The Grit-advocate., 1905-02-10
BE- Martha Young

The February air was full Of per
fume and damp breeZiness. Clouds.
purple as the hyacinths about TO
bloom. scurried up and on-swiftlv.
bunch of belated Ieaves. crisp and dry,
in the great ok over the office just
across the lawn from the Great House,
kept up noise enough for Soocly
forest.
Gen. Pelham stood at the Office win.
dow and listened to the crisp flut'er
ing of the few dry leaves overhead.
Any hour and all weathers the gen
eral might be seen looking out that
open window to the grave on the lawn
where wild grass and bluets grew.
The grave always seemed fresh 11d
new to the general, though to the rest
Of the world it was forty years old.
This afternoon his eyes tried to
avoid it, though custom kept them con-
stantiy turning toward it.
"A man should employ the best
means" the general mused aloud, the
resource should be used for the pres
ent and for those in it"
Now the present always came and
went from the general before he rec
ognized the guest. howbeit he was
always politely acquiescent at
chance introduction. For himself, his
heart beat in the past. For his grand
children his thoughts bore all on the
future.
This widow I.amont"-the general
walked with the light, alert tread OF
the military man back and forth from
the window to his stout plantation
home made desk-"seems a cheerful
soul; woman Of parts; very pretty
wit. Doubtless very pleasant eyes be-
hind her giasses-ahem! A woman Of
wealth. Of great wealth."
He handled the letters laid out on
his desk letters showing a very pretty
wit.
"Joscelyn Pelham"-he stopped
short in his walking to and fro, and
addressed himself in stern arraign-
ment-''do | find you seeker after
paltry lucre? Do find you marr:ng
mans finest sensibilities-"
But what are the antique sensibil-
tiles Of age against the pressing ne
cessitics of youth and the present?
''But-those children-Edith, SO like
her"-an involuntary turn to the open
window.-"her grandchild-they are
her grandchildren as well as
mine"
Grandchildren. For that golden
haired darling Of the twenty years out
under the bluets.
Lamont? Lamont?" unused the gen
cral Il recall no statesman, no great
-ahem.-connected with that
name-Lamont. Wealth, even great
wealth without-somewhat of promi-
nence-a name Of honorable repute-
perhaps is not by the discerning
deemed wholly sufficient
The old general, Strengthened to his
full height.
The advantage-expediency-might
not be all upon one side. Expediency.
Adjustment! Faugh! Miserable words.
Let name. widely and creditably
known-ahem!"
With that he reached to the row of
encyclopedias above his desk. He
chose out that stout leather volume
xvii; "Pag-Pug."
Turning the leaves midway, read
ing: pelham, Joscelyn, Gen. B. IS
(ahem!) Led famous charge, etc,
splendid military achieve
ments, etc"
paplacine the yolume-"A line
three lines-only. But, then-who to-
day has three lines in the American
Universal? Many better man, per-
haps, has not. True! Every resource
for them-for her grandchildren as
well as mine.
And tonight she comes, the widow
Lamont, to visit us here at Prairie
Lodge. and tomorrow unless-per-
haps--the foreclosure of Prairie
Lodges mortgage will be advertised.
Every resource
He touched up his white hair and
mustache before the tiny mirror that
hung on the Office wall. and stepped
lightly across from the office to the
house.
"And so, Edith" the old man seated
himself stifny, bu. elegantly. near the
cracking wood blazes. land SO the
widow lamont is to come this even
ing.
The widow Lamont, as we and the
world have long called her." with
ripple Of laughter, IS already here,