The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-17
The mANTEL IN TIE PARLoR.

!
old lady. with white hair and a girls face,
said:
But I want Tom Reddick to do the
work, papa"
There you go, Betty" said her hus-
band. who was for bringing an architect
from Richmond. always bringing senti-
ment into business. First, you didn't want
10 part with the old dilapidated fireplace
and mantel- Now you want Tom Reddick
to do the work If ne ever was an archi-
tect, he's forgotten what he knew. He's
drunk about half the time. and
Hes always done good work for US,
Giles. And he's hard up now; know he
is. Let him make the alterations. please.
I'll look after him, and if he doesn't do
everything right, why. then"
Why, then, you'll let him go ahead
laundering. Besides. I don't think he
| wants 10 work. He never did seem TO
| care whether he had work or not. He
won't thank you, Betty. He's born
lcafer. and i
NO. he isn't, Giles The Reddicks were
about as good people as there were in
| Virginia, and If poor Tom has been IN
! fortunate, l don't see that-besides. he
was a schoolmate Of mine and
'Oh, well. go ahead" muttered Judge
| Carleton. burying bis face in his paper,
Il wash my hands Of the whole business.
| If Redick makes a botch OF the thing.
III just take the liberty OF having it done
4 all over again"
And Mrs. Carleton went down that very
! afternoon 10 go over the plan with Tom
| Reddick. He was sitting cross-legged in
| his little dusty office when she came in.
but he rose quickly. with a bright smile
on mis- grim face, and. bowling with stately
! courtesy. came forward with his chair for
| her TO sit upon.
Good evening. Miss Betsy" he said,
I,4- l-5,;
papers on the shelf above him. and when
she said How are you. Tom?' there was
| pride and pleasure in the twinkle of his
! bright hazel eyes. He was man Of 30,
perhaps; tall sIovenly, silent. The signs
/ of dissipation had banished or hardened
! the traces of his youthful comeliness.
! His clothes were shabby. but well brush
ed: his worn-out shoes were polished; his
] linen was frayed but clean; he looked
/ what he was-a gentlemtn gone TO seed.
/ Upon the disordered desk and on the rude
shelves Of his office were some old. well
/ thumbed books: Epictetus. Ancient and
Modern Architecture. Ruskin. Shake
! speare. The place reeked Of tobacco and
/ whisky The rolls of blue print drawings
and specifications upon the tottering table
/ in the corner were covered with dust
/ Except for the sign over the door
| Thomas Reddick. Architect and Builder
there was nothing to indicate any active
occupation. minnow bucket and a fish
ing rod stood behind the door.
"Old Tom Reddick had been born and
! raised in the town. He inherited the
remnants of a wasted estate, but his
name had never lost any Of its luster till
he became the family representative.
When he and Betty AthertOn had been
schoolmates in the village high school IL
was well understood that they were
! sweethearts. 1t was one of those childish
attachments that usually eliminate nat
urally and logically in a good match.
Tom was a handsome, clever, manly. am
bilious boy. Betsy was the village
beauty Their respective ages were right,
their families were of equal standing;
they loved one another as children may,
but they said nothing Of marriage. That
was for the future. AS yet they were
too young. too unselfish too ingenious 10
invite or pursue the problems of the fu-
ture He went to college and she 10 the
seminary, and when he was of age he
found himself the heir OF the proud name
and an empty estate. Then he began 10
think Of the future. The utter loneliness
of his state awakened the passion of the
man. He resolved to go into the West 20
make a fortune for Betty. Marry herr
or course; that's what he meant TO do.
And so eager became his sudden passion
for her that he rushed away 10 Utah TO
make a start She had not yet fin
ished her schooling, but he decided 10
write TO her. The unspoken words OF
loves young dream flew 10 his fingers
now that he was far from her. He
wrote her a love letter, long ardent,
passionate. purposeful letter. full of mis-
hopes, of his plans, OF his determination
TO win way for himself. for her. Get
ting no answer within the month. he
wrote again. with just a hint of gentle
complaint at her silence There were
some verses-crCde, exaggerated, hating
rhynes-but vocal of his consuming love.
To this came no answer. Not word. not
q hint either of encourag ement or anger.
He waited a month, a year, two. FIVE,
ten, Sometimes he picked up pen when
he felt at his heart the tug of memories
singing sweet. But he laid it away again
and said. What's the use?'
He looked run down when. after fifteen
years Of drafting about the world. ne
came back to Carleton. He didn't say
anything about himself. There was no
need. He set up his squalid office and
spent his time smoking. reading-drink-
ing Sometimes he got drunk. But he
was inofensive and even more majestic
ally polite when in his cups. The people
pitied him and some of them gave him
work which he neglected. He had found
Betty Atherton married-Mrs. Judge Car
leton-and the happy mother of many
beautiful children. Giles Carleton was
the son of a store-keeper. who had made
money by taking parcels of the Reddick
estate in payment for -four. coffee and
provisions. which the family bought but
could not pay for. But the boy had in<
dustry as well rs brains. and had come on
while Tom Reddick was standing still or
retrograding. From prosecuting attorney
he had risen 10 a county judgeship, and
he had. married Miss Anterior. Tom
was not surprised. II his heart twinged
at sight OF her. he made no sign. She
was kind 10 him. called him Tom, gave
him work He never got drunk while he
was engaged on the Carleton place. II
sometimes he thought OF the old days
or OF those two letters. those foolish.
earnest. romantic letters. he never men
toned them Perhaps he wondered
whether they had made her laugh. OF Il
she had biushed and even cried with an
ger over their passionate appeals, or n
she had ever realized the cruelty OF her
Iilence But he said nothing.
Now he was 70 tear out the south parlor
wall and build a conservatory window
there Would he do it, Most certainly.
Miss Betty. he would do his best 20 please
her How was Judge Carleton And the
enildren2 very we'll Tom. thank you
I'll make a start in the morning Miss
Betty Good By. Tom. Good day. Miss
Betty That was all
But the next morning. al alone, long
before the family came down 20 break
fast he was there r. the south parlor
with his workmaus jumper on. saving.
hanmering. chiselIng away a. the Old.
weIl-rernernbere hearth ard mantsl.
Judge Carleton came in, said How d sc.
TOM gave some directions and went
away. Little Giles the boy. her boy.
. cEr ell