St. Tammany farmer., 1907-11-16


"Of course admitted the young
man, good-naturedly; ''but my father
and grandfather were both John
Eden, and their example is a good
one for me to emulate in all things
since both left the world better for
having lived in it"
''But you miss my meaning" per
sisted Hope, tapping the floor with
her foot. 1T. would really be adding
honor to their memory to establish
such ancestry through Them
How was John Alden any better
than John Elden?" queried the young
man trifle Indignantly. What does
history have to say of him more i'm
portant than the fact that he was SC
| thick-headed that poor little Priscilla
had to propose to him? I don't think
that the little crippled ones down at
the Elden Home would revere my
fathers memory any more If were
to tell them that his ancestor came
over in the MayfIower."
Hope coquettishly fenced his indig.
would become eligible to attend the
costume ball eR~our New England so.
cfety, so that you might dance the
minHet with me-and-oh. ever so
many others!"
Thank you" said John, still grim.
iy; you know / love to dance with
you, Hope; but 1 only wear knee
trousers when l golf, and since I left
the football team / have given up
long hair. / might as we'll tell you
now, Hope, that your New England
society seems a make believe to me,
when almost all your members were
born in the Mississippi valley, and all
of them live here. Your duty is to be
doing something to build up the west,
rathe. than"
THAT will do, Mr.. Eden" glared
Hope, rising to her feet Fortunately
your opinion is matter of indiffer-
ence to me, so further enlargement
upon the topic is unnecessary. And
you will please excuse me now, as
have some committee work for the
New England society this afternoon
I've done it." soliloquized the
young man dejectedly, as he strobe
down street, Made a fool of myself
as usual, and now Hope is angry clear
through. This will mean that Thurby.
with his Declaration of Independence
record, will have clear field. wish
the memory of the Puritan Fathers
was in Halifax, or that | could keen
my beastly temDer!"
And because of these circumstances
the business of the North Star Milling
company, the presidency and manage
n1ent of which had fallen by inherit
ance into John Elden's hands, re.
ceivel redoubled attention from him:
while the forthcoming costume ball of
the New England society became the
apparent aim of Hope Winslow's ex.
istence.
But as she viewed herself in the
mirror on the night of the ball, ar
rayed as a gray-gowned, white-capped
Puritan maiden, she gave a little sigh
for the John Alden of her dream.
Then she ran downstairs where her
aunt. in the finery of a Martha Wash.
ington dame, was beaming upon Thur
by, who, as continental officer, vas
to act as their escort.
The ballroom was thronged with a
picturesque crowd-Puritan and cava-
lier, quaker and courtier, straight
locks and perfumed curls, homespun
and brocade flashed back and forth as
they marched and swung and courte-
sled in the old-time measures.
Hopes continental officer had ex-
cused himself during the evening, and
only returned in time to put the two
ladies into their carriage. He was
breathless, rather dishevelIed and
minus his sword and cooked hat. The
situation plainly demanded an expla-
nation.
Il cannot tell you how sorry I was
to leave you, particularly without tell
ing you the reason" he began, but I
did not want to spoil your evening"
Has anything happened that con-.
Germs me?" queried Hope, leaning for
ward in alarm.
Something that concerns one Of
your friends" returned the young
man. Fire started in the North Star
elevators this evening, and when
heard of it hurried across the city
to see if could help Elden--he and
were college chums, you know"
Hope had partly risen from the
seat opposite, as she asked eagerly:
"Oh, was it entirely destroyed?"
Yes, Miss Winslow, was the reluc-
tant answer. Not only two of the
elevators, but the mill, as well az
three cars of -four The buildings were
so close together that with the high
wind it was impossible to save any
thing but elevator Nn. 3, which was
on the other side of the wind. About
5000 bushels of grain we're destroyed,
too, and while there was a large in
surance, the loss is likely to cripple
the company. / stayed with John IN
til it was over, and had persuaded
him to go home"
Take me to him at once." inter
rupted Hope, imperiously. Then, as
the young man hesitated, and glanced
at her aunt, she added pleadinglysS
Please take me to him you and
Auntie--I am one of Johns friends,
too, and--oh. don't you see that I
must go, JUST Tor a moment2'