Year: 1875

CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY


''And so you will be fifteen years old to-
morrow. Well. well, it does beat all how
time flies. Fifteen years 1t doesn't seem
more than half that time since you were a
baby. Let me see, believe | promised
to let you go to Hartford this fall. didn't
II" We shall be half way there when we
get to Skidmore's, seeing tomorrow is
your birthday, perhaps we had better keep
on. l don't know as we shall have any
better time to leave. We can start-have
breakfast at half-past five, and get off by
six; and by nine, if we have good luck,
we shall be there. We can stay there till
three O'Clock in the afternoon, and then
you wouldn't be late home. 1t will be light
tomorrow evening-there is good moon
now. Well, you may as well 60 to bed
and get all the sleep that you can. l shall
call you up at four O'Clock"


Phillip started the second time to 60.
but just as he got his hand on the door
latch. his father said:


"Wat a minute, Philip. If you had
some one to keep you company from Skid
more's and to help you drive the heifer.
wouldn't mind staying till midnight before
we left the city,


perhaps Clinton Dexter would be will
ing to walk up from there with you and
help drive her, if he could 60 with us to
Hartford and spend the day. Ifyou think
that he would, and you would like to have
him go, you may run over to Mr.. Dexter's
and tell him ii it is convenient for him to
spare Clinton, would like to have him 60
to Hartford with us tomorrow, and walk
home from Skidmore's with you in the
evening And be sure and tell Clinton, if
his father consents to his going, that we
will call tor him as early as six o'clock"


Philip said: Eyes, SIR" and took up his
hat and went into the hall; but before he
got to the outside door. his father called
out:


Zone thing more, Philip. l lett my
bride hanging on bar post down by the
sheep barn this afternoon. If you'll come
back across lots and bring it up, it'll save
going for it in the morning. intended to
get it myself, when | came home from
Mr.. Dexters. but it slipped my mind


Lucky thing it did. Philip said to him.
self as he stepped out of the door. 'Ifhe
had come around that way home and
heard Clint and / talking in that barn, l
guess he wouldn't be in so gentle mood
tonight. He would have given me Hail
Columbia" right and left; and Clint would
have Jared worse than | for when his faith
er's back is up, he's as savage as tiger.
Strange what has allied father, tonight?
noticed that mother was surprised to see
him so much more social and gentle than
common


On his way over to Mr.. Dexter's, Philip
had great variety of feelings and as
great conflict with them as his father
had while standing behind the barn door;
but. before be got there, the summing up
was an uugrateful scamp and that his fa-
ther was all right; only he had so many
cares and anxieties that it sometimes
made him little stern and Grabbed.


Mr.. Dexter was always ready to oblge
his neighbor Raymond, and he cheerfully
gave his consent to Clinton's going. Clin-
ton didn't know what to make Of this sud
den turn of affairs. As he went with Phil.
lip to the door, he whispered:


whats up, Phil? what has happenedP
Has your father found out anything?"


Not thing-not thing" Philip hur-
riedly whispered back. You don't sup
pose Clint he d be taking us to Hartford
tomorrow, if he had. It's all right but
it's the strangest thing that ever happen
ed-rll tell you all about it tomorrow
can't stay long enough now.


Mr.. Raymond took up newspaper
and bowed his head over it, as soon as his
son started for Mr.. Dexter's; but If his
wife had observed him closely she would
have seen that he did very little reading
and there was q troubled expression on
his countenance. He did not raise his
eyes from the paper when he heard re-
turning footsteps, but he listened very IN
tently and he knew that Phillip stole soft
ly and hurredly to the back end OF the
hall and opened the chamber door before
he came to the sitting room. A look OF
relief came over his face, and he straigten-
ed up as il great burden had been lifted
from him. He had no doubt that the bun
die of clothing had been brought up from
the oat bin and left on the chamber stairs
till Philip should 90 to bed That is what
he hoped his boy would do when he asked
him to come around by the barn and get
the halter He had no further fear that
he would attempt to give him the slip that
night.


MIR. Raymond and Philip rode up to Mr..
Dexter's door for Clinton the next morn
ing just as the sun was peepng over the
hills. 1t was as delightful September
morning Us they could desire. As soon as
they were all well on the road, Mr.. Ray





Now, boys, You must keep your eyes
open-see all there is to be seen, and get
all the enjoyment out OF going that you
can. We don't have holidays very often,
and we must make the most of them when
we do have them. Philip and l have
worked pretty hard. lately, and l guess,
Clinton. you have. believe play day
will do us all good. made up my mind.
this morning, to try and leave all my
cares and business behind me, for once;
so you need have no fears, if you please,
and ask me as many questions as you
wish, that it will disturb me at all.
1t did not escape Mr.. Raymond's obser-
vation that his remarks caused the lads to
glance at each other in blank astonish-
ment, and it cut him 10 theN41oks What
kind of father have u eked
himself, mot to be able t5s few
civil and kind words to my oUt
having it received with such JePrise.
Poor boy Wonder, pleasure. guilt and
grief are all depicted in his countenance
to-day. After this, with Gods help. I'll