They found Sydney waiting for them in the corridor of the hotel. He was
looking very haggard, but he seemed very glad to see Miles.
“I have good news for you, my boy,” he said; “good and bad, too. I have
found your father, but he is not quite himself.”
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Miles, while Roy and Rex looked their
interest.
“His mind is affected,” Sydney went on. “We hope the sight of you may
have a favorable effect, but be careful not to be excited yourself when
you see him. Take it quite as a matter of course.”
Miles drew in a long breath. It was going to be rather a difficult
matter for him to take easily a meeting with the father he had thought
never to see.
“Where is he?” he asked in a faint tone.
“Not far from here. Come, we will go there at once.”
On the way to Mrs. Fox’s Sydney explained that he and the old lady had
arranged that she should give a sort of boys’ party at which Mr. Darley
should be present. He would then have an opportunity to study Miles
quietly, while the latter was engaged in playing games.
“You look so much like him,” Sydney added, “that we hope he may
recognize you.”
Miles appeared to be somewhat astonished when they halted before the
odd little home in Seventh Street. But he said nothing, and the next
moment they were all being warmly welcomed by Mrs. Fox.
The old lady was so excited that both her hands and voice trembled. She
came near crying when she first saw Miles, but she greeted him exactly
as she had the twins. There was a game of Fish Pond on the center
table.
“Now, boys,” she said, “try your luck.”
They all drew up to the table, Sydney taking a rod, too. The old lady
stood looking on behind Miles’s chair. Presently she went out into the
back room and in a few minutes returned, accompanied by a gentleman who
did not look to be over thirty-seven. He was dressed very handsomely
and his resemblance to Miles was striking.
“Mr. Darley, boys,” said Mrs. Fox, as the two came up to the table. “Go
right on with your fishing; we will watch you.”
She had taken up her stand this time behind Rex, who was sitting just
opposite Miles.
“Glad to meet you, boys,” remarked Mr. Darley, in a pleasant voice.
“How is the market?”
Rex, with an effort, collected himself sufficiently to answer, “Oh,
pretty fair, sir.”
“Only pretty fair, eh?” went on the other. “Keep at it, though. You’re
bound to win some time, as I have. Look here.”
He put his hand in the side pocket of his coat and drew forth a great
mass of chips, all covered with gilt paper.
A look of agony was on Miles’s face. It was almost worse than finding
no father at all, to find such a one as this.
“Don’t you want to take my rod and fish a while, sir?” he said, feeling
that it would be impossible for him to longer sit still.
“Thank you; you are very kind. I might take a single flyer.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account