The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume], June 14, 1908, Image 11

About The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
: l
1
POY9S DISCRETION
Bv . J. i?A 77.
h
11
Copyright 1003, by Thomas H. McKee.
INASMUCH a3 Roy Clifton was now quite cer
tain that nis mother Intended to do nothing
whatever about the matter, he decided that it
was time for him to take action himself. For
some time this had been in mis mind, but it had not
Crystallized Into a pressing desire until he reached
bis seventh birthday, which brought him to years
of importance and discretion. Further delay was,
therefore, out of the question.
All the other boys had fathers, and he resented
what was quite plainly an unjust discrimination.
Fathers, he had come to learn, were useful per
sons; principally useful as the final authority on
all things. They were needful In arguments, for
you could say: "My father says bo," and that was
an end to the matter. And, although Roy loved
his mother viith a loyalty that was unflinchingly
partisan, he realized very well that it was no an
swer to rejoin: "But my mother says it's not so."
The matters at issue were not often those on which
mothers were authorities.
When Roy fully decided that he needed a father
he went about the matter without delay. There
was no need, of course, to mention it to his moth
er, for she could have no possible interest in the
task of selection. He was the one that had to be
suited. Then, too, there would be a certain pleas
ure in surprising her, after the affair had been suc
cessfully arranged; and he had a healthy liking for
surprises.
The park seemed to be as good a place as any to
begin. It was pleasant in these April days and
surely It must contain pleasant fathers. He re
membered that he had seen several there, almost
any one of whom would have suited him quite
well. This afternoon he passed several who might
tiave answered, had it not been for the fact that
they already had sons and daughters of their own.
Roy made it a firm condition in his own mind that
lie would not divide a father with anybody. At
the Zoo, particularly, there was a numerous col
lection pf fathers, but all the desirable ones seemed
jto have. been taken. '
I Finally Roy turned from the Zoo and went hack
jalong the winding walk through which he had
icome. And there he found the very man he waa
looking for. He halted a little way off and made
a frank examination. Then he drew slowly nearer
and Anally stopped directly in front of the chosen
one, for a final inspection. It seemed to Roy'as'if
jevery attribute were here assembled. He was
$uite certain of it when the man on the bench sud
denly became aware that he was an object Qf in-
erest and raised his eyes to meet those of the in
quisitor. The eyes were clear and blue and friend-
y and they settled the matter.
xieuo, said ine man. it. was a good voice,
too.
j "Hello,' said Roy, and thpy were Introduced.
"Did you want to speak to me?" inquired the
gentleman on the bench.
"I I wanted to ask you some questions," said
Roy, finding it a little difficult to approach the sub
ject of their business, now that he had found his
man.
'Well, that's what I'm here for," said the man
cordially. "To answer any and all questions asked
by boys who walk in the park."
"What do you want to know, son? Anything
obout lions and tigers and things up at the menag
erie?" "No," said Roy, shaking his head. "I I think I'd
like to know your name."
"Gregg," said the man promptly, and smiling a
ttle.
"Mister Gregg, I suppose," commented Roy.
"Certainly; mister, of course;"
"And I'd like to knew just how old you are."
Mr. Gregg burst into a laugh and gazed at the
Bmallt figure in some astonishment. Then his face
became grave again and he answered solemnly: t
"Thlty-slx.,,
Roy received the information with a certain
shock,1 for this was indeed a great age; almost pro
hibitive in fact. But then re remembered that Mr.
Gregg looked no older than lots of other fathers,
and decided that perhaps he had made a mistake
Jn the matter anyhow. He passed to other things.
; "Are you rich?'
"Not guilty," said Mr. Gregg promptly, biting
his lip.
Roy betrayed an expression of anxiety and the
?ntleman on the bench added hurriedly:
"Ought I to be rich?"
"It would be better.'
- "AU right,, then. ' I'm. part way rich. Will that
tio?" ..
"Yes; I guess that'll do," said Roy, and he con
sidered his next question. At length he put it:
"Have you got any boys?"
Mr. Gregg shook his head.
"Girls?"
"Neither of them," said Mr. Gregg. "Nobody
hut a dog."
Roy brightened, for the last Information was 1m
- portant. In fact, it was conclusive, for he said
. after a pause:
; "I think you will do very well."
" "You think 111 do for what?" "'
"For my father."
Mr. Gregg straightened up in his seat and
stared.
"Wouldn't you like to be "my father?" asked
Roy anxiously.
"The Invitation Is somewhat unconventional,"
(remarked Mr. Gregg. "I would have to consider
It you know."
"I have no father; added Roy. "He is dead.
lAnd I want one."
Mr. Gregg nodded his head .understanding and
looked grave.
"I see," he said. "Its a very important matter.
Have you a mother?"
"Oh, yes," said Roy promptly.
"Hum," said Mr. Gregg.
"She is very nice." continued Roy.
"There is no doubt ot it," declared Mr. Gregg
emphatically. "Ana er does she know you are
MLAII
looking for a father?"
"Oh, no. She doesn't know I'm looking for any
body. It's my own idea."
"I see, said Mr. Gregg; slowly. "And you didn't
think she needed to know about it?"
"Why, no," said Roy, surprised. "You see,
you're to be my father, not hers."
"That's r-o; I didn't think of that," observed
Mr. Gregg. "But she raifcht want to have something
to say about it, even then. Don't you think so?"
"Wee-ll, perhaps," admitted Roy reluctantly.
"But she'd like you, I'm sure."
Mr. Gregg bowed profoundly at the compli
ment. "So I guess it's a.11 settled, isn't it?" added Roy
comfortably.
The gentleman on the bench laughed oddly.
"I tell you what," he said. "We won't decide
this thing right away. We'll get acquainted first.
You sit down here and tell me all about yourself,
and then we'll go and look at the 6nakes."
Roy accepted the invitation hastily and he
condensed information about himself into the
briefest possible form, for he wanted to see the
snakes very much, but had a disinclination to
visit the reptile-house alone. Some of the snakes
were very large and it seemed as if it must be
easy for them to break through the glass, in which
event it would be highly necessary to have pres
ent a father who migut slay them. Having rap
idly sketched himself he slid off the bench and an
nounced that he was ready to be taken to the
place of thrills.
It seemed that Mr. Gregg had vast information
concerning snakes. He had even seen them in a
, , ' r--' '
P? , n "
' v
' 'V ' X " ,
"I I WANTED TO ASK YOU SOME
state of wildness, which was a wonderful thing
and a powerful endorsement of his parental claims.
When Roy discovered, to his displeasure, that it
was time for him to run home there was 60 much
left untold concerning serpents that an appoint
ment for the very next afternoon was imperative.
"You will be sitting on the same bench, I sup
pose," said Roy.
"In the very same place," said Mr. Gregg, laugh
ing. "I'll be there," said Roy, extending his hand
with a frank movement. "I like you all right."
"Thank you," said Mr. Gregg, and he stood with
a puzzled expression on his face as he watched the
small figure disappear around a bend in the path.
Roy ran most of the way Tiome, for he felt that
his mother might worry at his long absence. He
hoped as he entered the house that he betrayed
nothing of the afternoon's venture, for as yet the
matter was to be a secret. Mr. Gregg had an
nounced no decision, and until he did it would not
be worth while to say anything about It. There
was, too, a dark possibility that he might not ac
cepet, although Roy dismissd that from his mind
confidently.
He was first at the bench the following after
noon, and waited impatiently for the arrival of the
father-elect. But it was worth all the delay when
Mr. Gregg did arrive, for it was a long afternoon
of snakes and confidences, and it promoted ac
quaintance to the point where Roy thought it
might be just as well to tell his mother, after
all. He overcame that temptation on his return,
however, for Mr. Gregg had registered no accept
ance of the post offered to him. In fact, there
had been no discussion of the subject that day.
After that there were many afternoons in the
GLASS!
park, where there was a museum and a lake, and
an aquarium and great cages full of birds, all of
which had to be explained. And no one, not even
his mother, could have explained them so well as
Mr. Gregg. These things were so important that
Roy permitted a week to elapse before he returned
to the basic matter of their acquaintance. Then,
sure beyond peradventure of his own mind, he
asked:
"I suppose you have decided about being my
father, haven't you?'
Mr. Gregg shook his head seriously.
"I think we ought to wait till we're old
friends," he said.
"But arent we?" asked Roy.
"Not old ones," exactly.
"Well, we're friends anyhow."
"Oh, sure, said Mr. Gregg, heartily. ' "Bully
good ones."
One memorable Sunday afternoon it almost
slipped from him, when he walked with his mother
on the avenue, for they passed Mr. Gregg himself,
and he gave Roy a friendly nod and a smile and
bowed.
"Who is that gentleman, Roy?" asked Mrs. Clif
ton. "Mr. Gregg, mother."
"And who Is Mr. Gregg?"
It was a critical moment and Roy hesitated. He
would have to tell part of it, anyhow, but, because
of the indecision of Mr. Gregg, it seemed unneces
sary to tell it all. So he answered:
"He's a gentleman I know in the part."
Mrs. Clifton was surprised and somewnat per
turbed and was so persistent for informatloa that
K v
QUESTIONS," SAID ROY.
her son reluctantly told the story of his discovery of
a new acquaintance. It did seem strange and dis
tant for Roy to speak of Mr. Gregg as an ac
quaintance, but he steeled himself against the reve
lation that hung upon his Hps. Mrs. Clifton was
doubtful of the wisdom of park friendships, it
appeared, but Roy made a gallant showing for Mr.
Gregg and succeeded in averting a decision which
might have terminated the negotiations for a par
ent. Roy was a little surprised the following day
when Mr. Gregg made no reference to the en
counter on the avenue, and he finally mentioned
the matter himself.
"That was my mother, yesterday," he said.
There was a little note of pride In his voice.
"Yes, I knew that," said Mr. Gregg.
"Did you like her?"
"Yes, I liked her,' for Mr. Gregg found that the
question required a direct answer.
"I thought you would," said Roy." She's pretty,
isn't she?"
"Very pretty," said Mr. Gregg gravely.
Roy nodded his head with satisfaction, and
jumped to another' topic, inasmuch as the last word
had been spoken concerning hi3 mother.
The fact that Mrs. Clifton now know of her
son's friend in the park was regarded by Roy as
an incentive to hasten the affair. She made daily
inquiries concerning his afternoon doings, supple
mented with motherly cautions and advice. It
was hard not to tell the great secret. But Mr.
Gregg had been unaccountably long ia arriving at
a deflnate state of mind. It was advisable to press
for an answer, although it seemed to Rot that It
could be little more than a cre formality.
"Why can't we just go oa being friends?" equiv
ADS
ocated Mr. Gregg. "Is it necessary for you to have
a father?"
"Why, of course it is."
"But are you sure I'll do?"
"Sure," said Roy with emphasis. "I know It."
Mr. Gregg was driven into a corner from which
there seemed no escape.
"Well, will you," persisted his 6mall adversary.
"All right." said Mr. Gregg, with a sigh.
Roy extended his hand solemnly, but his eyes
were ablaze with excitement. He had won. Now
he was like other boys.
"I shall tell mother when I get home,' he said.
Mr. Gregg gave a start of alarm.
"You must do nothing of the kind," he said tas
tily. "Why not? It's settled, isn't it?"
Mr. Gregg chewed his lip desperately. He ex
perienced a certain sensation of foolishness. He
had not calculated consequences.
"Sit down here, Roy," he commanded. "Let
me impress on you the fact that you must tell your
mother nothing of the kind."'
"But." protested Roy, "she "
"She might not approve of it," interrupted Mr.
Gregg.
"Oh, she would," confidently. "She likes you."
"She does? Did she say so?"
"Well, she didn t say she didn't."
"Did she say anything about me?'' demanded Mr.
Gregg.
"N-no. I don't think she did," faltered Roy.
"Now, look here, Roy," said Mr. Gregg, earnest
ly. "This is a secret between you and me. It's
just a private bargain. You mustn't tell anybody."
"When can I tell, then?"
"Not till I tell you.''
It was a day of ill-concealed excitement tor Roy
when Mr. Gregg and his mother met. Mrs. Clif
ton had yielded quite unthinkingly to her son's
pressing invitation to go for a walk and he led her
adroitly to the shady path that he had come to
know so well. Mr. Gregg was faithfully at his post
on the bench.
"This is Mr. Gregg, mother,'' said Roy.
The gentleman on the bench rose hastily and
oowed.
' "I believe I have to thank you for being kind to
my son," she said, smiling.
"I am just as deeply indebted to him,'' answered
Mr. Gregg. "We are very good friends."
"He is the gentleman who tells me about snakes
and things, explained Roy, and Mr. Gregg and his
mother laughed. Then they talked for a little
while about things that were of no possible interest,
and presently Mr. Gregg bowed and left them, with
never a word about snakes or wild beasts of any
. 6ort.
! "He wasn't very good this afternoon," said Roy,
as he watched Mr. Gregg disappear down the walk.
"He usually tells about animals. I guess you didn't
like him very well."
"He seems to be a very pleasant gentleman," said
his mother.
J, Roy nodded affirmatively.
f "Yes, he is; but you didn't hear him tell any
stories. I guess we'll go home now."
It was another Sunday afternoon that Roy and
his mother met Mr. Gregg again, and he walked a
little way with them. But Mr. Gregg was so dif
ferent that Roy privately decided that after this he
would leave his mother home. For his chosen par
ent was infinitely better company in the park, where
there was no one but just themselves and nothing
to interfere with a free discussion of natural his
tory. This preference for excluslveness received a rude
shock one evening when the door-bell rang Just be
fore It was time for Roy to go to bed, and Mr.
Gregg was shown into the library. A momentary
pang of Jealousy gripped Roy as he beheld the vis
itor. Mr. Gregg had given him no 'hint of this.
"Hello,'- he said a little coldly.
"Hello, Roy."
"Did did you come to see me?"
Mr. Gregg laughed.
"Why, yes; to see you and your mother."
Roy had guessed as much. He felt a shade of
resentment against this division of a father, even
with his mother.
"Did she ask you?" he inquired, pointedly.
"No," said Mr. Gregg, shaking his head. "I ask
ed her.'
Roy contemplated him in silence for a moment.
"Then I suppose I can tell her all about It now,"
he remarked.
Mr. Gregg placed his finger on his lips and shook
his head vigorously. He did not speak for he heard
a step outside the doorway. Mrs. Clifton entered to
witness the pantomime.
"Secrets?" she asked, laughing.
"Important secrets," said Mr. Gregg.
"Then I warn you, Mr. Gregg, that your confl
uence will be betrayed. Roy tells me everything.
Don't you Roy?"
Mr. Gregg looked at the little figure anxiously.
"Ye-es, mother," said Roy slowly, with a guilty
glance at the caller.
For a while he was permitted to sit in the li
brary, only to go to bed with a sense of disap
pointment. Mr. Gregg did not tell a single story.
It seemed that parks made a great difference.
He casually mentioned this fact to Mr. Gregg
the very next afternoon as they eat on the bench,
under the trees.
"So you don't want me to come to the house any
more?" observed Mr. Gregg with gravity and look
ing very much hurt.
"Oh, yes." Baid Roy hastily. He did not wish to.
be rude. "But you are better in the park," he added.
"How s that?"
"You tell about snakes out here."
"I see," said Mr. Gregg, nodding (his head under
standing. "And If I told about snakes at th
house would It be better?" .
"Yes, that would be better," admitted Roy.
"But your mother would not care to hear about
snakes, perhaps," suggested Mr. Gregg.
Roy looked at hlin inquiringly. The brief pang
of jealousy that ho txd felt the evening before was
BM
returning. He did not see what his mother had to
do with the matter at all.
"Your to be my father," he said, stoutly. "You're
not hers."
"Thats so," said Mr. Gregg, In the tone of a.
man w ho had suddenly awakened to an obvious fact.
"I hadn't thought of that. Well, now, how will this
do? I will tell to you personally a snake story
every time 1 come. It win be your story and your
mother can listen to it if she wants to."
"Well, I guess that will be ail right," said Roy.
"She d probably like to hear it, anyhow. She doesn't
know much about snakes."
Mr. Gregg's rubsequent enlightenment of the
Clirion household on reptilian subjects was an ex
perience which always left him with a vague feel
ing of doubt. Roy was the same rapt auditor of
the park, but his mother was a somewhat embar
rassing factor. The story-teller would occasional
ly find in her eyes a furtive expression that suf
gested mild amusement, and now and then a smile
would lurk on her lips.. She was a vary good lis
tener, but somehow she listened differently.
A humid August came and it bore Mrs. Clifton
and her son away to the mountains, with the secret
still untold. Sometimes it fairly cried out to Roy
for release, but he managed to conquer it, although
they had herculean struggles with each other. For
Mr. Gregg had been unaccountably deaf to all
pleadings, and he had rights In the matter that
could not well be Ignored.
It was a long month to the lonely haunter of
the park. He missed the rousing 'Hello!'' that
used to come to him every afternoon. There no
longer seemed to be any jolly companionship In the
things about him. And he knew vary well that
he was getting rusty on stroies.
He was searching the columns of a newspaper
one early September day, when a shout brought
him out of his seat on the bench. An instant later
a small figure collided wlth him, violently. Mr.
Gregg seized it by the shoulders and held It off at
arm's length.
"Tanned like an old salt, by Jingo I" he ex
claimed. Roy nodded, gasping for breatn, for he had rua
all the way.
"And freckled," added Mr. Gregg.
The yellow thead nodded vigorously again
"And looking as fit as a racehorse."
Roy found his voice.
"And I saw a real snake," be shouted.
"Bully!'
"And a man killed it with a stick."
"Great!"
"And I told mother."
"And what did she say?"
"She got all red In the face and didn't car any
thing."
"What? She never said a word about the snake,
after all the stories I told about them?" said Mr.
Gregg in a pained tone.
"Oh. I didn't mean I told her about the snake,"
explained Roy.
"No?" remarked Mr. Gregg, puxiled. "What
did you tell her about?"
"About you going to be my father," said Roy,
beaming hopefully. ,
Mr. Gregg sat down on the bench suddenly and
stared at him.
"I couldn't keep it a secret any longer." added
Roy. apologetically, observing the stare with some
uneasiness. "You don't mind, do you?" !
"Tell me what you said," demanded Mr. Gregg, j
"Why, I Just told her; that's all."
"And sb said nothlnf ?"
"No."
"Did did she laugh?"
"Oh. no,', said Roy hastily. "She "didn't laugh,
at all. She looked well, she looked something
like you do now."
Mr. Gregg glared at him In silence for a minute
longer, possessed of a desperate desire to say aome
tJhing and not knowing what to say. Then he arose
suddenly and seized the breaker of promises by
the hand and started rapidly down the path to
ward the park entrance. He walked very fast in
deed, so that Roy had to run part of the time to
keep up with him. Now and then he would glance
timidly up at the tall figure to see it Mr Gregg waa
looking any pleasanter. He was not. His face waa
very stern and he looked straight ahead.
"Not mad are you?" ventured Roy, as they reach
ed the avenue.
Mr. Gregg made no reply.
"It just came out all by Itself," observed Roy,
tentatively, a little later; but Mr. Gregg seemed to
have no interest In the manner of the crime. He
walked faster than ever.
"I 4ont see why you're mad," added Roy mourn
fully, as they neared the house. "She didn't get
mad."
They ascended the steps rapidly and Mr. Gregg
rang the bell.
"You're not going to stop being my father, are
you?" asked Roy fearfully.
The opening of the door forestalled an answer,
and Roy darted in panic-stricken and dashed up
stairs to bis own room.
Presently there was a knock at the door and he
slid slowly oft, the bench and answered it. Mr.
Gregg was standing there.
"I was sent up to bring you down." he ald, smil
ing a little.
"Are you going to keep on being my father?
whispered Roy, incredulously.
Mr. Gregg nodded. Then he seized the promise
breaker, swung him upon his shoulder and carried
him down to the library. Roy found his mother
standing by the big table looking at him oddly.
"Did Mr. Gregg tell you he was going to keep on
being my father?" he asked.
For answer his mother opened her arms and the
boy ran to her. She gathered hlm up and kissed
him over and over again. He sumitted Indulgently,
although he knew it waa a moat onacconntable
thing to do. seeing that Mr. Gregg was h! father
and that the matter could be of bo possible Inter
est to her.
RESU