The sun., 1909-05-16
"A TAWDREY HOUSE,
The Impostor.

can truly say he was likable young
fellow when he first took a handsome
suite Of rooms on our floor for an indee.
mite stay at the Tawdrey House-manly
conSderate. generous, modest, yet thor.
oughly happy in his great good fortune
II was not the women alone who sought
him out and petted him. but from the
veilei prophet Of q proprietor and his
surly satellites behind the desk to the
latest hallboy and the oldest hag Of q
helper. every one had good word and
} plenty for George Morehead.
Billikins the clerk. who viewed life
through green and yellow glasses. summed
up the case for Morehead as folloYs:
There's no dam fluff about him, see?-
he said. -He knows what he has received
and he's duly grateful. begun. The frs,
thing he did when he came was to open a
credit of g, 800 with the office. and he has
been blowing ii in soft and easy at the
rate of fifty per ever since.
That's my idea of true elegance,
snifFen, and when it's gone there'n be
more to follow. What, with a million cold
At his back? Well, I guess yes
don't know that rated this conduct
ct so high a standard as did Billikins
when thought II over. 1t would seem
that one with so vast a fortune at his
disposal should manage his affairs in q
more businesslike way; but then, when
recalled how unexpectedly his wealth
had come to him, could not help but
smile at Morehead's simplicity and like
him all the better for 1t.
Il was. indeed, a part of his pervasive
,oy Of living felt myself growing
Younger as | watched his eagerness at
the table his solicitude in contributing
n the many eIactions that mesqueraded
a. the hotel as charities his schoolboy
delight in slsmming away to theatre or
opera with this or that flower bedecked
maiden at his side.
Not that he didn't have his soberer
moments, his deeper sentiments. Mrs.
Precedent, that court of last resort which
still set aside the opinions Of her hus-
band. the eS-Judge, took painful pride
In assuring me on these points.
George is the dearest boy she de-
clared to me one evening in the Office.
There never was such a noble. whole
souled creature, The Judge, who Is old
fashioned in his notions, you know. wants
to talk 70 him about settlement.
bat ! say No. II is shame to at
tempt TO direct so spontaneous nature.
Let him marry Juliana as freely as we
give her to him. Then the question of
money will adjust itself. There 10 enough
and more than enough goodness knows.
and We shall all be like one family"
i think / may safely congratulate
you Mrs Precedent replied on re-
ceipt Of this authoritative news. Il am
sure can congratulate Morehead, the
lucky dog. Juliana. as you know. is a
prime favorite of mine. sweet girl.
and as good as she is pretty
Pray do 80. Mr.. Sniden. agreed the
hdy;. 'Of course it isn't announced yet
-Juliana Ia 30 young; but We have no
secrets from an old family friend.
hint of what Just said. The Judge is |
50 unmannerly at times. could see
this afternoon that George was down
hearted over his saying they would have
my idea Of welcome in our domestic
circle. and won't have it
When went up stairs turned into the
private hallway to Morehead's rooms and
Tapped on the door. At first there was no |
response. Then the lights flashed up
and at a call entered.
Morehead came forward. heavy and
'l''HtI NTtht Il1p q IhoPpy fV'S. cDoh
dong, with lights out, cigar out and look
Ing as II he were out Of his head?
| did congratulate him in the apt and
.ourrly words of my age and station.
HIS face frightened with delight at my
praise Of Juliana but then turned melan-
chnly and even sullen again.
They're a queer lot he muttered.
First they kick when they shouldn't,
and then they tell when they said they
wouldn't | dcu't know
1t isn't they but she that you have
10 reckon with, my dear boy l made
haste to explain. Mrs. Preoedent rem
1oers the decisions; the Judge only concurs.
II yon will remember this your married
NE VIII nun smoother.
She has already adopted you. Why,
Ilst now she was quite indignant over
The possibility Of her husband wanting !,
settlement; she squeched that idea,
You may be sure.
Tut, tut, every family looks formld-
ah'e 10 one coming into ii; that's ono
reason why never married. But Juiiana.
shes darling. You ought to prize her I
iove above all your possessions.
u do. ] do protested the young man.
fransev transformed. Il love her.
] worship her. No power in heaven ,
~ hsll shall take her from me. III do {,
anything to have her, TO keep her.
he stood resplendent. defiant. with the
,gh1 OF tenderness on his brow. with
ths set of purpose to his jaw.
,, ] went away troubled, for while be- [
neVed IN the one / was beginning 70