The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-05-05
A CLEVER PLAY.

Mr.. Stanton chuckled to himself as
he held a sealed envelope up to the light
critically.
Il told him 1 should return his let
tiers unopened, and there this one goes
for all the world as if l hadn't an idea
Of what it contains"
And, with another pleased little CUR
gle at his own sharpness, Mr.. Stanton
placed the letter addressed to Luke
Stanton, Esq, Grand Hotel, Great
Startmouth." into another envelope and
readdressed it to Adrian Stanton, Esq,
Turner Studios Ruskin Road, Kensing-
ton" Then he rang the bell and deliv-
cred it to the waiter to be put into the
London postbag; after which he walked
to the bay window and stood looking
out upon the calm sea and the long eX-
panse of yellow sand.
Great Startmouth is not fashionable
seaside resort; indeed, it is chiefly fire.
quented by convalescent dyspeptics,
Anglo Indians with sallow compilations
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 making Great Startmouth
little less funereal and a little more
profitable. But, greatly as the financier
was occupied with his companies and
his schemes, at the present moment he
was thinking of neither, as he stood
oa1 h To- nj lo tie
thrust deep into his pockets, jingling the
loose coins and keys therein.
Mr.. Stanton was busy repeating to
himself the contents of a letter he had
just sent back. Adrian Stanton was
his only son, who, all the laws of
heredity and advisability should have
been his right hand. Alas, for the
crookedness of this world! Young
Stanton had fatty declared to his faith
er some three or four years previously
that he hated the city, that he could not
calculate the commonest sum of simple
interest, and that he would never under
stand the intricacies of the stock ex-
change that, in short he detested
business" and meant to devote him
self to art! Luke stormed and raved
spite of his affected indifference and
contempt, had been not little pleased
when, last year, the hanging COM
mite of Burlington House had accept
ed small canvas signed Adrian Stan
ton" True it had been so hung that it
was impossible to see it without risk
ing dislocated neck, but that detail
the old man conscientiously ignored.
So far, so good. Luke Stanton was al
most reconciled to art, and was rather
given to talking about my sons stud
TO-" 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 en-
gagged to be married. 1t was unexpect-
ed. but not necessarily disastrous
until the fatal truth was disclosed-he,
Luke Stanton, the great city man,
heavy alike Of purse and moral reputa-
ton was expected to welcome as his
daughterin lava model! There was a
scene-all the stops of paternal indig-
nation and filial ingratitude were 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 ineffect-
ually, and at last, in spite of threats to
stop his allowance, to cut him out 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,
at Luke's dication, indited the young
man a letter. informing him that his
father desired to hold no further com
| munication with him, and that any let
ter addressed to his father from Adrian
| would be returned unopened.
This had happened six months ago,
and Mr.. Stanton invariably acted as he
had done noW-opened the letters over
| steaming bowl of water, read them,
| refastened them and sent them back.
| He was just now Eliminating on the
| last epistle. 1t was in the same strain
as usual: Adrian asked for no money,
was able to support his wife by his
| brush, modestly enough, still sufficient
| ly but he wanted his father to recog
nize her, to know her--he wanted re-
| Cancellation.
And don't he wish he may get it! l
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. I know
what it is-he's afraid I'll marry
| again!"
And then Luke Stanton fell into a
| reverie, After all, why not? Many men
did mary after 60 ,and-and---, He
| looked at his watch hurriedly--a quar-
| ter to 4 then his eyes eagerly scanned
| the stretch of beach.
She'll be getting back directly" he
murmured, and catching up his hat
went to disport himself along the
| parade.
| Presently he fastened his step little
as slight figure in muslin gown f1ut-
| tered into view at the far end of the
| parade.
| ooh, Mr.. Stanton! You quite startled
me! How delightful to meet you!''
| She was dainty little person, with a
| genuine complexion, big blue eyes and
| the most puzzling and bewitching hair,
| which seemed to run the whole gamut
of tints from brown to gold as the sun
| beams played on it. She looked up into
| the old gentlemans face with the most
confiding expression.
isn't it provoking There is absolute
| ly no news"
| Really. I'm dellghted-I mean" he
| corrected himself hurredly, cit is most
| extraordinary"