The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-04-14

light Of an exquisite joke. and chuckled
over it immensely among themselves
Like their wives and daughters. they
were too accustomed to their own posi-
ton to dwell upon it much, and they
had all along been perfectly aware that
Anthony was what Is called self made
mana fact which he had never either
thrust upon them or concealed. The
discovery that he was the son of old
Bill Anthony, who had lived all his life
among them and had been well thought
Of In way. served to invest that proc
ess Of self making, which had been 40
successful in result, with personal in
~stead Of an abstract interest for them
They were proud Of him as q county
man and fellow Virginian who had
gone out in the world and done the old
state credit. They beheld him through
the Elusive rose color of pronounced sue
cess, and bestowed upon him both nd
miration and approval.
ITO think Of old Bill Anthony's boy
turning out such clever blader
chuckled Judge Wilmer delightedly.
Il remember the old man perfectly--a
slouching sort Of fellow. always whit
Ting sticks, with his mouth full Of to-
bacco. Capital overseer he was too
kept the negroes up to the collar and
wasn't brutal to them. Any Of us would
have snapped him up if we'd had the
chance: but Beverley hung on to him.
Beverley thought great deal Of him, |
remember. He came out well during
the war too-saved Hector's life at NAL
vern Hill. There's good stuff in most
-Virginians.r
Mrs. Wilmer let this bit Of vainglory
pass, while she took up a stitch in her
knitting. She was Virginian also.
Weren't there good many broth.
.ers?" she questioned. Il seem to re-
member quantity of towheaded chill
dren across the rayine.'
"They were all killed during the war.
replied the judge cheerfully, land a
mighty good thing for this fellow too.
They were a worthless set, and would
have hampered him. He need not be
ashamed of them now, however, for they
AL died well. with their faces to the foe
"a brave men should. That is the soil.
tary good feature Of war: it can burn
away refuse creditably."
~ wonder why he never told us that
he belonged to the neighborhoodY' unused
Mrs. Wilmer II think he should have.
1t doesn't seem altogether fair.
Nobody ever asked him any ques-
lions that ever heard Of" replied the
Judge. "A man isn't obliged to go
around with personal history pinned
to his back. You wouldn't expect it Of
one Of rs if we returned to place after
twenty years absence and found none
Of our belongings about. The man
didn't change his name, or make big
mystery of himself. and he hasn't
thrust himself upon us. can't see that
he has done anything amiss in keeping
his mouth shut about his own affairs,
IL he had become intimate in any of our
houses it would have been different; but
he hasn't been intimate anywhere ex-
cept at the Beverleys', and it seems that
he did tell Mary"
'Cornelia is terribly afraid that Mary
viii marry him, observed Mrs. Wilmer
II was over at Repton the evening
before she left, and she was in miser.
able stew over it. There had been
scene of some kind that morning about
him. Cornelia wanted him forbidden
the house on account of his birth and
Mary refused to do it. Cornelia was
leaving for that reason. She said that
Mary had insulted her."
Mary Is q wonderful woman not to
insult her every day she lives. Cornelia
Beverley is enough to make saint caper
and blaspheme," the judge said Grossly
Med Anthony is good enough fellow
but he isn't the sort of man to captivate
. woman like Mary Beverley if she is
left to herself. II that is ever match
--andI, for one, would be sorry to see
it in spite Of his money--it win be Of
Cornelia's making"
"Ho~ 80, my dear?
Gamma, how can you ask so stupid q
question. and you woman reproved
her husband. why, by attacking him
t1njustly for things he can't alter and is
not accountable for, in season and out.
and forcing her to espouse his cause and
make herself his champion. There's a
lot Of impulsive. generous South Caro-
lima blood in Mary, and If she thinks a
thing unjustly oppressed she'll rally to
it without single glance at the ulti-
mate cost. II she ends In Anthony's
arms it will be Cornelia's doing.
II wish the man had been born gen.
tleman." remarked the old lady regret
fully.
Her husband laughed "A gentleman
makes himself" quoth he sententiously:
.'he isn't made by his forbears. Many
an arrant snob and rascal has pedigree
as long as my arm. Race is a mighty
good thing, my dear, in men as well as
in horses; it helps powerfully in the
start, but there are other things that tell
at the finish. Old Anthony had some
traits which, if he transmitted them ID
4 his son, won't disgrace any stock that
they are grated on. He was poor and
ignorant. to be sure, but Ned has mend.
ed that. Some of our best and mobiles,
have risen from the ranks, You know