The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-06-08
Il SON OF
WEALTH
BY KEITH GORDON
ks,yvishf, 1905. BY T. C. Mcclure

At first it was merely the rumor of
rum0r, then it became an authenticat-
ed report, and last the town, or at least
that part OF it which considered itself
indubitably upper crust" thrilled with
the Snowledge that Hemingway Trent
was to spend month with his aunt,
Mrs. Ordway.
Set down in black and white, this
fact appears Insignificant, but just
think moment and repeat the name
over ard over to yourself Trent,
Trent and you will doubtless begin
to thrill. for the name of Trent is
known wherever pickles are eaten or
money spent
1t is only fair to the present Trents
to explain that it is far cry from the
original pickle, or, rather, from the little
patch Of ground on the edge Of young
city where that first pickle, that Alad
din's lamp Of pickle, grew to the
present representatives Of the family.
Hemingway. the future head Of the
Trent family, aged twcnty-six, was
coming to Carriston for visit. A
blaze Of interest sprang up in anxious
mother hearts at first rumor Of this
fact. and, though they guarded eye
and lip, some sparks few and little nd
ditional fires sprang up in the hearts OF
maFriageable daughters. Finally the
air became surcharged. Adamantine
father hearts gave signs Of emotion,
restlessness, a critical, lingering sur
vey Of daughterly charms. Several
rush orders for gowns of more than
ordinary beauty were sent scurrying
across the continent. And 1t was sig
nfficant that this fincry to come was
never mentioned, not even between the
best Of friends.
Amid oil the intense, subduel fur
~ Of preparation there was one family
that remained serene. Mr.. and Mrs.
Barry Of Barrydcne went their elegant,
languid way. undistracted and unmoy-
ed, though they. too. had mar-iagea-
bic daughter. The way Of the Darrys
had long since ceased to be afnuent. II
the Hemingways. for whom Trent was
named. had left ramshackle shanty
far behind them the Barrys, on the 9th
er hand, had come from a rare old CO.
lonial mansion that overlooked the riv-
er Severn. The only difference be-
tween them was that they had started
at different ends of the chain.
Still, Brenda Barry, only child and
chief depository Of the practical sense
of the house of that name. was usually
filled with tingling resentment when
she heard Of the enormous fortunes Of
the new" people. Being woman, she
could not fail to feel the subtle tense
ness in the social atmosphere. and for
the same reason she instinctively dvin-
ed its cause. And to say that she was
tscornful but family expresses it.
There was nothing about the good
looking. athletic young fellow whom
she met week later to justify that
scorn. He was the usual thing-a very
much washed, Immediately dressed
young man Of the day, with desire to
please which was SO apparent that
Brenda had to goad herself into remem-
bering how frightfully new and dis
gustingly rich he was.
This attitude on the part Of one whose
head might well have been turned by
the flattery and attention he was re-
ceiving on all sides notified her some
what. Then by chance she happened to
encounter a rather vindictive glance
from Helen Carrington's violet eyes
Helen was wearing an exquisitely sim
| pie gown that had not seen the light
before-and suddenly her own plan OF
action was clearly mapped out in her
| mind.
'"roo much soothing sirup," she re-
flected ironically. what he needs is
a tonic" This mental comment of
hers may hayc had something to do
with the delightful sense of refresh
ment young Trent felt in her presence.
She asked him none of the usual ques-
| tions with which the others had pes
tered him until he wondered impa-
tiently IL they had nothing to think
about but him. Indeed, she didn't seem
to be very clear as to his identity. SO
/ that he felt compelled to refer rather
diffidently to the fact that he was on
to- visit his aunt, Mrs. Ordway. Even
then her face was impassive.
Rather a stunning girl, that Miss
Barry" he remarked to his aunt the
next day on their drive as she pointed
Barrydene to him. while he noted with
interest its picturesque decay. The
! stucco house was q beautiful soft
gray, and what had once been a gar.
den after the Italian manner was now
/ overgrown and neglected., vet full OF
/ wistfuI beauty Near corner of the
house he caught the CLEAN of light
gown and energetically tried by means
/ of hypnotic suggestion to cause his
aunt to stop, but she sat placidly be
| side him. utterly unaware that the cas-
/ tie Of her mind was being assaulted.
/ Trent reasoned that If you pass q
persons house often enough you are
| pretty sure to meet that person. Or
/ the third successive morning that ht
/ passed Rarrydene she came through
the gate in the neglected hedge just al
his horse logged slowly by.