Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-05
CHAPTER XXI.
CopyrlHn
Continued.

Continued.
"Bravo. Ernest; we'll resolved. !
didn't think you had SO much grit in
you. I would not have advised you
In this case, but had done SO I could
have pointed out no fairer or better
line of action. So much for that. Put
your letter in your pocket and get on
with your breakfast What can help
you to?"
II have not much appetite this morn
ing. thank you, uncle. Another cup
of coffee and have DONE"
IF it Is because you are in love that
you can't eat will excuse you. but
not If 1t is because matters in which
you take an interest don't 60 SO
smoothly as you could wish. II had
suffered my appetite to decline every
one or other Of the scores Of matters
In which I interest myself ran off the
line I had marked out for 1t should
have been dead Of starvation years
ago. Exert your Imagination, and
forgetting all about sequins, dishonest
retainers, village beauties, and what
ever else occupies your thoughts
bring yourself to believe that man
was born chiefly for the consumption
of food-whlch Is certainly true OF the
greater number of us. Imagination
will work wonders. l have seen pen
niless beggar confined in an insane
asylum who has believed that he was
1T Po hon onv,io in n
lief than many specimen of the real
article surrounded by intriguers and
fawning thieves. Now I have pro-
posal to make respecting this steak.
You will observe that 1t is very small
piece-that 1t does not weigh much
more than pound. Well, get outside
of that steak and this piece Of bread
and I will give you a letter Of intro.
duction to Mrs. Van Rensselaer,, which
will enable you to spend the day at
Tarrytown with Connie for your com
panion; refuse me. and will give such
letter to your friend, Mr.. Price. who
yesterday asked me for it,"
The task imposed was a formidable
one, but then the prize with which sue.
cess was to be rewarded was so de-
llghtful, and the calamity assigned to
failure so awful, that addressed my.
self to 1t with great courage. But my
astronomical powers were not equal
to the strain to which it was proposed
to subject them, and before my task
was half completed pushed my plate
from me and gave up the attempt in
despair. My uncle, who had been
watching me, generously forgave my
shortcoming, and remarking that
ran better when spurred, invited me
into his study, where he wrote as fol.
lows on the back Of one Of his address
cards:
Dear Mrs Van nsselaer-Theyou
gentleman who will hand you this is
my nephew. Mr.. Ernest Truman, of
Holdenhurst, near Bury st. Edmund's,
England. He arrived in America day
or so ago, and we are his only connec-
tions here. Kindly receive him to-day,
introduce him to your friends and tell
him all he don't know-as far as you
can. Very faithfully yours, S. T.
Sept. 13, is.
"There," said uncle Sam, as he hand
ed me the card. that will do the bust.
ness for you. Mrs. Van Rensselaer,
owes me some gratitude for helping
to settle her late husbands affairs, and
she will be very pleased to entertain
you. Con and your aunt will be de-
lighted when they learn you are to &C.
company them. have no doubt you
will find n sail up the Hudson to Tar
rytown very enjoyable. My yacht will
be ready to leave at eleven, and it Is
now barely half-past eight. l have
much to do today, and am going down
town at once, so you must amuse your
self for the next couple of hours In any
way you can. Hadn't you better send
your father telegram informing him
of your intention to return in the Um.
bria? am going to telegraph to Eng
land myself. and will despatch your
message with mine"
/ hastily scrlbbled in my pocketbook,
"Truman, Holdenhurst, Bury st. Ed.
mund's. England - Letter received.
Returning in Umbria. Ernest" and
tearing out the leaf handed it to my
uncle. who having expressed his ap-
proval If it, wished me a pleasant day
and disappeared down the stairs. A
minute afterward I heard the street
door close, and looking out Of the win
dow saw my uncle walking rapidly
toward Fifth avenue.
l turned from the window with very
different feelings than were mine when
I watched my uncle's departure from
Holdenhurst. Then I perceived no
ray of hope for the accomplishment of
my desires; now my path seemed clear
and easy. The girl whom I loved had
gone so far as to declare that she pre-
ferred me of all men, and would never
marry unless with me, while her pow
erful guardian, who had given abund-
ant evidence of his prejudice in my
favor, had just assured me that he
was not opposed to my suit. But the
estrangement of my father and uncle.
and above all that dlsboyed parental
command which ] carried in my pock.
ct were as black clouds threatening
to obscure the sunshine of my happi.
pess. Now that uncle Sam was gone
his defense of Annie Wolsey seemed
painfully strained and insufficient, and
! could not but regard the circum.