Middletown transcript., 1896-11-28
A CleVer
Play

| NtNS4/0 Mr. Stanto
| /M& chuckled to hin
~ ~ self as he held
sealed envelope to the light CRITICAL.
81 told him / should return his lei
ters unopened, and there this one goe
for all the world as If l hadn't an ide
of what in contains"
And with another pleased little gul
gle at bis own sharpness, Mr.. Stanto
placed the letter addressed to LUX
Stanton, ESQ.,, Grand Hotel, Grea
Startmouth, Pinto another envelope an
readdressed it to "Adrian Stanton, Esq
Turner Studios, Ruskin Road, Kensing
ton." Then be rang the bell delivere'
it to the waiter to be put into the Lon
don postbag; after which he walked t
the bay window and stood looking ou
upon the calm sea and the long expans
of yellow sand.
Great Startmouth is not a fashion
able seaside resort; indeed, it is chiefly
frequented by convalescent dyspeptics
Anglo-Indians with sallow complexions
and short tempers, and other invalids.
Luke Stanton had come there partl,
on account Of his health, partly be-
cause he held shares in the new hote
and other schemes for making Great
Startmouth little less funeral and {
little more profitable. But, greatly as
the fnancier was generally occupied
with his companies and his scheme s.
at the present moment he was thinking
Of neither,as he stood gazing blankly oul
on the beach. his hands thrust deep in
to his pockets, jingling the loose coins
and keys therein.
Mr.. Stanton was busy repeating to
himself the contents of the letter he
had just sent back. Adrian Stanton
was his only son, who, by all the laws
of heredity and adyisibility, should
have been his right hand. Alas, for
the crookedness of this worldl
Young Stanton had fatty declared t.
his father some three or four days pre-
viously, that he hated the city, that he
could not calculate the commonest sum
Of simple interest, and that he would
never understand the intricaces of the
stock exchange-that in short, he de-
tested business, and meant to devote
to artl Luke stormed and
raved, but had ended by giving in, and,
In spite of his affected indiffer ence and
had been not a little pleased
when, last year, the hanging committee
Of Burlington House had accepted
small canvass signed'' adrian Stanton.n
True, it had been SO hung that it was
to see it without a dislo-
Gated neck, but that detail the old man
,onscientiously ignored. So far, so
good. Luke Stanton was almost re-
to his art, and was rather given
10 talking about ''may sons studio,"
when all at once the whole fabric top
lied about his ears in the most CHASTITY
ashton. Adrian came to him one day
With the news that he was engaged to
be married. It was unexpected, but
not necessarily disastrous until the
atal truth was disclosed-he, Luke
the great city man, heavy
like of purse and moral reputation,
vas expected to welcome as his daugh-
er-in-law-a model There was scene
oall the stops Of paternal indignation
nd filial ingratitude were pulled out
0 their fullest, and it ended in Adrian
7alking out of his house.
He made several further att empts to |
ee his father and bring him to more
micable frame of mind, but ineffect-
tally, and as last, in spite of threats
D stop bis allowance. to cut him out of
is will, Adrian Stanton took to HIM
elf the girl of his choice and duly in
ormed his father of the fact.
1t was then that the family solicitor,
t Luke's dictation, indited the young |
IAN that letter, informing him that |
is father desired to hold no uither
communication with him, and that any |
,tter addressed to his father from Ad- |
ian would be returned unopened.
This had happened six months ago, |
nd Mr.. Stanton invariably acted as he |
ad done now-opened the letters over
steaming bowl of water, read them,
sfastened them and sent them back.
Ie was just now ruminating on the
sst epistle. 1t was in the same strain
8 usual; Adrian asked for no money,
7as able to support his wife by his
rush, modestly enough, still sufficient
I, but he wanted his father to recog-
ize her, to know her-he wanted re-
ognition.
"And don't be wish be. may get It'll
the hussy? Never! Obi he
an support her, can be? So much the
etter, for be won't get any help from
,e, now or at any other time. know
hat it is-he's afraid I'll marry
gainI'
And then Luke Stanton fell into al
everie. After all, why not? Many
len did marry after 60, and-and--
Ie looked at his watch hurriedly-a
uarter to 4; then his eyes eagerly scan
ed the stretch of beach.
"She'll be getting back directly" he
uttered, and catching up his hat went
, disport himself along the parade.
Presently he FASTENED his step a little
, a slight figure in a amuslin gown flut-
,red into view at the far end of the
arade. +
"Oh, Mr.. Stantonl You quite start
d mel How delightful to meet youln