The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-30
Ring of
NE MIa!tterhorn


NJ ~ Jonn J. a'becket
| CHAPTER I. '''-
IN nooUny ov THE COUNTESS
y 4oia1e wsss pretty stormy In the
noo toot norntns. There had been Z
III eu1ee The might before Uncle
1opee - bssn unpleasant enough
~ ~ b always made q point
- 1zpotlets On the extrsvasancs Of
- Hoosey or the girls. % the case
U1GDe - when hs wss drawn on for
>nSney- Mr. Josiah 0ardne- had made
4Seecone and had ruined his temper
u1ng ~ He had bad TO put his nose to
- tjotstons Tor years. and now that
- ~ relieved Of that humiliatins
1oanaeien As tried 70 even up things
20 m1o1cting others 20 like harrow
- coa3nnctiop.
M 'Wsrp all thoroughly tired of Il.
- 60 moro 90. however. than Florence
DcDoy. She was 1.-THE, pretty girl of
Z ogo60ate 1of Vassar and thorough.
- - - ~ h athletica Il was Q
1DloRt 90 her 10 rsflect that she lived
- - hoe when women rode. swan.
(nooA wheeled. and could make fair
11gWtng With men at tennis. golf and
0CA0 yAyuical civersiona.
.if ~ Rodney was en- admirable ex-
UunoDt 81 che benefit Of cir. exercise
- 6co6om tor her ssx. Her walk was
0nOV ~ grscsful and che carried
1uu1l( oo G1snight n s0ldier. Il was
0 oCDBoo q imsaease solatse 10 her In all
- pAo.o1 of her physical well tsins to
- ~ eysFy muscle ilrm and strong
- - 1D0W that her Aesh. her heart
- ~ lnags we're in the best possible
Il - 1ednsy was q widow with little
1o2. two daughters 20 marry o6 ard
~ mlD1 Gjvsn 70 The things OF this
When her husband had left her
DovUiohed. che sense Of bkod tiss
11U10 duty kad induced her broth
1oulAh Gardner. to take charge Of
- - hsg daughters But he l,ad this
Ir1oannnt fashion OF complaining
% uoney uatteRA Nra E,odney's
49, nEGuDent IN defense Of tl,eir ex.
4n was the ped AZ getting i;bs girIs
- mn1Etod. This meant marrying
1on to msn Of means and god social
D1t>oo--xich men. anyhow, for Mra
Lo1Ney was convinced that 1:oney was
1nonGh Of IN ''cpen sesarse'' for New
~8k society at al events. II q man
lot the blood or manners of q thor
- gontlomau. q ski1lful wife who
- ><~-n9 ~sY~< L.
>ooso au right Most American hus-
D0on. except the few who aro young
n1eoy msn. do not figure very promi-
11meV In the social phases Of th cir fam
- They generally have tho air of
u1g casual and bored assistants at
Deetons Of this kind. and not much is
4pectsd Of them except to pay the bills.
1io Rodney was rather restive flly
- rave her worthy mother mary an
oocosion tor fretful dissatisfaction. She
- will VI her own. and her tastes.
- bee been said. were for athletic pas.
onses and not Cor society. tho ugh che
80 fond OK dancing and handsome
CpwnG She did not show that keen de-
70 tor tagg'ng some eligible man
Which her mother would have liked.
Ira Rodney had not infrequently com.
D1ained Of this In her eldest daughter.
81 should think you would want to
~ married and settled and not have
. feel that your uncle Is breaking his
oeaEt over every penny be puts out for
vAat be thinks is our extravhgant hv-
t4G- You know. am doing all can. %
Miss Rodney would try to keep her
1sm|er over maternal nagging Of this
hSsd and generally succeeded by de-
shining to argue the point. She was
epntent to 90 her way, and go her way
- did. In Justice to MrA Rodney Il
nInst b. admitted that she gave only
uAat entertninmsnts she felt she could
nj escape and keep In the swim at all.
- had TO keep there. for the sort Of
- whom che wished the girls to
0nryy were there. and there must b
upportunity for them to meet such men.
Uecle Gardner was not quite as mean
- hs appeared to be. They generally
Oot what they wanted. He simply made
- matter more pleasant for himself
~ growing over things and rendering
The women unhappy.
He had gone away for thu night of
the dance and had not been expected
10 return until the second day after IL.
% ~ 90 allow the house and ths in.
nDates tsme to get back to the normal
Bot be had got disgusted with some.
thing at the hotel and came home the
nsxt day. full OF fault finding disposi.
eton. The women grosned in spirit at
his unexpected advent Of the head Of
tes family Rose. the younger daugh-
ssS. was perfectly In accord with her
Dother's views and helped her in her
siss ~ far ~ she could. Her uncle she
hhmored and cajoled as well a. pretty
bit not very clever girl could humor
snd cajols Q keen. cranky old man.
4sA Rodney fslt that IL was little