Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-11-05
A CLEVER PLAY.

appearing dlgnlned ana urn at the
same timer
Mr.. Stanton chuckled to himself as
he held a sealed envelope up to the
light critically.
II told him should return his let
tiers unopened, and there this one goes
for all the world as II hadn't an idea
Of what ii contains"
And with another pleased little CUR
gle ut his own sharpness, Mr.. Stanton
placed the letter addressed 20 Luke
Stanton Esq, Grand Hotel, Great
Startmouth," into another envelope
and readdressed ii to Adrian Stanton,
Esq, Turner Studios, Ruskin Road,
Kensington." Then he rang the bell
and delivered it to the waiter to be
put into the London postbag; after
which Ire walked 10 the bay window
and stood looking out upon tine calm
sea and long expanse of yellow sand.
Great Startmouth Is not fashion
able seaside resort; indeed, it is chief
ly frequented by convalescent dyspep-
tics, Anglo-Indians, with sallow COM
plexions and short tempers, and other
invalids. Luke Stanton had come
there partly on account Of his health;
partly because he held shares in the
new hotel and other schemes for max
ing Great Startmouth a little less fu-
nereal and little more profitable. But,
greatly as the financier was generally
occupied with his companies and his
schemes, Mt the present moment he was
thinking of neither, as he stood gaz-
ing blankly out on the beach, his
hands thrust deep into his pockets,
jingling tire loose coins and keys there
in.
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 heredfty and ACCESSIBILITY, should
have been his right hand. Alas, for
the crookedness of the world! Young
Stanton had fatty declared to his
father some three or four years pre-
viously. that he hated the city; that
hC COutu hOt tdituidtC thC
sum of simple interest and that he
would never understand the iptricacies
of the stock exchange-that, in short,
Ire detested business and meant to
devote himself to art. Luke stormed
and raved, but had ended in giving in,
and, in spite Of his affected Indifference
and contempt, had been not a little
pleased when. last year, the hanging
committee of Burlington House had ac-
cepted a small canvas signed adrian
Stanton" True, it had been so hung
that it was impossible to see it with
out risking a dislocnted neck, but that
detail the old man conscientiously ig-
nored. So far. so good. Luke Stanton
was almost rcconciled TO art, and was
rather given to talking about my
sons studio" when all ut once the
whole fabric toppled about his ears in
the most CHASTITY fashion. Adrian
came to him one day with the news
that he was engaged to be married.
1t was unexpected, but not necessarily
disastrous until the fatal truth was dis
closed-he. Luke Stanton, tine great city
man, heavy alike OF purse and moral
reputation, was expected to welcome
as his daughter-in-law-a model! There
was scene-all the stops Of paternal
Indignation and filial ingratitude We're
pulled out to their fullest, and it ended
in Adrian walking out of the house.
He made several further attempts to
see his father and bring him to more
amicable frame Of mind, but ineffec-
tually, and at last in spite Of the
threats to stop his allowance, to curt
HIM out of his will, Adrian Stantan
took to himself the girl of his choice
and duly Informed his father of the
>act.
1t was then THAT the family solicitor,
at Luke's dictation, indited the young
man a letter, informing him that his
father desired to bold no further COM
munication with him. and that any
letter addressed to his father from
.-dl.ian would be returned unopened.
This had happened six months ago,
and Mr.. Stanton invariably acted as
he had done now-opened the letters
over n steaming bowl Of water, read
them, refastened them and sent them
back. He was just now Illuminating
on the last eplstle. 1t was In the same
strain as usual: Adrian asked for no
money, was able to support his wife
by Is brush, modestly enough, still
sufficiently, but he wanted his father
to recognize her, to know her-he
wanted reconciliation.
"And don't he wish he may get IL! !
recognize the hussy? Never! Oh! he
can support her, can he? SO much the
better. for he won't get any help from
me, now or at any other time. | know
what Vt is-lse's afraid I'll marry
again.
And then Luke Stanton fell into
reverie. After all, why not? Many
men did marry after 80. and-and---.
He looked at his watch hurrledly--a
quarter to a; then his eyes eagerly
scanned the stretch Of beach.
.sShe'll be getting back directly" he
murmured, and catching up his hat
went to disport himself along the pa
rade.
Presently he FASTENED his step lit