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nor his dear mother must deprive themselves for his benefit。
During these dreary days he often longed for Kennedy Square and for those whom he loved； but it was not until one warm spring day； when the grass was struggling into life； and the twigs on the scraggy trees in Union Square were growing pink and green with impatient buds and leaves that he had his wish。 Then a startling telegram summoned him。 It read as follows：
〃Father ill。 Come at once。
〃Mother〃
Instinctively Oliver felt in his pockets for his purse。 There was just money enough to take him to Kennedy Square and back。
His mother met him at the door。
〃It was only a fainting turn； my son；〃 were her first words。 〃I am sorry I sent for you。 Your father is himself again； so Dr。 Wallace says。 He has been working too hard latelysometimes far into the night。 I could have stopped you from coming； but； somehow； I wanted you〃 and she held him close in her arms； and laid her cheek against his。 〃I get so lonely； my boy； and feel so helpless sometimes。〃
The weak and strong were changing places。 She felt the man in him now。
Nathan was in the library。 He and Malachi had been taking turns at Richard's bedside。 Malachi had not closed his eyes all night。 Nathan came out into the hall when he heard Oliver's voice； and put his hand on his shoulder。
〃We had a great scare； Ollie；〃 he said； 〃but he's all right again； thank God！ He's asleep nowbetter not wake him。〃 Then he put on his coat and went home。
Malachi shook his head。 〃Sumpin's de matter wid him； an' dis ain't de las' ob it。 Drapped jes' like a shote when he's hit； Marse Oliver；〃 he said； in a low whisper； as if afraid of disturbing his master on the floor above。 〃I was a…layin' out his clo'es an' he called quick like； 'Malachi！ Malachi！' an' when I got dar； he was lyin' on de flo' wid his head on de mat。 I ain't nebber seen Marse Richard do like dat befo'〃 The old servant trembled as he spoke。 He evidently did not share Nathan's hopeful views。 Neither did Dr。 Wallace； although he did not say so to anyone。
Their fears； however； were not realized。 Richard not only revived； but by the end of the week be was in the drawing…room again； Malachi； in accordance with the time…honored custom； wheeling out his chair； puffing up the cushions； and； with a wave of the hand and a sweeping bow； saying：
〃Yo' ch'ar's all ready； Marse Richard。 Hope you'se feelin' fine dis evenin'； sah！〃
The following day he was in his 〃li'l' room；〃 Oliver helping him。 It was the lifting of the heavy plate of the motor that had hurt Richard； so Nathan told him； not the same motor which Oliver remembered； another； much larger and built on different lines。 The inventor now used twenty…four cells instead of ten； and the magnets had been wrapped with finer wire。
These days in the shop were delightful to Oliver。 His father no longer treated him as an inexperienced youth； but as his equal。 〃I hope you will agree with me； my son；〃 he would say； or； 〃What do you think of the idea of using a 'cam' here instead of a lever？〃 or； 〃I wish you would find the last issue of the Review； and tell me what you think of that article of Latrobe's。 He puts the case very clearly； it seems to me；〃 etc。 And Oliver would bend his head in attention and try to follow his father's lead； wishing all the time that he could really be of use to the man he revered beyond all others； and so lighten some of the burdens that were weighing him down。
And none the less joyful were the hours spent with his mother。 All the old…time affection； the devotion of a lover…son； were lavished upon her。 And she was so supremely happy in it all。 Now that Richard had recovered； there was no other cloud on her horizon； not even that of the dreaded mortgage which owing to some payments made Richard by a company using one of his patents had been extended and its interest paid for two years in advance in deference to her urgent request。 All anxiety as to the Northern girl had happily passed out of her mind。 If Oliver intended marrying Miss Grant he would have told her； she knew。 Then again； he was so much stronger and wiser nowso much more thoughtful than he had beenso much more able to keep his head in matters of this kind。
As his position was different with his father in the 〃li'l' room〃 and with his mother in the stillness of her chamberfor often they talked there together until far into the nightso were his relations altered with his old friends and neighbors in the drawing… room。 While the young men and girls filled the house as had always been their custom； the older men； as well； now paid their respects to Richard Horn's son。
〃One of our own kind；〃 Judge Bowman said to Richard。 〃Does you credit； Horna son to be proud of。〃
Even Amos Cobb came to look him over； a courtesy which pleased Richard who greatly admired the Vermonter； and who had not hesitated to express his good opinion of him on more than one occasion before his own and Cobb's friends。
〃A man of force； gentlemen；〃 Richard had said； of great kindness of heart and with a wide range of vision。 One who has the clearest ideas of what makes for the good of his country； a man too； not ashamed of his opinions and with ample courage to defend them。 He deserves our unqualified respect； not our criticism。〃
When Cobb heard of Richard's outspoken defence of him he at once called on the inventor at his workshop a thing he had not done for mouths； and asked to see the motor； and that same night astonished the circles about the club tables； by remarking； in a tone of voice loud enough for everybody to hear： 〃We have all been wrong about Horn。 He has got hold of something that will one day knock steam higher than Gilderoy's kite。〃 A friendship was thus established between the two which had become closer every daythe friendship of a clearer understanding； one which was unbroken during the rest of their lives。
It was quite natural； therefore； that Amos Cobb should be among Oliver's earliest callers。 He must have been pleased with his inspection； for he took occasion at the club to say to Colonel Clayton； in his quick； crisp way：
〃Dropped in at Horn's last night。 His boy's over from New York。 Looks like a different man since he quit fooling round here a couple of years ago。 Clean cut a young fellow as I've seen for many a day。 Got a look out of his eyes like his mother's。 Level… headed woman； his motherno better anywhere。 If all the young bloods South had Oliver Horn's ideas we might pull through this crisis。〃
To which my Lord Chesterfield of Kennedy Square merely replied only with a nod of the head and a drawing together of the eyebrows。 He found it difficult to tolerate the Vermonter in these days with his continued tirades against 〃The epidemic of insanity sweeping over the South；〃 as Cobb would invariably put it。
The scribe now reaches a night in Oliver's career fraught with such momentous consequences that he would be glad to leave its story untold：
An unforgettable night indeed； both for those who were assembled there； and for him who is the chronicler。 He would fain lay down his pen to recall again the charm and the sweetness and the old… time flavor of that drawing…room： the soft light