The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-08-27
Nan 5 =
ENper-Jmenf.
By cEcILY ALLEN.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.
By cEcILY ALIEN.

'The foundations of our social sys-
TEN are rotten to the corel'' announced
Nan, leaning forward in the great
wicker chair to watch the progress OF
the little Italian across the yelvety
lawn.
Her brother Bob sank even more
deeply in his own cushioned chair and
studied the smoke curling upward from
the tip Of his very good cigar.
Il told Uncle Henry this would be
the Inevitable result OF sending you to
western coed college. The social
system here is quite good enough for
me-"
Mans broad forehead was puckered
in a thoughtful frown.
Nov, take that young Italian fore
man of yours for instance! What
puts him in different class from youi
The fact that his father had not
enough money to feed his big family
and your father had too much money
for the good of his two children"
Really remarked Bob, with eyes
dancing. Il never notified any COM
plants from you about superfluity of
cash."
"Give that man Fifth avenue tai
lor. valet and a motor car and he
would pass muster in our set shoulder
TO shoulder with YOU"
II don't know about that" pursued
Bob. HE might eat with his knife
mot after he had been told it was
wrong" said Nan, with conviction.
Suppose be were wearing corduroy
for shooting instead of digging exca-
vations. Suppose he were wearing
shirt sleeves on tennis court or the
links instead of in your employ. He
would be a gentleman, one of your
equals. He would look not a whit
different from what he does today, but
we would accept him socially where
today we regard him as our inferior"
Bob cast amused glances at cor
ner in the porch roof where two birds
were busily building a nest among the
vines. "And this is the modern wo-
mantle effect of the higher educa-
| tion," he murmured.
1t might have been the birds, cooling
and commended. or 1t might have Just
been the love of mischief which some
men never outgrow even when, like
Robert Darnton, they can count iron
gray hairs by the score above each
temple. At any rate, he sat up very
suddenly and determinedly and regard
ed his sister quite seriously.
"Have you the courage of your con-
victions? Are you willing to put your
theory to the test? VIII you let me
invite my foreman here as an equal,
provided, Of course, that / secure the
stipulated Fifth avenue tailoring, the
man and the motorT
"Good gracious. Bob. you move SO
suddenly suggested Nan.
mo time like the present and l in
sist that any one who attacks our So
cial system should prove its rottenness
when she has the opportunity. l will
invite my foreman here as a guest. I
will agree that he is properly coached
for his part ut would not be fair to
turn him loose on our unsuspecting
guests without some training), and then
will wager you a diamond sunburst
against crocheted tie that you ask
me to put him out of the house before
the week is up"
Mans glance Travelled once more
across the expanse of green lawn.
The 1.-THE figure OF the Italian was
just disappearing behind a clump of
shrubbery. Well. in appearance, at
least, he could do the house of Darn
ton no discredit. Anyhow, why should
a girl who was planning settlement
work for the fail shrink at the thought
of having one Cease" in her home for
a few days? She would have to live
among them--in the fall!
"Well?v inquired Bob. watching her
lovely, changeable expression with ap-
| preciative eyes.
LET him comet" she answered, with
| assumed nonehalance and-there was
no denying it-something Of pleasure
that she was to meet again the glance
Of the Italians wondrous brown eyes.
Standing on the lower step Of the
porch, he had looked veritable young
god Only you are not to tell him
that the idea, the theory. is mine"
So did vincenzo Pantozzi join the in
nermost circle Of the social set graced
by the Darntons-came also a rakish
yellow racer Of foreign make, a man
versed in all the mysteries of the tai
loring world, and a wardrobe which
was credit at least to Bob Darnton's
generosity.
1 On one point Vincenzo stood firm.
He must be permitted to leave the
house every morning in time to Join
bis workmen who were building the
marvellous Italian garden at the lower
end OF the estate. If the fair chate-
1 Iaf I.