there was no hint of despair
or heart-break now.
Bryce who up to this moment had
refrained from discussing his fathers
mIsfortunes, drew the old man little
closer to his side.
'What's wrong with your eyes, pal?"
he queried. He did not often address
his parent, after the fashion of most
sons, as Father" Dad" or Pop"
They were closer to each other than
that; and a rare sense of perfect COM
radeship found expression, on Bryce's
part, in such salutations as pal"
partner" and. infrequently, "old
sport"
"Cataracts, son." his father answer
ed. Merely the penalty of old age"
But can't something be done about
itT'' demanded Bryce. "Can't they be
cured somehow or other?"
certainly they can. But shall
have to wait until they are completely
matured and / have become completely
blind; then a specialist will perform
sh operauon on my eyes, and in all
probability my sight will be restored
for few years. However, / haven't
given the matter a great deal of con-
sideration. And ! am about ready to
quit now. I'd like to, in fact; I'm
tired"
"Oh, but you can't quit until you've
seen your redwoods again." Bryce re
minded him.. 81 suppose it's been a
long time since you've visited the
Valley of the Giants; your long exile
from the wood-goblins has made you a
trife gloomy. I'm afraid"
John Cardigan nodded. 81 haven't
seen them in year and half, Bryce
Last time was up, l slipped between
the logs on that old skid-road and
like to broke my old fool neck"
pal, it wasn't fair of you to make
me stay away so long If l had only
known-if 1 had remotely suspected
-
you'd have spoiled everything
course. Don't scold me, son. You're
all have now, and I couldn't bear to
send for you until you'd had your
fling" His trembling old hand crepi
over and closed upon his boys hand
: so firm but free from signs of toll
cit was my pleasure, Bryce" he con.
tinued, "and you wouldn't deny me
my choice of sport, would you? Re
member, lad, never had a boyhood
1 never had college education, and
the only real travel have ever had
was when l worked my way around
Cape Horn as a foremost hand, and
all saw then was water and hard.
ships; all I've seen since is my little
world here In SeQuoia and in San
Francisco"
you've sacrificed enough-too much
for me, Dad"
at pleased me to give you all the
advantages wanted and couldn't af
ford until was too old and too busy
to consider them Besides, 1t was
your mothers wish. And you have
enjoyed your little run, haven't your
he concluded wistfully.
Il have, Dad" Bryce's great hand
closed over the back Of his fathers
neck; he shook the old man with