The Story of the Gravelys

om time to time raised his grave face to look at B

er-in-law,-the fair-haired, genial lad, every

ome to him. Probably he was i

nd upon him. "Roger-why don't some

s chair and stared at t

u don't think I need reformat

his brother-in-law, soberly, "but yo

F YOU GOOD PEOPLE

5

t's why I'm afraid of break

een doing?" aske

said the boy, sullenly. "It's w

you've been brought up just like a parson, and had all kinds of sentiments and good thoughts lived at yo

ntal trouble, hastened to say, "You act al

e all are. Now I'd like to have a good time. I don't think I'm far out

r grandmother

, but, hang it! there's more in what Grandma does

5

ight ther

a little later than usual? Why don't she say, 'My dear boy, you are on the road to ruin. Staying out late is the first step. Ma

didn't say?" ask

his is what she felt. I know her! The latch-key was a bit of tom

t her to pr

h, and I don't want you to preach, and I don't want my sis

esslike way," said the elder man

e National Bank," s

ly I kno

bject to the bank, if I've got to work. It's as

r no

tably, "but somehow or other there seems a little prejudic

a w

hen hours are over, and I come out, there's a whole gang of nice fellows ready to do anything that's goin

," observed Rog

down somewhere, we have a quiet little game

play for

early always, but there's

the rest of

nterested, but that's nothing. I'm almost

5

ger, who said, calmly, "You have given an a

blurted the boy,

en't s

know she thinks I ought to spend my evenings at home, reading

y time for readin

-of-doors, and as soon as the bank closes every square inch of flesh of

to your own account, you are leading a blameless life. Yet, according to the s

in the street stare at me and say, 'Animal! Animal! you don't care fo

don't

ned. Something that won't let me have a good time when I know she isn't pleased with me. Sometimes I get so mad that I think I

, gazed steadily at the distressed face. "Do you wa

. They're go

ng to do about that bad

Walt Everest, big and fat and jolly, and everybody's chum, who can sing a song,

e ever

6

don't I tell you I know wh

ster Berty take y

"never says a word but a pleasant one, catches me in

inutes, while Bonny took up his

ead that magazine, then go home with me to dinner. After dinner come back here and help me. I'm

oo," he muttered. "If I said I was going wit

nd I am paying you. That will shut their mout

. I'm hard pushe

from your salary for Gran

e up to be clean. It takes nearly everything I get to pay my l

sleep is not enough for a boy of eighteen. Get up in the morning and go to the bank. As soon as

Roger," said Bonn

ed him of his own beautiful Margaretta. Pray Heaven, he would

hair, and was apparently absorbed in the magazine. Presently he l

I w

Gra

or Gra

s way to his office, and she was on her way to call on his wife, her deep-set eyes glistened strangely, and instead of saying "Good morning, dear grands

pproved of what he was doing for

steadfastly set his young face to the sober, unexciting examination

first place, he was late in coming. In the second place,

fter a few minutes' work Bonny pushed asid

Bonny. "I hate t

-law, composedly. "I'm tired mys

s," said Bon

6

supper?" asked Roger, good-humoured

habit of producing cakes, candy, syrup, fruit, and nuts for the boy's supper. It was not ver

lied Bonny, disagreeably. "You t

nny?" asked Roger, closing the

bly, rolling his head about on his folded arms resting on the t

clubs over there in the corner," s

hts' association with you," continued the

t of a fellow, doesn't it?" r

6

re a tremendous good sort. I'm the bru

eems to me you can preach better to yourself. If I were going

denly pounding on the table with his fist, "and I'm not in it, and then

y's-where

ad; don't

er gay people,

garetta's set; but then s

her there if s

n't-well, go

d the elder man, in

ty-administer a rebuke-cuf

rinned

ounsel you[65] never to go to any place, or visit any resort, or indulge in any soc

ginner," said Rog

I feel as if I should fly in fifty pieces if I st

auntered after him. "Hold on a bit-four days

ron works I did

d you ou

ss you

me here and helped me, and I a

ead, you are," s

ave been early at the bank-you have done your

mation. I'm going to be just as bad as I can be. Hurrah for Hickey's,

6

Do your work as usual. Go home to bed. Fill in to-morrow properly, then in the evening, a

a few minutes, then retraced his steps. "I'll be good to-night," he

ou choose to choke it and play the fool, no one is st

ath. However, he sat down quietly enough, a

wn, jumped up, and s

to-morrow evening,"

Bonny, with glistening eyes, "for once more and only once!

6

Roger, kindly, "a

scamp, but you can trust him if he once gives his word. I wish I were a better sort of a man," and with mingled reverence and humil