Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-17

Mrs. Strong repeated the word in soft
voiced wonder. How was it possible for
her to meddle? Could q sovereign med
die with the affairs of his own subjects?
Sans Souci plantation was her kingdom.
Within it's boundary fences she was alb
solute sovereign. Its menservants and
its maidservants, it's oxen, it's sheep,
its asses and all that therein was, were
her subjects She had done autocratic-
ally just as she pleased, with man and
beast, ON Sans Souci, ever since the
hour that Adrien's father had installed
her as mistress, Or, rather, crowned her
its sovereign with very pretty speech.
Adrien's father, the ex-governor's
son, had passed away in the prime of
self indulgent life. His widow had held
the helm in careful hands so undisturb-
edly since that the comings and the 60
ings Of the old politician caused but
slight deyiations from the regular order
of things.
Eben Martin was simply her steward.
A necessary and satisfactory medium
between her and the multitude of living
things, bipcd and quadruped, which ex-
listed principally to minister to the COM
fort of the Strongs. The serene dignity
of her social status was not the result Of
any vulgar commercial success. She had
been born into it. Her social importance
was prenatal. 1t would exist after she
was dead. She had not come dowerless
into the Strong family. She had added
to the magnitude and Importance of
their estate by joining her own to it.
When she laid down her sceptcr, Adrien
and Adrien's children would lift it up.
To the ex-governor, plantation affairs
were secondary and incidental. State
affairs were absorbing.
my daughter in laws steward was
the facetious way i'll which he referred
to Eben Martin among the neighbors.
Eben Martin and his wife and his sons
were among the many things that were
simply tributary to the fuller, freer life
of the big house. Therefore it presented
itself in the light of duty that Mrs.
Strong should see that the domestic ma
chinery of her overseer's house was kept
in smooth working order.
AS conscientious sovereign she was
minded to look into everything fearless
ly. She was seriously disturbed about
this vivid, esoteric girl, who was given
to violent horseback exercise and be-
witching red pompons Under the given
circumstances she considered her father
in-law's selection of the word "mcddlc'
as not only inappropriate but bordering
on the offensive.
Finding a discussion of the Martins
and their domestic affairs inevitable,
the governor resigncdly laid his spec
tacles across the pile Of unopened papers
and went into the subject with some
acerbity.
"Yes, 'meddlc. That was the word
used. I have come to look upon the
whole Martin brood as an ungratctrl
and stiff necked lot Really, l have,
Adele, my dear"
"Why?'
"Well, Eben stood out so stubbornly
for a reduction i'll the price had placed
on Neck or Nothing. l never would
have sold the land at all had not that
boy Seth stubbornly refused to remain
ON the place unless would sell him
land to start small place for himself.
As for the second son, my namesake,
Strong, his attitude is nothing short CT
incomprehensible. He refused point
blank to be Adricn' s travelling compan-
ion, although the fellow is SO quick and
intelligent would rather have paid his
expenses twice over than to have sent
Adrien off with that dullard, Spencer. y
"Mr. Spencer belongs to very good
family, father, and he is not likely to
embarrass my son by any social blum
ders. Perhaps young Martin thinks he
has accepted enough at your hands.
Moreover, it is quite time he was get
ting to work I believe the plan is for
him to study under Dr.. Whitcomb?'
"Was, but, hang it all, he positively
refuses to 60 into Whitcomb's office. y
"Refuses? Refuses to study medicine
under one of the best practitioners i'll
the south?"
$50 Eben told me yesterday
"What does he propose to do, pray!'
He is going to move on to the Pc
ninsula."
"Neck or Nothing? Impossible! What
would he do there?'
"Open it for Seth, is the plan. At
any rate, he is going there to live or
work or rust'-the governor gave an
impatient outward sweep OF his delicate
hands-"o rot there. Confound the fel.
low, never was more disappointed in
any one in all my life. p"
"But there is no house OH the Neck.
1t is a brambly wilderness, dreary,
fenceless, out of the way hole. ~
"It is all that or little less. Zeke's
old cabin is still standing on it. Rather
dilapidated mansion to be chosen by
college valedictorian, with all the world
before him."
Upon my word and honor" Mrs.
Strong amazement was boundless. HE
must be lacking in ordinary perception
of his duty as man of education and
ability. Totally without ambition, l
suppose His class generally is. y
The governor caressed his chin reflect
lively.
"No, his entire college record is
against that theory. am afraid be has
left Shingleton under something of
cloud saw Redmond i'll town yoster-
day and was talking with him about
Strong. He would not speak out plain
ly, but limited darkly that Strong, i'll
the last months of his stay at Shinglc-
ton, had tarnished brilliant record and
stripped himself of well won laurels. y
wonder what he did? Strange that
Adrien should have given you 10 hint.
Not strange, either. My son could never
be ungenerous to a comrade. "
II did not inquire further If it had
been Adrien, should have compelled
Professor Redmond to be more explicit.