Yet he had
some knowledge that was denied to John Grier. The soul of the greater
things was in him.
"Give the boy a chance to work out his life in his own way," he said
manfully. "You gave him a chance to do it in your way, and you were
turned down. Have faith in him. He'll probably come out all right in the
end.
"You mean he'll come my way?" asked the old man almost rabidly. "You mean
he'll do the things I want him to do here, as you've done?"
"I guess so," answered Tarboe, but without conviction in his tone. "I'm
not sure whether it will be like that or not, but I know you've got a son
as honest as the stars, and the honest man gets his own in the end."
There was silence for some time, then the old man began walking up and
down the room, softly, noiselessly.
"You talk sense," he said. "I care for that boy, but I care for my life's
work more. Day in, day out, night in, night out, I've slaved for it,
prayed for it, believed in it, and tried to make my wife and my boys feel
as I do about it, and none of them cares as I care. Look at Fabian--over
with the enemy, fighting his own father; look at Carnac, out in the open,
taking his own way." He paused.
"And your wife?" asked Tarboe almost furtively, because it seemed to him
that the old man was most unhappy in that particular field.
Pages:
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91