Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-18
Copyright, 1908, by the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright, 1905, by Robert w. Chambers.

"What is so wrong with Mr.. ST.
ward?" she asked.
'Nothing There was an affair."
This spring In town. know 1t. Is
that all?'
Eyes, for the present" replied Grace
Ferrall intentionally. Then: For
goodness sake, Sylvia, don't cross ex-
anime me that way care great deal
for that boy
$50 do L. I've made him take my
dog"
There was an abrupt pause, and
presently Mrs. Ferrall began to laugh.
81 mean 1t. really" said Sylvia quiet
". IL like him immensely"
Dearest you mean 1t generously,
with your usual exaggerntion You
have heard that he has been foolish.
and because he's SO young, so likable,
every instinct. every impulse in you
is aroused toto be nice to him
And II that were true
There Is no harm, dear Mrs.
Ferrall hesitated. her eyes softening
to graver revery. Then looking up.
Its rather pathetic" she said In y
low voice. Kemp thinks he's fore
doomed, like all the Siwards. It's an
hereditary failing with him-no, it's
hereditary damnation. Siward after
Siward, generation after generation,
you know She bit her lip, thinking
moment His grandfather was a
friend Of my grandparents. brilliant.
handsome, generous and-doomed! HIS
own father was found dying in
dreadful resort in London, where he
had wandered when stupetied--a ST.
ward! Think Of It! So you see what
that outbreak Of Stephens means to
those whose families have been New
Workers. since New York was. 1t Is
ominous, 1t is more than ominous. 1t
means that tho master vice has seized
on one more Siward. But shall new
er, never admit 1t to his mother"
The younger girl sat. wide eyed,
silent. The elders gaze was upon her,
but her thoughts. remote, conferred on
the hapless mother OF such son.
Such indulgence was once fashion
able. Moderation Is the present fash
ion. Perhaps he will fall into line"
said Mrs. Ferrall thoughtfully. '"rhe
main thing Is to keep him among peo-
pie, not to drop him. The gregarious
may be shatned. but II anything, any
incident nppens to drive him outside
by himself. II he should become soil
tary. there's not chance in the world
for him. It's pity. know he meant
to make himself the exception to the
rule-and look! Already one carouse
of his has landed him in the daily pa
pers"
Sylvia flushed and looked up. Grace,
may I ask you n question:!
Yes, child" she answered absently
"Has it occurred to you that what
you have said about this boy touches
me very closely?"
Mrs. Ferrall's wits returned nimbly
from woolgathering, and she shot a
startled, inquiring glance at the girl
beside her.
"You-you mean the matter of hered
ity, SYLVAN
Eyes. think my uncle, Major Bel
wether, chose you as his august mouth
piece for that little sermon on the dan
gers of heredity-the danger of being
ignorant concerning what women OF
my race had done-before came into
the world they found so amusing"
81 told you several things" returned
Mrs. Ferrall composedly. Your uncle
thought 1t best for you to know"
Eyes. There was, If understood
you, enough of divorce, of general In
discretion and irregularity to seriously
alicate any family tree and coat OF
.1is l might care to claim
"Sylviav
The girl lifted her pretty bare shout
ders. I'm sorry, but could help iti
Very we'll; all can do is to prove a
decent exception Very, well; I'm do
ing it, am Independently scared into
the first solidly suitable marriage Of
fered, Selling the unfortunate How
ard with both hands for fear he'd get
away and leave me alone with only a
queer family record f1 company!
Very well! Now, then, want to ask
you why everybody in my case didn't
20 about with sanctimonious face
and a dolorous mien repeating: Her
grandmother eloped! Her mother ran
away! Poor child; she's doomed,
doomed""
"Svlyia r.
eyes; why didn't they? That's the
way they talk about that boy out
there" She swept rounded arm to-
ward the veranda.
Eyes, but he has already broken
loose. while YOU
$50 did NEARLY. Had it not been
for you, you know we'll enough l
might have run away with that dread
full EnglisEman at Newport, for ]
adored him-I did, did, and you
know it. And look at my endless es-
capes from compromising myself! Can
you count them? All those indiscre-
tons when mere living seemed to In
to1icate me that first winter, and only
my uncle and you to break me 1n!
I'm other words" said Mrs. Ferrall
slowly, you don't think Mr.. Siward Is
getting what is known as a square
deal?"
mo, I don't. Major Belwether has
already hlnted-no, not even that, but
has somehow managed to dampen my
pleasure in Mr.. Siward.'
Mrs. Ferrall considered the girl be-
side her, now very lovely and flushed
in her suppressed excitement.