The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1877-01-25

} more dignity of character. Th
Squire would have done it, and it
Just Ike John. l don't see whs
7 need there was for saying anythin
{ to him, as yet. I'm sure he locke
, me straight in the face. Marry him
The property isn't his, yet. I'd {
soon marry Joe Roberts, iOr tbs
5 matter. I'm mske bim pay for
some day"
II Mr.. Bascom had but known i
the bitter resentment that spoke i
( Claudia's last remark was a stron
] point against him and in favor Of th
} matrimonial plans Of the Squire.
Only few nights after that, tn
latter was shown, by Mrs. Wayte,
T letter, which be read entirely through
Z It spoke Of him very kindly indeed
: but, somehow, il set him to thinkin
IN euriUus and unexpected sort G
} way.
! The little episode on the avenue hsl
been q perfect windfal for JohI
Chaplin. he would not have misse
it for the price of the turnout he hst
stopped SO uneeremOniously, and b
was particularly glad that It happene'
while he was still, In dress at least, 1
lumberman. The next day his trans
formation was very nearly completed
4Yhen one Of the hotel proprietOrs dit
him the honor to call on him at hi
room.
:. Exceedingly polite, deferential
even cordially kind, but ''there hat
been inquiries that morning, and
well, 8 stranger, you know"
"Oh 20 exclaimed John, 81 under.
stand. References, and SO forth. Ger
iainly-right aWay-no offense."
1t is only those who cannot Civ,
good references who are ever put Ou
when called on for them but Johns
were good enough for anybody.
Still, there had been inquiries, ,
and the best name on tae list, q
banker, was actually interrogated.
"Know him? ? o, yes. Good party
THAT Is, IL the young man represents
his father as he generally does. Very
queer, though Whatever got him
into the notion of bookkeeping ?"
'Hotel-keepIng Why, what dc
you mean Does he keep a hotel ?'i
He? No, but 1 thought you in
quired out his responsibility. Isn't
he proposing to buy you out ?"
buy US out a.? Why, no, but he has
been stopping with US, and there have
been inquiries made"
30, tnat's it, is it? Well, II he
makes you q good offer, take him up,
that's all he's good for it. Or bis
father is, anyway. II he doesn't pay
his board bill, send it to me-"
John Chaplin's room was changed
T. kzkk
but it was the next day, nearly at
dinner time, before Mr.. Bsscom's card
was brought to him.
"The man that held the horses for
me while pulled out the driver"
growled John. "He was walking
with Claudia. Wonder IL he set the
inquiries on foot. Well, can't say
care much-show him up"
II John himself had been aston
ished at the difference the taiIOrs had
made in his appearance, Mr.. Bascom
came very near apologiZing for q mis-
take and beating q retreat.
The heartiness Of his welcome, how
ever, set the matter right in an in
stant, and John found iJ very much
easier to play equality" now that his
new outfit had been so evidently ap-
proved by competent judge.
The incident on the avenue gave a
cspital opening wedge to conversa-
tiOn, but it vas not long before the
weather and the spring thaw which
bad just set in brought out q reference
to the Piney Woods, the great drifts
in the mountains, and the story of
the winter camp, with its game, It's
fun, and its adventures, and Mr.. B4s-
com was fairly captivated with his
new acquaintance-so much so, in
fact, that be actually stayed to din
ner, and only departed on a plea Of
an engagement st the opera that
evening.
Exactly" said John, to himself,
as the door closed behind his polished
and elegant guest, sand I guess 1 can
tell the name of his company. pm
fond of music.n
"a box to ones self is q wretched
piece Of extravaganee, but John
Chaplin felt not only reckless but
lonely that evening, and music
seemed to be just the thing he want.
ed. He could not hear what was GO
ing on in any Of the other boxes, but
he was dimly conscious OF being
"played upon" with q jsweled lerg-
nette in a pair Of small, gIoved
hands.
''There he is," Mr.. Bascom had
said, "and I've seldom seen q finer.
looking, msnlier fellow. He's been
out in the woods all winter, having a
splendid time. I envy him."
But Claudia Wayte was Just then
70 har.,TF - II
Chaplin? should never have known
him. wonder if I could make as
great a change in his father. know
what brought him to the city. Won't
I have my revenge !" And with q
smile of more than usual sweetness
she turned to Mr.. Baseom, and said
aloud "Your new friend seems to
be quite gentleman. Somehow, he
reminds me very much OF a man
used to know in the country, named
Chaplin"
rThat's his name, indeed" ex-
cleimed BsscOm. "Same one, per-
haps. Let me go and bring him over.
Pm quite sure he's every way q
proper person."
For moment Claudia was strong
ly tempted to refuse, and she might
have yielded to the temptation, but
her aunt came TO the front with
'Oh, yes, Mr.. Baseom, do bring
him. I know all about the Chaplin
family. 1 knew his father, years and
years ago."
Claudia's pretty cousins were in tine
box, and Aunt Sanford may have
been mindful of the great chapter of
.-,sATIsFf1n ell fo
did not give words to her half-formed
and Johns privacy was
invaded by his new friend.
He, too, stood on the very edge Of
doing just what Claudia wished he
might, and remaining where he was,
when B2scom smilingly added to his
previous invitation
"Come, come, it's only q sort of
family party-Mrs. Sanford and her
and-well Miss Wayte Is |
the lady you saw with nae on the
avenue the other day.n
Sab, ha T' laughed John, sis that
it? Well, then, ] suppose L must not
be rude. Pll come"
"And Mrs. Sanford says she knows
your father" added Mr.. Bascom.
The enervating effect Of city life |
must have been very rapid on John |
Chaplin, for his usually rosy face was
even pale as he arose and left his box. |
Or It may have been the heated air of |
the opera-house or the exceeding |
rapidity with which his thoughts |
were moving.
''Can they really be engaged 81 he
said to himself, as he strOde on after |
his new acquaintance. It's all very
curious, but wonder what she will |
say to me.n
Whatever his wonder may have |
been, however, he did not show it in |
his manner. Not so easy and elegant
as Mr.. Bsscom, certainly, or as many |
another gentleman of Claudia's ac-
quaintance but, for once, che spoke |
the true thought Of her mind out
plainly when she said to him
"Indeed, John Chaplin, you need |
to be introduced to me, I hardly !
think your father and Lucy will |
know you when you get home.
"Am so changed, then ?" asked |
John.
please,n said Claudia, "my aunt and |
cousins are waiting for their turn.U
rBut /, }" interposed Mrs. Sanford, |
fought not to require any ceremony |
with Squire Chsplin's son. 1 knew |
your father and your mother too, Sir, |
Iyaors hafora Won uvaPo horn -