The Elbert County tribune., 1905-02-09
By Nof-fAo Yotx1g

lue reDTuaTy air WAS lull Ol per
fume and damp breeziness. Clouds,
purple as the hyacinths about to
bloom, scurried up and on-swiftly. A
bunch of beleted ieaves. crisp and dry,
in the great ok over the office" just
across the lawn from the Great House,
kept up noise enough for a goodly
forest.
Gen. Pelham stood at the Office win
dow and listened to the crisp futter.
ing of the few dry leaves overhead.
Any hour and all weathers the gen
eral might be seen looking out that
o. n window to the grave on the lawn
where wild grass and bluets grew.
The grave always seemed fresh and
new to the general. though to the rest
of the world 1t was forty years old.
This f.,ternoon his eyes tried to
avoid it. though custom kept them con-
stantly turning toward it
"a man should employ the best
MEANS" the general mused aloud. 1.-The
best of means. Yes" he unused, every
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 a
chance Introduction. For himself. his
heart beat in the past. For his grand
children his thoughts bore all on the
future.
This widow Lamont"-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 g1asses-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-
melt-"do I find you a seeker after
paltry lucre? Do find you marring
mans finest sensibilities-"
But what are the antique sensibil-
tiles of age against the pressing ne
cessities 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?" mused the gen
eral. Il recall no statesman, no great
-ahem!-connected with that
name-Lamont. Wealth. even great
wealth without-somewhat of promi-
perhaps is not by the discerning
deemed wholly sufficient"
The old general. Strengthened to his
full height.
"The -expediency-might
not be all upon one side. Expedlencyl
Adjustment! Faugh! Miserable words.
Let a name. widely and creditably
kuown-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
irg: pelham, Joscelyn. Gen. B. 1s-
(nhem!) Led famous charge, etc..
splendid military achieve
ments, ETC."
Replacing the volume-"A line
three lines-only. But, then-who to-
day has three lines in the American
Universal? Many a better man. per-
hnps, has not. Truei Every resource
for them-for her grandchildren as
we'll as mire.
''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. but elegantly. near the |
crackling wood blazes. "and 50 the
willow Lamont is to come this even
ing.
The widow Lamont, as we and the |
world have long called her," with a
ripple of laughter. '-fs already here,