Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-04-03


Plank laughed Il little. aud his squar-
ed Jaws relaxed; then after few mo
ments' thought:
"It is curious that what you cast |
away from you 50 easily am waiting |
for with all the patience ! have In me |
And yet il is always yours I" pick up |
again whenever you wish. and | may |
never live TO possess it
He was SO perfectly right that ~
ward said nothing-m fact. he could
have no particular interest or sympn
thy for mans quest of what he him
self did not understand the lack of,
He was, now that he knew Plank. con
tented TO accept him anywhere he met
him. but Planks upward rNolutionS
upon the social ladder were of no In
terest to him. and his naive Snobbers
was becoming something of bore.
SO Siward directed the conversation
into other channels, and Plank. accept
ing another cup of tea. became very
communicative about his stables and
his dogs.
| "l-would you-I should like to ask
you to try some shooting at the Fells,'
stammered Plank, next season If you
would care Il"
You're very good. should like to
IF were going to shoot at all, but |
fancy my shooting days are over for
awhile"
over
business" nodded Siward, absently
grave again Il see no prospect Of
my idling for the next year or two"
You are in-in Amalgamated Elec-
tric. think" venturcd Plank.
Very much in" replied the other
frankly. You've read the papers and
heard rumors. | SUPPOSE
Some. don't suppose anybody
quite understands the attacks on Anal
gamated"
Il don't-nOt yet. DO yOn!'
Plank sat silent: then his shrewd
under lip began to protrude.
I'm wondering" he began cautious
". chow much the Algonquin crowd
understands about the matter"
Siwards troubled eyes We're on him
rs he spoke, watching closely, mar
rowly.
i've heard that rumor before" he
said
so have l." said Plank. land it
seems incredible" He looked warly
at Siward. Suppose it is true that
the Algonquin Trust company is god
, father to Intercounty. That doesn't
lai VIII
own door down when there's bell to
ring aud servants to let him Inland
, out again too
Il have wondered" said Sward
, whether the door he might be inclin
, ed to kick down is really his own door
> any longer"
Il. too" said Plank simply. at may
J belong to a personal enemy-if he has
=. any. He could afford to have an enc
n my. SUPPOSE"
q Siward nodded
Then hadn't you better-l beg you
n pardon. You have not asked me t
@ advise you"
NO may ask your advice SOM
+ day Will you give it when | do:'
y with pleasure" said Plank, S
a warmly disintereSted. so plainly prOu,
and eager to do service that Siward
, surprised and touched. found no wor
!. to utter.
;. Plank rose. Siward attempted t
;. stand up. but had trouble with hi
!. crutches
>. please don't try" said Plank, com
!. ing over and offering his hand. MA
q stop in again soon? Oh, you are OF
4 to the country for a month or two?
n see. You don't look very well. | hop
K it will benefit you. Awfully glad t
p have seen you. IL hope you won
h forget me-entirely."
q Il am the man people are forget
4 ting" returned Siward. mot you
!, was very nice of you to come. 70
n are one Of very few who remember m
" at all"
!. 81 have very few people to remen
!. ber." said Plank, land If ! had a
% many as | could desire | should re
# member you first"
~ Here he became very much embal
Or rassed Siward offered his hand agar
n Plank shook it awkwardly and wen
away on tiptoe down the stairs. whic
creaked decorously under his weight
And that ended the first interview
between Plank and Siward in the frs
days of the latter's decline.
The months that passed during S
wards absence from the city bega
to prove rather eventful for Planl
He was finally elected a member {
position he had dined twice with tn
Kemp Ferralls; he and Major Be
wether were seen together at the Caitl
ness dance and in the Caithness DO
at the opera. Once respectable new!
paper reported him at Tuxedo for til
weeks end: his name, linked with til
clergy, frequently occupied such spaC
under the column headed "Ecclesia
teal News" as was devoted to til
progress Of the new chapel, and man
old ladies began to become famila
with his name.
At the right moment the Mortimer
featured him between two fashionab
JiSuopS AZ ulHilcl' hlS' NChNcllliihi
who adored bishops, Immediately r.
membered him among those asked
her famous annual bal poudre. a cell
brated yacht club admitted him
membership. whole shoal of exec
no lent minor clubs which really needle
,s, new members followed suit. and eve
"a the rockribbed 1enox. wearied Of i
No. own time honored immobility, displa
nv ed the preliminary fidgets which bodt
well for the stolid candidate.
i, Yes, he was doing well, for that de
,Ia potic beauty, Sylvia Lands, whose C