Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-14
SYNOPSIS of PROCEEDING CHAPTERS

CHAPTER Twisting Shotover, the coun-
try house of the Ferralls, are Sylvia Lands,
-ot,high rank in New York society, and Ste
Phen siWard, who is under . cloud OF disap-
prevail by society. Sylvia 10 almost engaged
- Howard Quarter. Mrs. Ferrall's cousin
who is expected at ehOtover. II-Silvia be-
comes interested in Siward and neglects
meeting Quarter at the station. AS govern
on of the PATRONS. one of New York's ex-
elusive clubs, Quarter has been instrWmen-
tai In Siward's expulsion on q charge OF
bringing into the club rooms q disguised
girl, and relations between the two men are
strained. Quarter is immensely wealthy.
In-SiWard, who is the victim Of heredi-
Sary tendency toward sSronG drink, Is
ssNubbed by Major Belwether. EylVia's uncle
and guardian. The women of Sylvia's FAM
1IV have had for several generzlions a repu-
'eation for indiscretion. Sylvia and Siward
become very friendly. Ferrall finds Stephen
dazed with drink in his room. Iv-SYlvia
and Stephen are paired in the hunt. He
makes love to her despite her engagement
to Quarter. V-Among the guests at Shot
over is Leroy Mortimer, who remains in
doors while the others shoot. Sylvia con-
sfdeS to Grace Ferrall her interest in ST.
ward. She is not in love with Quarter, but
will marry him for mis- wealth. Stephen has
a hard struggle with his master vice, In a
midnight talk Sylvia admits to Stephen her
love for him, but declares that she is too
materially selfish to give up Quarter. Il
do not give you up. says Stephen. Whey
Eerly Plank, the wealthy owner OF Black
FelIs, trying 20 gain a footing at Shotover,
lands between Mr.. and Mrs. Mortimer.
Mortimer has seen Stephen kissing Sylvia
and on the following day spies on the two
as they talk. VII-Mortimer takes up
Plank. The former cOntemplates black
mailing Major Belwether or Quarter by
means of his knowledge concerning Sylvia
and Stephen.
Siward rang for tea, although the
hour was early. After a little while
either the toast or the tea appeared to
act on Plank as lingual laxative, for
he began suddenly to talk, which is
characteristic of bashful men, and ST
ward gravely helped him on when he
floundered and turned shy. After a
little matters went very well with
them, and Plank, much more at ease
than he had ever dared to hope he
could be with Siward, talked and talk
ed, and Siward, his crutches across his
kknees, lay back in his armchair, chat
ting with that winning informality so
becoming to men who are unconscious
of their charm.
Watching Plank, it occurred to him
gradually that this great, cumbersome
creature was not q shrewd, thrifty
self made and self finished adult at
all-only a big, wistful, lonely boy
without comrades and with nowhere
to play.
Plank spoke of himself after awhile,
ssounding the personal note with tenta.
tive timidity. Siward gravely encour-
aged him, and in a little while the out.
lines of his crude autobiography ap
peared, embodying his eventless boy
hood in Pennsylvania town, his ca
reer at the high school, the dawning
desire for college equipment. satisfied
by his father, who owned shares in
the promising Deepvale Steel Plank
company; the unhappy years at Har-
vard-hard years, for he learned with
difficulty; solitary years, for he was
not sought by those whom he desired
TO know. Then he ventured to speak
of his fathers growing interest in
steel, the merging and absorbing of
Independent plants, his own entry up
on the scene on the death of his fa-
Their, and-the rest-material fortune
and prosperity, which perhaps might
stand substitute as a social sponsor
for him; stand perhaps for something
of what he lacked in himself, which