Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-04-22

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"How exactly do you meanf'
"Oh, about women
81 believe It too. If he did take that
WISE girl into the PATRONS 1t was his
limit with her, and / believe his limit /
with any woman He was absurdly
decent that way. He was, indeed.
And now look at the reputation he
has. Isn't 1t funny? Isn't II, nowT
.What sort of an effect do you sup !
pose all this business is going TO have
on Siwardr
ats had one effect already" re.
piled Fleetwood. "Ferrall says he |
looks sick, and Belwether says he's
going to the devil, but that's the sort
Of thing the major is likely TO say. by
the way. wasn't there something be
tween that pretty lands girl and ST.
ward? Somebody = some gossiping
somebody-talked about 1t somewhere
recently"
IL don't believe that, either" said
Plank In his heavy. measured, pas
sionless voice as they descended the
steps of the white portico and looked
around for a cab.
"As for me. I've got to hustle" OBJ
served O'Hara, glancing at his watch.
"Pm due TO shine at a function about
8. Are you coming uptown. either OF
YOU fellows? I'll give you a lift as
far as Seventy-second street. Plank
TELL YOU what Wen do" said Fleet
wood impulsively. turning TO Plank.
"We'll drive downtown, you and l,
and Wen look up poor old Siward-
Shall we? He's probably all alone in
that God forsaken red brick family
tomb. Shall we? How about 1t.
Plankf"
O'Hara turned impatiently on his
heel with a gesture OF adieu. climbed
into his electric hanson and went
buzzing away up the avenue.
I'D like to, but don't think l know
Mr.. Siward well enough to do that
said Plank diffidently. He hesitated,
coloring up. HE might misunder-
stand my going with you-as liberty
which perhaps l might not have ven-
tured on had he been less-less I'M
fortunate"
Again Fleetwood warmed toward the
ruddy. ponderous young man beside
him. "See here" he said, you are
going as a friend of mine II you care
to look at II that way"
THANK YOU" said Plank. Il should
be very glad to go In that way"
The Siward house was old only In
the comparative Manhattan meaning
of the word, for in New York nothing
Is really very old except the faces OF
the young men.
Decades ago it had been considered
a big house, and 1t was still so spoken
OLA solid, dingy, red brick structure,
cubical In proportions, surmounted by
heavy chimneys, the depth OF its sunk
en- windows limiting of the thickness of
wall and foundation. Window cur,
tains of obsolete pattern, all alike and
all drawn, masked the blank panes
. Three massive wistaria vines, the
gnarled stems as thick as tree trunks
crawled upward to the roof, dividing
the facade equally and furnishing
some relief to its fairness, otherwise
; unbroken except by the deep reveals
r of window and door. Two huge ant
, unsymmetrical catalpa trees stood sen
I
. asphalt, and from the centers Of tn
shriveled brown grass plots fiankinI
4 the stoop under the basement Window
4 two aged Rose of Sharon trees bristle,
. naked to the height Of the white mar
|. BILE capitals of the taking pillars sup
porting the stained portico.
9 "Nice old family mausoleum." com
/ mented Fleetwood, descending fron
;. the hanson, followed by Plank.
q The door was opened by q very oil
Y man wearing the black swallowta
r clothes and choker Of an old time bu
q Ter, spotless. quite immaculate, bu
A. cut after a fashion no young man m
o members.
" "Good evening, Gumble," said Flee
wood, entering, followed on tiptoe b
4 Plank.
10 ~Good evening, sir" A pause and
o the unsteady voice of age: "Mr. Flee
IN wood. sir. Mr. bow and I'll
"A dim eyes peering up at Plank, wh
b. stood fumbling for his cardcase.
Fleetwood dropped both cards on Il
To salver unsteadily extended The bu
n Ter ushered them into a dim room {
ly the right.
ID How is Mr.. Siwardr asked Flee
to wood, pausing on the threshold al
ID dropping his voice.
at The old man hesitated, lookiI
n down; then still looking away fro
or Fleetwood: "Bravely. sir; bravely, NJ
or Fleetwood"
he "The Siwards were always that
ed said the young man gently.
he Eyes, SIR Thank you. Mr.. Steph
MT Mr.. Siward," be corrected quaint
sis indisposed, sir. 1t was IA gre
ne shock to us all, SIR" He bowed al
I'D turned away, holding his salver stif'
NC and they heard him muttering und
OF his breath: "Bravely. sir; bravely. A
M a great shock, sir. Thank you"
The butler returned presently, 50
D." Ing that Mr.. Siward was at home a
rn- would receive them In the libra
IN above, as he was not yet able to pa
ere up and down stairs.
lat siward was sitting In an armch
II by the window, one leg extended,
20 left foot, stifiy cased In bandag
,r's resting on footstool.
un- why, Stephen" exclaimed File
his wood. Fastening forward. II did
hat know you were laid up ike thisr'
md Siward offered his hand inquiring
um then his eyes turned toward Plai
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