White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-12-05

(COucluueu from Last w ochJ
Hugh laid his pipe down, and sat
up slowly. His beautiful mouth twist
ed with old pain. She said, 'Hughie,
be big enough to make up for your
fathers failure, and mine and Uncle
Bookie's.'" He wiped the moisture
from his lips. why are you doing
this to me, Uncle Booker"
There was satisfaction mingled with
sympathy in the old mans voice. II
mad to see whether you gone entire
ly cold, Hughie. But you haven't,
thank God!"
Hugh's lips stiffened. Il thought
you understood me better than this,
Uncle Bookie."
Il understand you better than any
one else does, Hughie, and I'm con-
WINGED that fossils aren't going to sat
isfy you as you grow into middle age.
You ought to mix more with folks
and read more books"
Hugh's long chin set till his jaw
showed white beneath his ears. 1t
was an old sore, and even Bookie
could not touch it with impunity. The
older man realized this and his voice
was very gentle as he went on.
do you think fossil hunting is big
enough to make up for your fathers
failure and mine? l won't admit that
your mother failed. She was saint. y
Il think it would be-" replied Hugh
stoutly. But l don't admit that you're
a failure"
II am failure. had good brain
and l never used more than a quarter
of it. | was satisfied to play smarty
out here with a gun when l might
have been doing my share toward
making Wyoming as big as heI
plains"
Il thought the bookstore was the
dream of your Tife!" exclaimed Hugh
1T was, but l didn't do the things
with it. planned to do"
why not?' Hugh's voice was full
Of surprise.
Il had missed the thing that makes
a man fight to live up to his dreams
the real love Of real woman"
I'm living up to my dreams with
out that" said Hugh, shortly.
Maybe your dreams don't amount
to much" returned the old man.
Hugh flushed, but said nothing.
I'm not trying to hurt you, Hughie
God knows!" cried Bookie, sitting
erect suddenly. You are the son
never had and | yearn over you as
you can't understand. You are going
, through life blind to all the enormous
possibilities in you, and it seems as
If it would kill me, sitting alone there
in The Lariat.'
Hugh reached over to put a finely
cut, strong hand on Bookie's knee. "Is
The Lariat only a book shop to you
after all, Uncle Bookie? We al
thought it was lot more"
"God!" groaned the old man.
Hugh let his hand remain where he
sorry I'm disappointment to you
Uncle Bookie. | wish | could make
you see the enormous possibilities Of
my profession"
I'm not doubling those possibili
ties for a moment But that isn't say
ing it brings out your best powers
is it?"
For moment there was no sound
save the cracking of the cedar knots
in the little stove. Then Hugh said
slowly:
Uncle Bookie, since 1 married Jes
sic, you and she and her mother have
been pressing me to go into some
work that will bring out my best pow
ers! And I've been feeling resentful
because l believe that all there is i1
me is going into my profession.
simply don't understand on what you
base all this day dreaming. Wha
started it, anyhow"
you mean," Bookie gazed at his
foster child wonderingly, that vol
don't realize that you are different
from the run of men,"
Different only in that the people
who should know me better are per
petually dissatisfied with me, and thai
| feel badgered all the time I'm al
home l don't think the run of men
:. live under those conditions l dom
think I'm naturally irritable" He
smiled wistfully at his uncle.
mo, you are not naturally so. I'm
youngster l ever knew" Bookie