The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-07
A CLEVER PLAY.

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digniiled and firm at the same time"
Mr. Stanton ohuckled to himself as lie
held a scaled envelope up to the light CRIB
ically.
III told him I should return his letters
unopened, and there this one goes for all
the world az II hadn't an idea of what 10
contains.
And, with another pleased little gurgle
at his own sharpness, Mr., Stanton placed
the letter addressed to Luke Stanton,
ESQ, Grand Hotel, Great Startnouth,
into another envelope and readdressod 1t to
"Adrian Stanton, Esq, Turner Studios,
Ruskin Road, Kensington." Then herang
the bell and delivered it to the waiter to be
put into tho London post bag, after which
he walked to the bay window and stood
looking out upon the calm sea and the long
expanse of yellow sand.
Great StartmOuth is not fashionable
seaside rcsort--indeed 1t Is chiefly fire.
quented by convalescent dyspeptics, Anglo
Indians with sallow compilations and short
tempers and other inva]ids. Luke Stanton
had come there partly on account Of his
health, partly because he held shares in the
new hotel and other schemes for making
Great Startmouth little less funereal and
a little more profitable. But, greatly as
the financier was generally occupied with
his companies and his schemes, at the pres-
ent moment he was thinking of neither, as
he stood gazing b,ankly out ON the beach,
his hands thrust deep into his pockets,
jingling the loose coins and keys therein.
Mr.. Stanton was busy repeating to him
self the contents of the letter he had just
sent back. Adrian Stanton was his only
son, who, by all the laws of heredity and
advisablity, should have been his right
hand. Alas, for the crookedness of this
world Young Stanton had fatty declared
to his father some three or four years pre-
viously that he hated the city, that no
could not calculate the comBpnest sum OF
simple interest and that he would never
understand the intricacies Of the stock ex-
change--that, In short, he detested "busi-
pess' and meant to devote himself to nrtl
Luke stormed and rayed, but had ended
by giving In, and, In spite of his affected
Indifference and contempt, had been not
little pleased when, last year the hanging
committee Of Burlington House had ac-
cepted small canvas signed adrian
Stanton" True, 1t had been 80 hung that
1t was impossible to see 1t without risking
a dislocated neck, but that detail the old
man conscientiously ignored, So far SO
good. Luke Stanton was almost reconciled
to art and was rather given to talking
about "my sons studio" when all at 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 unexpect-
ed, but not necessarily disastrous until the
fatal truCh was disclosed-he Luke Stan
ton, tho great city man, heavy alike OF
purse and moral reputation, was expected
to welcome as his daughter-in- law - a
model! There was q scene-all the stops
of paternal Indignation and fllial ingrati-
tude were pulled out to their fullest, and
1t ended in Adrian walking out of the
house.
He made several further attempts to sec
his father and bring him to more AMIGA
BILE frame of mind, but Intellectually, and
at last, in spite Of threats to stop his allow
ance, to cut him ont of his will, Adrian
Stanton took to himself the girl of his
choice and duly informed his father Of the
fact.
1t was then that the family solicitor, al
Luke's dictation, indited the young man
a letter informing him that his father de-
sired to hold no further communication
with him. and that any letter addressed tc
his father from Adrian would be returned
unopened.
This had happened six months ago, ant
Mr.. Stanton invariably noted as he hat
done now-opened tho letters over steam
ing bowl of water, read them, refastenet
them and sent them back He was jus
now Illuminating on the last epistle. i
was in the same strain as usual-Adriar
asked for no money, was able to support
his wife by his brush, modestly enough
still sufficiently, but he wanted his fathel
to recognize her, to know her-he wanted
reconciliation.
"And don't he wish he may get It'll
recognize the hussy Never Oh, he cal
support her, can her So much the better
for he won't get any help from me- now o.
at any other time. know what 1t is, he'
afraid I'll marry again!'
And then Luke Stanton fell into a rev
eriae After all, why not2 Many men die
marry after 90, and-and- He looked a
| his watch hurriedly A quarter to 4. Thei
his eyes eagerly scanned the stretch o
| beach.
She'll be getting back directly" h
murmured, and catching up his hat wen
| to disport himself along the parade.
Presently he fastened his step little a
| slight figure in muslin gown flutteret
! into view at the far end of the parade
ooh, Mr. Stanton, you quite startlet
| me! How delightful to meet your
She was dainty little person, with
genuine complexion, big blue eyes and tn
most puzzling and bewitching hair, whic
seemed to run the whole gamut of tint
from brown to gold as the sunbeams play
cd on it, She looked up into the old gen
tleman's face with the most confding ez
| preston.
Isn't tprovokingS There is absolutel
no news"
"Really, I'm delighted-I mean" h
corrected himself hurriedly, at Is most OK
traordinary."
"Isnt itp came down here week ag
to meet my aunt and uncle, as we had al
ranged before they went abroad, and,
my amazement, found no one here
Eyes, yes" he put In soothingly, ~
was very trying Poor littlo grill Poe
child"
II should have gone straight back
London If it hadn't been for you, MI
Stanton. You have been more than kin
to me- :"
mot at all, my dear young lady. wa
touched at the loneliness of your positio
anxious to be Of service Toto SO charm
ing wall"
She shot him grateful glance.
"But think really must go home nov
went to Carlinford, as you suggested
thinking that some letter might be avail
ing me at the postotfice; but, as tell yol
there was nothing. cannot think whf
has happened to my friends. feel mut
go back to London tomorrow.
Tomorrow" Mr.. Stanton stopped
agbast, and looked down at her. "Yo
mean to leave Startmouth"--
Eyes"
dat least you will allow me to 81
you safe to London-to your friends OF
forgot, my poor child-you are an orphan
But at any rate you will let me take 70
| back to the peOple with whom YOU wei