The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21

tation store Of hiS kfnsman. CAp-
 tain Ezekiel Holmes, this story
 would not have been written.
 He had not long come home from col iege, mad Richard Kane; and the eoun- try folk were free in their predictions that he would turn out badly-a writer of books, or something. He was studious and thoughtful. Too serious for his simple neighbors, he had been their ard- ent aversion since he was a. boy.
 So 1t came about that when he went down to Kensington to take the place which his distant relative had given him, probably through kindness, the country gossips began to say that 1t would be quite proper for Dick Kane to woo and win for wife Mildred Holmes. his distant cousin and only offspring of his bene- factor.
 Those who knew Richard Kane and Mildred Holmes best laughed at the sug- /gestion of such an alliance. Young Kane was reserved, phlegmatic. He admitted to himself that he was cynical but swore he was not misanthropic. His tall hg- ure, broad shoulders and ruddy face made him consl lf uous among young men, and he was one to attract the glances of budding and babbling young womanhood. But Richard Kane was impenetrable. If Cupid had whispered into his ears no one kn6W IL. HE fetiuWS Ut CotlcSS uC- scrbed him as cold-natured. imperturba- bIe and impervious. To himself he con- fessed that he was possessed of an in- hexibility of purpose. He was living in an age of restless energy and remorseless competition He would he said, lay the foundation stone of success before toying with the trinkets of pleasure. Occasion ally he had taken a turn with the col lege football team but from his point of view, hops and fraternity banquets were cankerous to the ambitious mind. He loved his studies and he sought enter tainment within the pages of books.
 Mildred Holmes was everything that Richard Kane was not. She was full of verve and vivacity. A coquette, she was piauant. but petulsnt. In her daily life Mildred Holmes pictured more moods than the average man would dream a maid possessed She was the idol of her father and mohter. To every one else at Kensington she was a female martinet whose law was obeyed, albeit she was accorded a loyal devotion.
 The fine old country place of Captain Holmes was remote from city facilities and early In the life of the httis girl she had been placed at school in Nashville, being accompanied there by her mother. The environment of the city save her a drawing-room distingue and broadened her views, while the summers spent al the country place inured her to life of freedom, repose and healthful exercise. She grew up in an atmosphere of cul- ture and was a favorte with wide circie of young women, whose occasional visits to Remington gave the country people of lesser station opportunity to observe in wonderment the fashion of the world.
 Captain Holmes was 8 landed gentleman and one of the most successful planters in the county. Many years his fine old country place. Kensipgton. named by his grandfather, had beeQ the axis about which revolved the intellectually, the refinement and naturally the society of the country folk for miles around. South ern rural life was deteriorating from It's standard of the golden years but not % with life at Kensington. Captain Holmes adhered to the faith of his fath- CTS. It was his opinion that gentleman bfeathed freer in the open air He scoff- cd at the conyeptionaiities Of city, life and took his town friends with him to Ken Nington where he dispensed lavish hos pitality.
 He had inherited his great fields. which yielded wealth and with them he inner. itsd something greater than wealth, the ability to manage wealth. He measured men for their character and integrity and scorned the vaporings of a new. money made aristocracy,
 Tt is just as hard to understand" he said, how money makes the man as il Is to understand how some men make money"
 Mrs. Holmes agreed with him. She in variably agreed with him. She was g womanly little woman. with soft grey hair fHer husband was the prince of her dreams. He was her oracle.
 The announcement by Captain Holmes that he had employed Richard Kane tc conduct the plantation store and com. missary apparently did not interest his attractive daughter.
 Hes a son of John Kane, mother, ' Captain Holmes was saying, not heed. ing the mild but gentle protest of Mrs Holmes, "and John Kanes halfway kir to me. Even bears and lions take care of their own and Zeke Holmes Is not the one to go back on his blood.''
 T suppose the father pleaded the cause of his young son?" asked Mildred Holmes languidly. laying aside her embroidery
 "No, the father did not plead for the young son." replied Captain Holmes