Mower County transcript., 1904-10-12

here in the summer at q lawn party,
owing to some people hearing them
selves talked about. There was a
spoony pair on that side and couple Of
old maids on this one. The lovers were
blissfully silent. for reasons OF their
own, and they heard some things about
themselves that they didn't like. Yes,
I want to talk to you about Lydia. ~
II knew IT, cried the visitor, laying
her two hands on Mrs. Cranston's arm
and sitting down beside her. She's
going to marry the governor, and you
want me to help prepare for the event" !"
Mrs. Cranston shook her head and
went on with lengthy explanation Of
the existing state Of affairs, In which
the name Of George Buckley appeared
as often as that of Governor Telfare.
'Now, you see the fix we are in,"
Mrs. Cranston ended.
The young lady was silent her fair
brow wrinkled. "Why, Mrs. Cranston,,
it's simply awfulv' she said after
pause. 1T will never do for it to go
on like this. 1t will be ruinous. Has
the child lost her reason? Why, if he
is as bad as you say, bow on earth
does he happen to be fn-in good So
ciety-even hereY'
"Perhaps am not quite fair to him."
Mrs. Cranston admitted, t'or to Lydia
either, in not mentioning what has real
ly been in his favor. In the first place,
be is by far the best educated and
most refined young man in the place;
his employer sent him off to college
and gave him extraordinary advan-
tages; then he happens to be a great
reader, and Lydia is, too, you know
yes, he has most remarkably polished
manners and Is decidedly good look
tng."
"Oh, and you put that last! How
ridiculous!' Miss Cosby laughed mer-
rily and then suddenly subsided, for
her hostess was looking at her with
panied expression.
TITS no laughing matter, Kitty. We
are in an awful Ak. You know how
headstrong Lydia Is, and if she were
just to get the idea that we were op-
posing her she'd be worse than ever.
So I knew your influence would be
good. You will bring her back to the
old associations, and in an indirect
way you can show her the social ad-
vantages of marrying Governor Tel
fare.' 4
"Oh, I can do all that" said Kitty,
"and If she is not already in love with
this-this nondescript I'll bring her to
her senses. But tell me about him
that's the main thing. What's he like?
How does he conduct himself? Why,
I can't imagine IA son Of common
thief. lowborn mountaineer, penni-
less bookkeeper, being even for min
ute on a social footing with the only
child Of Major Cranston- if you
are living in the backwoods, out Of all
creation. If the two were shipwrecked
on lonely island together I should
think"-Kitty was displaying her fine,
even teeth in jovial smile "that the
very waves would throw up a sort Of
barrier" |,.'- ~ -
1.-THE religious element here governs
everything" returned Mrs. Cranston,
with patient smile. '"These good,
Christian people would think we were
awfully stuck up If we refused to ad-
NIT worthy young man to our house
Just because his father had gone
wrong; besides, he had established him
self before his fathers trouble. We
simply drifted into the situation, and
things went on till now we don't know
where we stand. But to be perfectly
fair to him, Kitty, he's simply mascu-
: line marvel. When began to fear
him I began to watch for vulnerable
places in his makeup, but I've found
precious few, tell you-precious few.
You know I've seen good society, If
any Virginia woman has, and I'm 60
ing to tell you that have never met q
more polished man In all my life-no,
sir, not I'm Richmond, nor Boston, nor
Charleston. he has actually made me
blush with shame. I remember once
disputed his word about one of Bal
zacs heroes, only to have him prove
that was wrong few minutes later
in the incest manner.
"He happened to be dining here, too,
one night when Bishop Page stopped
over with us on his way to Florida.
There were several young men pres
ent, among them Tarpley Dandrfdge,
who belongs to one Of the very oldest
families in Georgia and is considered
the catch Of the county. Well, he sat
there like a. stick in the cushion of his
chair and let Mr.. Buckley conduct the
entire conversation with the bishop. In
fact, Bishop Page simply directed most
of his remarks to Mr.. Buckley, and it
really was an intellectual treat. He
tripped the bishop up twice, and the
old man flushed, but laughingly ad-
mitted he was wrong. He was most
favorably impressed with Mr. Buckley,
and, of course, I did not enter into
awkward explanations. Yes, his man
ners could not be improved. He must
have associated with refined people
when he was off at college. shall
always say that the surest sign of
l. g. ~. 49, ~.