The Washington herald., 1908-05-23
CHAPTER XI-Continued.

CHAPTER XI-Contlnued
your ancestors worked for future gen
erations," insisted Lord Ancestor. They
didn't mean that the results Of their Ia
bors should be all eaten up by one gen
Grafton. It's not playing fair by them.
Suppose they had also said, Posterity be
damned? What would you be? a white
savage, sitting at the mouth Of a cave.
with a club in your hand, to see that
some other savage didn't run of with
your wife and the offal you had collected
for the winter. That's anaTchy; and
that's where you are going when you have
exterminated self-respect and principles
and religion" Lord Ancestors voice lost
It's tired note. He was talking on sub
ject which interested him. His grand
father had been a prime minister, and he
came of a family which had produced
many statesmen
Religion said Vandraken why.
you can't throw stone in any Of our
towns without breaking church window;
and any brand Of religion you fancy al
ways on tap"
1T doesn't reach the spot You have SO
many brands in America," " answered An
cester. You are afraid TO have it taught
in your schools for fear of the labels get
ting mixed. Well, we are coming TO the
same thing in England, but we haven't
quite got there yet"
I'm ready to agree with you" said
Vandraken. as though anxious to end the
discussion. There will be a big smash.
But 1. I. land after me the deluge,-
that's my motto. Posterity is a mans
own children, and our rich men haven't
got enough 10 bother with. A democratic
system Of government won't let you found
a house by entail, as you did in England
SO what's the good Of having a posterity
who viii come 10 smash. and have to
work2 Democracy defeats its own ends
Master and slavei-thats the kind Of
mmonwealth that lasts"
It's a wonder Won Tarseuheim was able
10 I'M any conscience in you 10 trans
| plant laughed Lord Ancestor. It's a
( pity, too, because one man with your
wealth might do a great deal toward put
/ ting things right"
"Awfully nice dance the other night
wasn't it?" asked Vandraken. trying TO
change the subject
/ You seemed TO enjoy IT, 7 suppose It IS
/ no use regretting anything. but / seem
/ fated TO put you in the way Of making
mistakes. ! wish I hadn't brought you to
Lady Donoyle's ball.
! "Why?"
Il have known Lady Kitty since she
/ was a child She has always been ador-
able. There IS something Ioathsome 10 me
/ in the idea Of your two lives miugling in
any way"
"Loathsome, say. that's rather a
strong word
1T is matter feel strongly about. %
said Lord Ancestor. calmly "A man who
has vowed his life to the religion Of abso-
4 lutte materialism, as you have done
should take a vow Of celibacy as fervent-
/ " as any monk. You have no business
/ with a wife"
( Don't let that worry YOU" answered
/ Nandraken, hufily. Il have no intention
/ Of marrying for few years have other
plans. for the next FIVE. at any rate. but
{ when / do marry. il viii be a Ls dy Kitty
/ And just because I am having NY fling. I
/ don't propose TO cut myself off from So
/ ciety. Why should l. You know as well
/ as I do. n not better. that half the men
/ who were dancing ead talking so prettily
at the ball that Hight take an occasional
/ dive Into the under world and often stay
a long time under. too."
"That is true in sense" answered
/ Lord Ancestor effectively "But they
are no more specialists as YOU are. than
+ the man who goes 10 church IS priest
/ Unless Won TarSenheim is a fraud YOU
are now man without q conscience. no
act of yours can cause you remOrse. no
voice can prompt YOU 20 self-restraint
/ You viii follow all your impulses, good
/ or bad. as long as they do not put you
within the grip Of the law. Your brain
/ viii see 10 that But you are moral out
/ law, Vandraken. OF course. your career
/ viii be interesting. 7 shan enjoy reading
/ the story. fully Illustrated I am tired OF
printed books. But I don't want little
/ Kitty to be one Of the Characlers-that
would quite spoil the novel for me
Il tell you ] have no intention of mar
rying Lady Kitty at present Can't a
man dance a few times with a girl with
out being suspected of matrimonial inten-
ti0ns?"
Lord Ancestor slipped his drink rehec-
lively. NO, he replied, not a man like
YOU II Is only when a man Is hopelessly
! ineiigible-then il becomes a matter be-
tween the girl and her mother But a
great matrimonial catch, such as you are.
can't single out any girl with impunity
All the resources of civilization will be
( brought to bear on turning your jest into
/ earnest. Lady Donoyle is a very clever
woman. But suppose you fail in love
with Lady kitty-what then?"
Fall In love.n answered Vandraken
contemptuously Il have my sentimental
feelings absolutely under control"
$50 has every man till some woman
/ suddenly gets them under her control.
Lady Donoyle thinks you would do for a
/ son-in-law. Kitty has never before met
any very rich young man who has got
! such a vast fortune that he is actually
/ frivolously rich. Her experience has hith-
/ erto been with the pompous rich-little
/ gilt gods on wheels, rush of self 10 the
head, eldest sons, and that sort Of thing.
/ You have a face. too, like a good little
/ boy. and the American responsiveness to
/ gayety. No. Kitty won't oppose her
mother. I assure you. my dear fellow.
that your only way Of avoiding matri-
Bony is TO avoid soctety-join the broth
erhood Of the under world as the monk
/ joins the monastry, to escape the
| temptations Of the world, the flesh, and
the devil It is the same principle, only
| reversed
! Vandraken laughed again. II don't
gather whether your solicitude is on my
/ account or Lady Kitty's The latter, I
/ imagine: and if so. it would be easy 10
/ put her off by revealing my true charac-
/ ter
Lord Ancestor always talked very slow
/ ". in tired voice, yet there was an IN