Newspaper Page Text
Tiie Mm
From Home
A Novelizatlon of the Ploy
of the Same Name
By BOOTH TARKINGTON and
HARRY LEON WILSON
Copyright, P9OO. by Amertcn Press
Association
“Pardon, m'slcu, the gentleman, he
wish to speak to you.”
Horace whirled In an angry fash.
“What gentlemanV" he demanded,
and Pike regarded him calmly.
“I thought from your looks." he pro
ceeded quietly, "you might be an
A merican.”
Horace planted himself squarely be
fore his Interrogator.
“Are you speaking to me?" he de
manded haughtily.
"1 shouldn't be surprised.” said Pike
genially. “Ain't you an American?”
“I happen to have been born in the
States,” replied Horace aggressively,
and Pike smiled quizzically.
"Well, that was luck," he comment
ed. and as Horace turned again to go
he said: ’'Hold on a minute! I'm look
ing for some Americans here, and I
expect you know ’em—boy and girl
named Simpson!”
Horace flushed deeply to the roots of
his hair.
"Is there any possibility you mean
fSrunger-Slmpson?" he asked, with
elaborate sarcasm, but this was lost
on Daniel.
"No, sir: just plain Simpson. Gran
ger’s their middle name. That's for
old Jed Granger, grandfather on their
mother's side. I want to see ’“in both,
but it’s the girl I'm really looking for.”
"Will you be good enough to slate
any possible reason why Miss Granger-
Simpson should see you?” and I’ike
started in genuine astonishment.
“Reason!” he reiterated. “Why, yes.
I'm her guardian!”
The effect of this simple statement
was terrifying. Ethel reeled dizzily
and was supported by lime, de Cbam
pigny. The earl rose to his feet, and
Horace staggered back.
“What!" he cried.
"Yes, sir,” went on Pike—“ Daniel
Voorhees Pike, attorney at law, Koko
mo, lnd.”
Horace fell back from him in horri
fied amazement.
"1 shall ask her,” he began weakly
and shamefacedly, "if she will consent
to an interview.”
Pike looked at him in amazement in
his turn.
"Interview!” he said. "Why, I want
to talk to her!”
Hawcastle, 'with some of his finer
feelings aroused, picked up bis sister
in-law with his eyes, much as a clever
hostess picks up her feminine guests at
dinner, and arose, turning to Ethel.
“This shall make no difference to us,
my child," he said and. turning sharp
ly, took Ijidy Creech by the arm and
left the terrace. Pike looked at Hor
ace pityingly.
“Don’t you understand?” he said.
•Tin her guardian!”
For a fleeting instant Horace stared
at him and then dropped his chin and
walked away.
“I shall never hold up my head
again." he said.
The sudden horror of the revelation
that Horace had drawn forth bore
down upon Ethel’s mind with a crush
ing weight.
To her artificlallzed understanding
the disgrace was more than she could
ever hope to bear, and Horace’s ex
pressed thought that he should never
be able to hold up his head again was
but a vivification of her own.
Surely it would have been bad
enough, she told herself, if this fearful
thing had come upon them privately,
but to have it appear in the full light
of day and in the very hearing of the
family of the man site was about to
marry was too cruel.
And with an inward groan she leaned
for a moment against the terrace wall
where the countess had left her. When
the first astonishment had passed and
she had time to realize what had oc
curred. events that had seemed but
fleeting impressions rose up before her
in all their vivid nakedness. Mine, de
Champiguy had looked at her with
astute contempt, site was sure, and she
dimly remembered seeing the look of
horrified amazement upon the patrician
features of the Earl of Hawcastle.
Then, with an awakened resentment,
the fighting blood of the sturdy plebe
ian Simpson stotk. the stock that had
upheld its end in the battle against
oppression in several wars, came back
to her with a rush, and she decided to
see this awful man and give him to
understand that he must go away at
once and never insult her again by
bis uncouth and vulgar presence. Such
business as had to be transacted could
be done through an intermediary.
With a bracing of her spirit she
stepped forward resolutely and came
up close behind Pike as he stood..with
drooping Jaw gazing iu perplexity
after the retreating Horace. Ethel cast
a look of loathing upon the straight
back of the guardian of her peace and
ground her little boot heel into tlie
stone flagging. She glanced up and
saw that the common German was
looking at Pike with grave sympathy
and even understanding, and Instantly
she hated him for it. Then she saw
him take Ids cap from the obsequious
Mariano and turn away. When he had
gone she said In a low voice:
“I am Miss Grauger-Simpson."
CHAPTER X.
THE HUMILIATION.
INSTANTLY Pike turned with a
lithe twist of ills lank body and
half lifted his hand as If he ex
pected a blow. Then his arm
dropped again, and lie stood looking at
her in calm and interested fashion. As
lie stared his expression changed to
(ne of mingled tenderness and pride,
and when he spoke there was a world
of pathos in his voice.
“Why," he said In a low. astonished
tone—“why. I knew your pa from the
time I was a little boy till he died,
and 1 looked up to him more’n I ever
looked up to anybody in my life, but
I never thought he'd have a girl like
you. He’d be mighty proud if he could
sec you now.”
She turned from him In a smothered
rage and then faced him again with
cold disapproval in her tone.
"Perhaps it will be as well if we
avoid personal allusions.” she said re
sentfully. This man should have no
opportunity for bringing up those vul
gar, half forgotten family reminis
cences if she could help it. He smiled
a trilie wanly.
“1 don't just see how that’s possi
ble," be answered, and she waved her
hand indignantly.
“Will you please sit down?” she said,
and I’ike made an awkward bow.
"Y'es, ma'am." he replied meekly,
with the faintest accent on the last
word, and obediently took the chair
that Horace had vacated so precipitous
ly. She shuddered at the word he had
used and glanced nervously at the hat
he was holding in his hands.
“Are—are you really my guardian?"
she asked at last, with a trace of heat-
Vi
l\\ fib
P
“ We could have been epared this—this
mortification. ”
ed unbelief iu her tones. Pike smiled
at her.
“Well," he said. “I’ve got the papers
lu my grip. 1 expect that"—
“Oh, I know it!” she interrupted ex
plosively. "It's only that we didn't
fancy—we didn't expect”—
She paused, and he went on:
“1 expect you thought I’d be consid
erably older.’’
“Not only that."
"And 1 guess you thought I’d neg
lected you a good deal.” There was a
touch of remorse in his tone, and he
ookeil idly at the hat he held. “And
t did look like it—never coming to see
vou— but I couldn’t hardly manage the
iuie to get away. You see, being trus
ee <>f your share of the estate I don’t
uardly have a fair show at my law
practice. But when I got your letter
eleven days ago 1 says to myself:
'Here. Daniel Voorhees Pike, you old
shellback, you’ve just got to take time.
Jehu Simpson trusted you with his
property, and he's done more—he’s
trusted you to look out for her. and
now she's come to a kind of jumping off
place in her life—she’s thinking of get
ting married—so you just pack your
gripsack and hike out over there aud
stand by her.’"
During the last half of his speech
there was a tone of affectionate regard,
at which she bridled resentfully.
"I quite fail to understand your point
of view," she said frigidly. "Perhaps
1 had best make it clear to you that l
am no longer thinking of getting mar
ried."
"Well, Lord ’a’ mercy!" ejaculated
I’ike, leaning back in liis chair and
smiling at her, but she affected not to
notice the lighter tone and went on.
"I mean I have decided upon it. The
ceremony is to take place in a fort
night.''
Pike brought the front feet of his
chair down with a crash.
“Well. 1 declare!" he cried.
"We shall dispense with all delays,”
site went on. and Pike regarded her
solemnly for a moment.
“Well. I don’t know as I could say
anything against that. He must be a
mighty nice fellow, and you must
think a heap of him.” lie sighed.
"That's the way it should be.” He
looked at her. "And you're happy?”
“Distinctly!” said Ethel decisively.
Pike looked off over the blue bay,
and then his gaze traveled to where
Horace bad been standing, and with
a start he turned to her again, speak
ing eagerly:
"It ain’t that fellow I was talking
with, yonder?”
And she voiced an indignant protest.
“That was my brother!”
“Lord ’a’ mercy!" ejaculated Daniel
and then recovered himself. "But.
then, I wouldn’t remember him. He
couldn't have been more than twelve
when you was home last. Of course
I’d ’a’ known you”—
"How?” demanded Ethel. “You
couldn’t have seen me since I was a
child.”
“From your picture, though now I
see it ain’t so much like you,” he an
swered. and she stepped forward, with
astonishment.
“Y’ou have a photograph of me?”
"The last time I saw your father
alive he gave it to me—to look at.”
“And you remembered”—
“Y'es, ma’am.”
A look of incredulity passed over
Ethel’s face, and she replied:
“It does not strike me as possible.
However, we will dismiss the sub
ject."
“Well, if you'd like to introduce me
to your—to your”—
“To my brother?”
“No, ma'am; to your—to the young
man.”
“To Mr. St. Aubyn?" cried Ethel, re
coiling a step. “I think it quite un
necessary.”
“I’m afraid I can't see it that way.
I’ll have to have a couple of talks with
him. sort Of look him over, so to
speak. I won’t stay around here spoil
ing your fun any longer than I can
help—only just for that and to get a
letter I'm expecting from England."
Ethel bit her lip vexatiously.
“I do not see that you need have
come at all. We could have been
spared this—this mortification.”
“Y'ou mean I mortify you? Why, I
—I can't see how.”
“In a hundred ways," she replied,
“every way. That common person
who is with you”—
“He isn't common. \ T ou only think
so because he's with me.” returned
Daniel sadly, looking down.
“Who is he?” demanded Ethel sharp
ly-
“He told me his name, but I can’t
remember it I call him ‘doc.’ ”
“It doesn’t matter. What does mat
ter is that you needn’t have come.
You could have written your consent."
“No, ma’am, not without seeing the
young man," answered Pike resolute
ly.
“And you could have arranged the
settlement in the same way.” went on
Ethel unheedingly.
“Settlement! You seem to have set
tled it pretty well wituout me,” re
turned Pike, smiling.
“You don’t understand,” said Ethel
impatiently. “An alliance of this sort
always entails a certain settlement.”
She paused. “Please listen. If you
were at all a man of the world I
should not have to explain that in
marrying into a noble house I bring
my dot, my dowry”—
“Money, you mean?” asked Pike,
puzzled.
“Yes, If you choose to put it that
way.”
“You mean you want to put aside
something of your own to buy a lot
and start housekeeping”—
“No,” she flared. “I mean a settle
ment upon Mr. St. Aubyn directly.”
“You mean you want to give it to
him?”
“If that’s the only way to make you
understand—yes!” she flashed.
“How much do you want to give
him?” asked Pike thoughtfully.
“A hundred aud fifty thousand
pounds,” said Ethel desperately.
Pike whistled.
“Seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars!”
“Precisely that!” said Ethel.
“Well, he has made you care for
him.” said Daniel. "I guess he must
be the prince of the world! He must
be a great man. 1 expect you're right
about me not meeting him. I probably
wouldu’t stack up very high alongside
a man that's big enough for you to
think so much of as you do him. Why,
I’d have to squeeze every bit of prop
erty your pa left you.”
"Is it your property?” she flared at
him.
“I’ve worked pretty hard to take
care of it for you,” he answered gen
tly. and instantly she regretted the
sharp speech.
“Forgive me,” she pleaded. "It was
unworthy of me—unworthy of the
higher and nobler things that life calls
me to live up to—that I shall live up
to. The money means nothing to me.
I’m not thinking of that. It is a neces
sary form.”
I’ike looked at her keenly.
“Have you talked with Mr. St. Au
byn about this settlement —this present
you want to make to him?" he asked.
"Not with him."
“1 thought not." he weut on amused
ly. . “You'll see_ He wouldn’t take it
If I'd let you give It to ram. a fine
man like that wants to make his own
way. Mighty few men like to have
fun poked at them about living on
their wives’ money.”
“Oh. I can’t make you understand!”
cried Ethel despairingly. "A settle
ment isn't a gift.”
"Then how'd you happen to decide
that just a hundred and fifty thousand
I
- -1
it
Jjr
“The police arc chasing a bally convict
chap under the cliff.' 1 '
pounds was what you want id to give
him?" he demanded.
“It was Mr. St. Aubyn's father who
fixed the amount,” replied Ethel des
perately.
“His father! What's he got to do
with it?”
“He is the Earl of Hawcastle, the
head of the ancient house."
“And lie asks you for your property
asks you for it in so many words?”
"Y'es, as a settlement.”
“And your young man knows it?”
“I tell you. Mr. Pike, I have not dis
cussed it with Mr. St. Aubyn.”
Pike laughed.
“I reckon not.” be said amusedly.
“Well. sir. do you know what's the
first thing Mr. St..Aubyn will do when
he hears his father made such a prop
osition? He’ll t::ke the old man out
in the back lot and give him a thrash
ing he won't forget to the day of his
death!”
Slie was about to answer when from
a distance came the roll of drums and
then the sound of a bugle. The sounds
came from afar off, as if below the
cliff.
They both stopped to listen. Then
the servants came runuing. with Mari
ano at their head. They rushed to the
wall and leaned over, all excitement.
Mariano turned to call to them over
his shoulder:
“The bandit of Russia! The soldiers
think he is hidden in a grotto under
these cliffs!”
As he spoke A1 meric ran down the
steps with a shotgun in his hand and
made for the steps leading down the
face of the cliff. Pike turned To Ethel.
“I saw that fellow on the road here.
What’s he meant for?”
Ethel turned angrily from the law
yer and called sharply to her fiance:
“Almeric!”
St. Aubyn turned and stopped.
“Hello!” he said.
“I wish to present my guardian to
you.” and turned to Pike as Almeric
approached. “This is Mr. St. Aubyn,”
she said steadily.
Almeric stared at Pike through his
monocle and laughed.
“Why, It's the donkey man. isn’t it?
How very odd! Y’ou'll have to see the
governor and our solicitor about that
settlement, though. I’ve some impor
tant business here. The police are
chasing a bally convict chap under the
cliff yonder, so you'll have to excuse
me. Y'ou know there’s nothing like a
little convict shooting to break the
blooming monotony—what?"
He turned and rushed off down the
stairway. Pike turned to look after
him in mute astonishment and then
turned to Ethel. She refused to meet
his glance, and the hot blood rose to
her face us she felt his scrutiny.
She tapped nervously with her foot,
and the astonishment grew in Daniel’s
face. He looked from her to where Al
meric had disappeared aud back to her
again. Then he took a step forward
as if to speak and stopped. Finally
the dawning horror in his face took
concrete form, and he spoke.
"That!" he groaned. "Seven hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars for
that! Say, how much do they charge
for a real man over here anyway?”
But she was unable to meet his eye.
Turning quickly, with her cheeks flam
ing with shame and anger, she rushed
into the hotel and left him standing
speechless on the spot.
[coNTINrF.D NEXT WEEK ]
ALLENS ART STL DLL
All kinds of Photographs made
by latest methods. All work done
promptly. Office on Candler St.,
Winder Oa
8
FARMS
FOR SALE!
In and around Jersey,
Walton county, Georgia,
containing from 40 to
510 acres each. Terms
easy
APPLY TO
Wo L. Blasingame,
Winder, Ga.
OR '
Josiah Blasingame,
Jersey, Ga.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
—
LEWIS C. RUSSFLL.
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
Winder, Ga.
Offices over First National Bank.
G. A. JOHNS,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Winder, Ga.
Office over Smirh & Carithers’
Bank. Practice in State and U.
S. Courts.
J. F. HOLMES,
ATTORN* EY' - AT- LA W,
Statham, Ga.
Criminal and Commercial Law a
Specialty 4?
W. H. QUARTERMAN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Winder, Ga.
Practice in all the courts
Commercial law a specialty.
W. L. DeLaPERRIERK
DENTAL SURGERY.
Winder - - Georgia
Fillings, Bridge and Plate-work
done in most scientific and satis
factory way.
Offices on Broad St.
SPURGEON WILLIAMS
DENTIST, 4
Winder - Georgia
Offices over Smith & Carithers
bank. All work done satisfac
torily,
Phone 81.
DR. S. T. ROSS,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, f
Winder, Ga.
Offices over First National Bank.
~ EDMOND F.' SAXON," m'. D.^
WINDER, GA.
Office over Turner’s Pharmacy.
Residence on Broad St. ’Phone
116. Attend all calls day or night.
DR. R. P, ADAMS,
BETHLEHEM, GA.
General Practice. Telephone.
Schedule Gainesville Midland Railway.
SOUTH BOUND '
No. 11 —Lv. 8:40 a. m.
No. 13 —Lv. 2:00 p m.
No. 15 —Lv. 11:15 a m : Sun. only.
NORTH BOUND
No. 12 —At. 5:10 am.
No. 14 —Al. 12:10 p m.
No. 16 —A.. 4:00 pm; Sun.oulv
■—-ii ■ - ■
Schedule Seaboard Air Line
EASTWARD.
No. 52—For local stations, Mon-
roe and Columbus... 9:45 a i*k
No. 32 —For Norfolk, Washing
ton and New York... 1:52 p m
No. 58 —For local stations to
Athens 7:32 p m
No. 36 —For local stations north
of Athens, Richmond
and East 12:11 a m
WESTWARD.
No. 37 —For Atlanta, Birming
ham and west 5:23 a m
No. 57—For local stations and
Atlanta 7:45 a m
No. 33—For Atlanta, Birming
ham, Memphis and
West 3:12 p m
No. 53 —For Atlanta and west 6:18 p m
These arrivals and departures are
given as information and are not guar
anteed.