Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-08-17
The Man
From Home
By BOOTH
HARRINGTON
and
HARRY LEON
WILSON


"Yes. ma'am."
d, A look Of incredulity passed over
Ethel's face. and she replied:
1T does not strike me as possible
However. we will dismiss the sub.
/ vet"
We'll. if you'd like to introduce me
to yOur-to your
ITO my brotherT'
mo, ma'am; to your-to the young
man."
ITO Mr.. st. Aubyn?" cried Ethel. re.
coiling step 81 think 1t quite un.
J necessary"
I'm afraid l can't see 1t that way.
I'll have to have a couple Of talks with
him. sort of look him over. 20 tc
speak. won't stay around here spoil
ing your fun any longer than can
help-only just for that and to get o
letter I'm expecting from England"
Ethel bit her lip vexatiously.
81 do not see that you need have
come at all. We could have been
spared thls-this modification"
You mean l mortify you? Why. I
Il can't see how"
I'm q hundred ways" she replied,
"every way. That common person
who Is with you
"He isn't common. You only think
SO because he's with me-" returned
Daniel sadly. looking down.
"Who is hep demanded Ethel sharp
ly.
"He told me his name, but can't
remember It. call him doc.
ut doesn't matter. What does mat
ter is that you needn't have come
You could have written your consent"
NO ma'am. not without seeing the
young man." answered Pike resolute-
ly.
".And you could have arranged the
settlement In the same way" went on
Ethel unheedingly.
Settlement You seem to have set
tied it pretty well without me-" re-
turned Pike. smiling.
"You don't understand" said Ethel
impatiently AN alliance Of this sort
always entails certain settlement"
| She paused "Please listen. II you
were ut all a man Of the world I
should not have to explain that in
marrying into noble house bring
my dot. my dowry"-
money. you mean" asked Pike.
puzzled.
"Yes. If you choose to put 1t that
way"
You mean you want to put aside
something Of your own to buy a lot
and start housekeeping
NO." she hared. 81 mean settle
ment upon Mr.. ST. Aubyn directly"
you mean you want to give 1t to
him:"
IF that's the only way to make you
understand-yesr' she flashed.
How much do you want to give
himT asked Pike thoughtfully.
"a hundred and fifty thousand
pounds" said Ethel desperately.
Pike whistled.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollarsr'
Precisely thatT said Ethel.
"Well, he has made you care for
him." said Daniel. ~ guess he must
be the prince of the world! He must
be a great man. l'expect you're right
about me not meeting him. probably
wouldn't stack up very high alongside
a man that's big enough for you to
think so much Of as you do him. Why,
Id have to squeeze every bit Of prop,
erty your pa left you"
rs it your property?" she fared at
him.
i've worked pretty hard to take
care Of 1t for you," he answered gen,
tly, and Instantly she regretted the
sharp speech.
"Forgive me-" she pleaded. 1T was
unworthy Of me-unworthy Of the
higher and nobler things that life calls
me to live up to-that l shall live up
to. The money means nothing to me.
I'm not thinking Of that. 1t Is a neces-
sary FORM"
Pike looked ut her keenly.
"Have you talked with Mr.. st. Au.
byn about this settlement-this present
you want to make to him?" he asked.
mot with him"
81 thought not" he went on amused.
ly. You'll see. He wouldn't. take II
II Id let you give 1t to him. A fine
man like that wants to make his own
way. Mighty few men like to have
fun poked at them about living on
their wives money"
"Oh. can't make you understand
cried Ethel despairingly. "A settle
ment isn't gift"
"Then how'd you happen to decide
that Just hundred and fifty thousand
L