The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27

they make mess Of the SOIL with equal
profit and pleasure. judge. To me 1t
seems a strange choice of occupation for
a man who might become a Senator, an
ambassador. and live in civilized COM
munities where social life amounts to
something. I hold that II Is q mans chief
privilege, pleasure, duty, to mix as much
as possible with his fellows; to cultivate
the graces of mind and person which ex-
pand and shine only when animated by
ceremonious associadon-in short, social
life."
The lady said this with q good deal OF
conviction and emphasis. but none OF her
family seemed to notice her remarks. ana
she did not seem to expect them to do so.
Holding to this belief as I do it seems
too bad that my husband, for many years
one of the acknowledged leaders OF the
American bar, should choose the compan-
ionship Of earthworms. Still, l find some
attractive society In this community;
and though 1 am without my daughter
aid in cultivating it. as we'll as lacking
any help from my husband or son, 1t al
fords me entertainment. That is as much
as a wife can expect. l suppose, when
ambition is absent from every member OF
her family The truth is, Mr.. Paxton.
we may be described as a family OF &C.
centres, for l am the only one OF US VINO
is simply normal In my tastes and con-
duct"
It seemed to Howard that the
lady made this declaration OF prin-
ciples without the spirit Of complaint
which the words might imply; rather as
II ono should say, Let others do and
think as they may; /, at least, Lave set
myself right before this young man, and
am tlie1 efcre in no danger OF being mis-
judged by the idiosyncracles of others
After a pleasant evening, during which
I'd dfCNnUarnd rxyff q
the members of the family severally
avoided jarring each others peculiarities'
Mr.. Bannister said, when there was
movement OF separation. ''Mr. Paxton, II
you arc not tired or sleepy, should like
little gossip with you alone"
The others, upon this cue. departed
promptly.
''Woud 1t distress you at all to speak
little about your father7' Mr.. Bannis-
on deep veranda overlooking a lawn
pricked by tho flashes of thousand fire.
flies.
Not in the least, SIR" said Howard.
greatly surprised at the question. did
you know him7"
II never met him-I have not trav-
eled much farther than this from New
York-but / have come to know your
father pretty well, I think. DR.. Paxton
breezy, open manner; optimistic. singu-
larly trusting, giving his services freely
to the poor, proud and fond of his son
and daughter, rather Indifferent to his
worldly affairs. until shortly before his
death he sought and obtained the post
mastership of White River to increase
his income, for his daughters sake, 1t
seems, and"
stop, sirr' exclaimed Howard, ex-
cited and amazed by this calm recital of
his fathers habits, characteristics, cir
cumstances, by q man who had never
met him. IT have said that It would not
distress me to talk of my father There
was long time after his death when I
could not talk OF him without great dis
tress. but now can speak Of him as OF
dear friend that only distance, not
death, separates from me. But first /
must know how you-who never met
him-come to know him so intimately,
and for what purpose"
Your question and tho spirit in which
you ask it do credit to your heart" the
lawyer said slowly; and then paused so
long that Howard became impatient. "Its
a good quality IN a son to be as jealousy
af1ectionate OF his father as Of his mother.
think you dined at Mrs. Marbles with
my boy
II did," answered Howard, wondering at
this abrupt change in the subject, and
Al tno lawyers manner, Tor ne now
laughed gently as he said, Mrs. Marble
Is an old and respected client, one of the
few whose affairs 1 continue to manage. -
Your clientP Howard could not help
exclaimed, remembering Mrs. Marble s
expressed opinion Of him.
Mr.. Bannister laughed again softly.
"Oh, she has been talking to you about
Caleb Bannister!" he said. Yes, we
quarreled, but she Is too wise an old
lady to take her business out of INV
hands. We do not meet, but carry on a
sober correspondence when her affairs
require attention. My boy thinks he Is
having some heartaches because Mrs.
Marble will not let Gertrude marry him
until I've been proved wrong in a matter
In Wnlch I'm right; and Georges emo
uons, therefore. are somewhat turbulent
But they do not disturb me, as I am ac-
customed to family eccentrfcities. beine
the only normal minded person In nv own
family. Ny wife. although a woman ~
more than ordinary intelligence. Is de-
voted to the tasteless, improbable life we
can society. My son. who might
ne "ouid-ran hefr TO a legal
practice Of respectable proportions
or live here learning the fascinat-
Ing mysteries Of the noblest voca.
ton on earth. farming, prefers to draw
plcures on the sidewalk or some such
thing. My daughter elects to find all hu-
man companionship unendurable-so there
we are. Did you say that your father
consulted you about his business affairs ?''
i did not, sir. 1 asked why you had
taken what must have been a great deal
OF pains to learn so much about him"
Mr. Bannister, who had made the d.
gression only that Howard might collect
himself. noted that his voice was now
without any signs of excitement. and
said: THAT is quite right. 1 shall talk
to you very frankly A matter of bust
ness-of very great importance-led an
interest for which have long been the
chief counsel to make some rather secret
Investigations in White River"
He paused, while Howard leaned eagerly
forward, trying to peer into his face.
NO" he continued, that is not the way
to begin. must be wholly frank with
you. You may have seen in the papers
something about a proposed community
Of interest of q number OF large iron In
dustries. We, the interest for which ]
am counsel. require for our protection as
much as for our use a certain piece OF
mining land-undeveloped, but whose ex-