Youth Challenges

Youth Challenges

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Title: Youth Challenges
Author: Clarence B Kelland
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Youth Challenges
By
CLARENCE BUDINGTON KELLAND
AUTHOR OF
"The Little Moment of Happiness," "The High Flyers," "Sudden Jim,"
"The Source," "The Hidden Spring," etc.

CHAPTER I
Bonbright Foote VI arose and stood behind the long table which served
him as a desk and extended his hand across it. His bearing was that of a
man taking a leading part in an event of historic importance.
"My son," said he, "it gratifies me to welcome you to your place in this
firm." Then he smiled. When Bonbright Foote VI smiled it was as
though he said to himself, "To smile one must do thus and so with the
features," and then systematically put into practice his instructions. It
was a cultured smile, one that could have been smiled only by a
gentleman conscious of generations of correct antecedents; it was an
aristocratic smile. On the whole it was not unpleasant, though so
excellently and formally done.
"Thank you, father," replied Bonbright Foote VII. "I hope I shall be of
some use to you."
"Your office is ready for you," said his father, stepping to a door which
he unlocked with the gravity of a man laying a corner stone. "This
door," said he, "has not been opened since I took my place at the head

of the business--since I moved from the desk you are to occupy to the
one in this room. It will not be closed again until the time arrives for
you to assume command. We have--we Footes--always regarded this
open door as a patent token of partnership between father and son."
Young Foote was well acquainted with this--as a piece of his family's
regalia. He knew he was about to enter and to labor in the office of the
heir apparent, a room which had been tenantless since the death of his
grandfather and the consequent coronation of his father. Such was the
custom. For twelve years that office had been closed and waiting. None
had ventured into it, except for a janitor whose weekly dustings and
cleanings had been performed with scrupulous care. He knew that
Bonbright Foote VI had occupied the room for seventeen years. Before
that it had stood vacant eleven years awaiting for Bonbright Foote VI to
reach such age and attainments as were essential. Young Foote realized
that upon the death of his father the office would be closed again until
his son, Bonbright Foote VIII, should be equipped, by time and the
university founded by John Harvard, to enter as he was entering to-day.
So the thing had been done since the first Bonbright Foote invested
Bonbright Foote II with dignities and powers.
Father and son entered the long-closed office, a large, indeed a stately
room. It contained the same mahogany table at which Bonbright Foote
II had worked; the same chairs, the same fittings, the same pictures
hung on the walls, that had been the property of the first crown prince
of the Foote dynasty. It was not a bright place, suggestive of liveliness
or gayety, but it was decorously inviting--a place in which one could
work with comfort and satisfaction.
"Let me see you at your desk," said the father, smiling again. "I have
looked forward to seeing you there, just as you will look forward to
seeing YOUR son there."
Bonbright sat down, wondering if his father had felt oppressed as HE
felt oppressed at this moment. He had a feeling of stepping from one
existence into another, almost of