The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-04-20
WHEN
ROBERT WAS
TWENTY-ONE
90 by D. J. walsh,

90 by ID. ]. Walsh.1
w 7HEN the wealthy building
N contractor, Alexander Ware.
Wv was killed in an automobile
accident, and then, when his
widow, one short month after the flu
neral, married SiIas Bartlett, the res
idents of Shipleyville were astounded
A report gained currency that Silas
had been her first love, that she had
Tilted him in moment of pique and
married Ware, and had always re-
GREETED it. This explained but did not
excuse her shameful precipitancy
Her neighbors conceded, however, that
Wares sixteen-year-old son had &C.
quired a kind and gentle stepfather.
But If the son, Robert, had been less
of a stole he might have disillusioned
them. Bartlett, the stepfather, soft
spoken and suave in public, became
to Robert In the home monster OF
unceasing petty tyranny; and, curl.
ously, the wife made no effort to pro-
tect her son from Bartlett's calculated
prosecutions. One summer afternoon
Bartlett called Robert into the H.
brary.
'T've heard you talking about go
ing to college," Bartlett began, with
brutal abruptness. swell, put 1t out
of your head. You can't afford 1t. I've
tried you in my office-and you're no
earthly good. Your father was car
penter; maybe you'll take TO tools.
I've got you a Job in Allen Hinchey's
garage. And get to bed early, for you
start in the morning. Your work will
keep you out of mischief and away
from that pauper next door,"
"What did little Irene ever do to
your" cried the crushed boy, goaded
at last TO angry speech by the unmer-
tied slur.
"No temper. young man, warned
Bartlett. "NOw I'll tell you this, and
you can inform your friend and her
mother I'm going to give them no.
tice to move; and I'm going to tear
down their shack and put up bunga-
low. That's ALL"
Robert turned away, bitter but
hopeless. The Widow Sanderson, a
weak and delicate woman, who
worked in Mrs. Vogelsang's bakery.
and her nine-year-old daughter, Irene.
occupied a small rented cottage on
the grounds. Irene Sanderson, a beau
tiful elflike little creature, was the
only friend Robert had left; and now
she was to be sent away from him
Two nights after Roberts one-sided
interview with his stepfather, Irene
Sanderson saw her mother ascending
the front stairs with especial diff
Guilty and ran to help her. When the
mother began to talk of cOlored lights
and golden angels, and then, when she
tried to cough. and flecks of blood ap
peared on her lips. Irene became ter
rified. She dashed out of the house
and across the street, to summon old
Doctor Godfree.
"Dying on her feet" the kind old
doctor later told some neighbOrS who
had gathered last stages of pneu-
monia. She'll hardly last the night"
And the doctor was right; in the
morning Mrs Sanderson was dead.
Fate now grudgingly bestowed one
kindness on the two troubled young
sters, Robert and Irene Irene was
taken into the home of kind-hearted
Mrs. vogelsang, and the Vogelsang
home and bakery was located on Main
street exactly opposite Hinchey's gar
age. where Robert was employed. Rob
ert and Irene were enabled to meet
md converse daily.
One day when business was slack.
Robert had spent an hour in the store
with Irene. He came back wearing a
long face, and his employer, Allen
Hinchey. jOked him about his love
making. Good-natured Robert, for
once, did not respond TO Hinchey's
humor; instead. he suddenly became
desperately franz and unburdened his
mind of the whole story of his perse-
cution
$50 ho!" exclaimed the amazed
Hinchey, at the end 81 always thought
that angel of a Silas Bartlett was too
good to he true. And he was In here
last night asking me to raise your pay
and every cent of it goes into his
pocket, eh?" He paused, thoughtfully.
you're eighteen now, Robert, and I'm
paying you fifteen week. Candidly.
you're worth thirty, and you'll soon
be worth fifty. But, seeing how the
land lies I'll not raise your pay. In
stead. I'll make bargain"
He pointed through the great open
rear door of the garage. to cottage
facing on the next street.
81 took that property for debt.
he explained. "It's falling apart from
neglect. If you spend few minutes
a day on it, painting and patching,
you can turn it into palace in three
years. You'll be twenty-one then, and
I'll make you a gift of the house. And
I'm getting along in years, Robert.
When you're twenty-one I'll need a
partner" he held out his hand. els
it a go?"
Robert was too overcome for speech
Tears welled In his eyes. He could