The Lamar register., 1909-09-15
The Affair of
the Uptowners
BY EDMUND VANCE COOKE

Copyright. by ]. b. Lippincott Coz
ask said Joseph Marmaluke, speak
ing to Mrs. Deadsrone, but uncon-
sciously allowing his gaze to rest upon
her daughter. MIR. Kersey and are
more than satisfied. We were just
saying that the atmosphere suggested
home rather than clearinghouse"
Mrs. Deadstone's face went flabby
at the word. The network showed
around her eyes, and two deep
creases dropped from the corners OF
her mouth. Mr.. Marmaluke," she
and Mr.. Kersey are with us, please re-
member that you are guests, not
not boarders." She gave another little
shudder at the word and continued
somewhat hastily: ITO be sure. we
shall be compelled to accept GER
tain-er-return for our hospitality.
and If you-if you-er-if you
could"
IF you could help us with our lit
tie deception. mamma means, 1t "ill
save the proverbiai pride of the Dead
is the only heritage we have left, and
it's a horribly unhandy thing to keep
house on"
my dear Violette," expostulated
Mrs. Deadstone, that's not quite what
was about to say. l am sure the
gentlemen are sensible of the situa-
ton. Your outspokenness is positive
ly brutal. If you were not the daugh-
ter of a Deadstone-and a Clinton-I
should call 1t almost vulgar. We are
not quite reduced to the extremity
my daughter ASSERTS" she concluded.
turning to the gentlemen.
"Oh. no. Mrs. Deadstone," an
swered Mr.. Marmaluke; I'VE under
stand both your delicacy and your
daughters charming candor. They do
you both equal honor"
AS the days passed both gentlemen
congratulated themselves on their
quarters. and the weekly interviews
between Mr.. Kersey and his hostess
appeared to assauge the wounded
pride of Mrs. Dead tone to some ex-
tent.
One afternoon. according to GUS
tom, after their daily la,ors in Union
square were ended. tho two friends
travelled home together. home" of
course, being understood to be the
Deadstone stories of brownstone and
brick which did their little best to
uphold the tradition of a past genera
ton In fits boarding house blighted
n af Uhhnrhnad fhfa
residence they were impressed by an
unwonted waste of Deadstone gas,
and as they mounted the steps their
surprise was increased by the flying
open of the front door and the appear
ance OF a negro boy in plum colored
coat and brass buttons. Such was
their amazement they scarce could
give II utterance. nor could they pro-
coed upstairs or decide what diplo-
macy was due the interloper In plum.
color and brass.
did we come up the wrong steps
Isn't this Mrs. Deadstone's?" queried
Joe weakly.
''Yassah. Yo' cawd. subj" answered
the plum-color and brass.
"Card?" repeated Darby. as vacant
ly as II he had never heard OF that
useful article of Identification.
''Yassuh. or what name, suh?'
Manner" repeated Joe. with an ex-
cellent- imitation Of Darby's blank
ness. But you see-we-"
Before his slow tongue unwound
the words. there was a little rustic in
AZ
Deadstone insisted on calling II, and
the lady Of the house. whose ears had
been intent on every sound. appeared
In person. gowned. powdered. and
lorgnetted. Mrs. Deadstone's face
broke into such a smile of welcome
that the outermost corners crinkled
and cracked. much as the ice all over
a pond is sometimes shattered by a
sudden assure in the middle. Why.
II It isn't Mr.. Marmaluke and Mr..
Kersey," she exclaimed. This is so
good of you. and goodness has It's own
reward in this case. for you will meet
my dearest frieAis. violette, some
truants you will be glad to see. Mrs.
fowler. may I present Mr.. Marmaluke
and Mr.. Kersey? Miss Harper. my
friends. Mr.. Kersey. Mr.. Marmaluke.
am sure you have each heard me
speak OF all of you many times"
Mr.. Kersey's outward manifesto
tons were of pure pleasure and Who'll
ly proper. but under his breath he
murmured mechanically: "Ha.
ha, the uptowners are on our track"
II he and his fellow -boarder were Ill
at ease during the succeeding half
hour, imagine the feelings of Mrs.
Deadstone and her daughter. Miss
Harper, a woman of the type which
refuses to recognize encroaching age
and looks as II it had never known
real youth; with long nose aud neck
and receding chin. suggesting the
goose, but with an eye suggesting the
hawk, scented a suspicion of she
knew-not-what and deteEnined to hunt
It down. Mrs. Jowler, observing and
smooth-spoken, complacent and cold.
was fully as dangerous.
You'll stay, won't you. Mr.. Mar
maluke? And you, too, Mr.. Kersey?''
said Miss Deadstone. Its just as If
we had expected you"