The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-01-20

accent was awful. He had no man
ners. 1t was mystery how he had
got his nomination. But he had
brains and looks. Better still, though
he never spoke of his parents, he had
an allowance from home.
It was old Morson, the manager,
who first pointed him out to me III the
High Street We were walking to-
pether on our way to the club. MOI
son touched me on the arm.
Look" he said. There goes the
boy of destiny"
| turned around, saw young De
Haviland, and laughed. Beyond MS
good looks and the fact that he snow
ed exceptional promise at games,
thought him a pretty average specl-
men of a bank clerk. Moreover, l
don't particularly admire the type.
1t was on the tip of my tongue to say
30, but ! remembered myself In time
even pretended an interest that l
didn't in the least feel.
What is his destiny, anyhow" l
asked.
Old Morson stopped dead-an ag'
gravating habit of his-and caught
the lapel of my coat.
He's going to be rich woman's
husband" said he.
! laughed.
That's not so easily done nova
days. ! answered.
And / disengaged myself from the
old mans OBTAINING fingers. He be-
gan to trot beside me again.
u allow that" he conceded, painting
a little. But he'll pull it off, right
enough. That young man is going
far"
Depends how you measure dis
tance," said l.
Old Morson is bit of a nuisance.
But he fairly had the boy on his
brain, for on the steps of the club he
buttonholed me once more.
'I'm willing to bet" he said-"Im
willing to bet five to one in sover-
eigns that within Ave years from to-
day that boy has married an heiress."
A lot may happen in five years,
and it was worth risking a sovereign
to get rid of the old bore
Done with you," cried.
And fed up the steps like hare.
From the reading room window / saw
old Morson, still outside, fumbling
with his pocketbook. / gathered that
he was recording the bet.
The incident, for the time being,
passed out of my mind. De Haviland
was so very young that he didn't
come my way much. Old Morson
was such bore that kept out of
his way, and, besides, there were
plenty of other things to do. 1t was
only later on that the boy began to
force himself upon my notice. To be-
gin with, he thrashed me soundly at
golf. Then he beat me at badminton
After that | felded out more than
one August afternoon while he got a
century. My favorite partners cut
down my number of waltzes to give
him more. Little things like these in
duced me to observe him. Other peo
pie began to watch him closely, too
He was talked of at the club-frst
contemptuously, then with liberation
finally with an admiration that was
undisguised. And small wonder.
boy with the face of Phoebus Apollo
and the physique Of c.. B. Fry would
be the centre of interest anywhere
let alone of little place like Belboro
And before long-because, perhaps
an Englishman is always attracted L
a man who does things better thar
himself began to like De Havilant
very much. But l wasn't in the leas
blind to his faults.
To begin with, he was a terribl,
snob. His progress up the socia
ladder was paved with discarded
friendships. He used people, sucke,
them socially dry, and stepped uI
ward to the next rung He loved t
visit the houses of the rich. To en-
ter the charmed circles of count
society was his abiding dream. Hi
q ascent was steady and sure. Eve
his rebuffs and discomfitures he turr
cd to profitable account. And hi
good luck saved him in the one ii
stance where he really made mes
Of things. 1t happened quite early i
his career-and If the other partie
concerned had not left the neighbol
hood shortly afterward he might hav
got very nasty tumble indeed.
BY some chance (when he frs
came to Belboro he was very lionel
and miserable) he got to know som
people called Langton, who lived in
workmans cottage two miles GU
Mrs. Langton, in particular, was yer
nice to him; he had standing invit
ton to their house. and for time b
thought Langton the wisest man
the world But presently he began [
make other friends who were ric
and kept better table. Yet he sti
went TO see the Langtons, now an
then.
One day, during the boys lunchec
hour, he met, in the High Stree
Langton. who hailed him cheeril