The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-09-29
CHAPTER XXI.

on the first day OF July: and IL was &c
marked as a coincidence by the curious
that Deer Trace manor-house was
closed for the summer no more tnan Q
week before the return Of the Gorooh
black sheep
That Tom was a black sheep, hope
less and incorrigible social iconocias|
was no longer a matter OF DOUBT IN the
minds OF any Something may be Tor
given a promising young man VINO mas
been unhappy enough. or imprudent
enough to begin to make history Tor
himself in the irresponsible teens but
also the act OF oblivion may be repeal
ed When II became noised about that
there were two children instead o. one
in the old dog-keeper's cabin in the
glen, Mountain View avenue was justly
indignant. and even the lenient Cor
domains scowled and shook their heads
at tho mention OF the young boss
name.
To such an atmosphere Of potential
social ostracism Tom returned after the
final scholastic triumph in Boston; ana
for the first few days he escaped as
phyxiation chiefly because the af1aifs
OF Gordon & Gordon and the Chiawas-
see Consolidated gave him no time 10
test its quality.
But after the first week he began 10
breathe it Enthusiastically. One evening
he called on the Farnsworths; the Ia
dies were not at home to him Ihe
next night he saddled Saladin and rooe
over to Fairmount: the Misses Harrl-
son were also unable to see him, ana
The butler conveyed a desssy- worded III
tination pointing to future tnviSibinues
on the part of his mistress. The even
Ing being still young. Tom tried Rock
wood and the Dell, suspicion settling
into conviction when the trim maid
servant at the Stanley villa went near
to shutting the door in his face. At the
Dell he Jared little better. The
Young -Dicksons were going out for an
after-dinner call on one OF the neigh
bors, and Tom met them at the gate as
he was dismounting. There were re-
grets apparently hearty; but in recast-
ing the incident later. Tom remembered
that it was the husband who did the
talking, and that Mrs. Young-Dickson
stood in the shadow OF the gate tree.
frigidly silent and with her face avert
ed.
Once more, old boy, and then we'll
quit" he said to Saladin at the re-
mounting, and the final rein-drawing
was at the stone-pillared gates of Rock
Hill. Again the ladies were not st
home, but Mr. vancourt Henniker came
out and smoked a cigar with his Gus
toner on the piazza. The talk was
pointedly of business. and the banker
was urbanely gracious-and mildly in
quisitive. Would there be a consolida
ton of the allied iron Industries of Cor
donia when the Farleys should return?
Mr. Henniker thought II would be I'M
deniably profitable to all concerned.
and offered his services as financiering
promoter and intermediary. Would Mr..
Gordon come and talk it over with him
at the bank?
Tom found his father on the pictur-
esque veranda at Woodlawn when he
reached home. For time there was
such silence as stands for communion
between men of one blood. and was The
father who first broke It
Been out calm. SOM" he asked.
marking the Tuxedo and the white ex-
panse of shirt front
NO, I reckon not" was the reply,
punctuated by a short laugh The ave-
rue seems TO be depopulated."
so? ! hadn't heard Of anybody go
In away" said Caleb the literal
Nor l." said Tom. CURLY: and the
conversation paused until the iron
master said:
"Ardee thinks a heap o. you, and II
you could jest we made out to keep
from gettin' so tangled with that gal O.
Tike-" he stopped abruptly, but no,
quite soon enough. and the word was
as the flick of whip on a wound al
ready made raw by the abrasion of the
closed doors
so that miserable story has got
around TO you at last, has it," said
Tom, in fine scorn- Il did hope they'd
spare you and mother"
She's spared yet, so far as I know, y
said the father, with a backward nod
to indicate the antecedent of the pro-
noun Following which. he said what
lay uppermost in his mind. Il been al
lowin' maybe you'd come back this time
with your head sot on lettin' that gal
alone, son."
You've believed all you've heard
have you?-condemned me before
could say a word In my own defense
That's what they've all DONE
.T don't say that. son." Then, with a
note OF fatherly yearning in his voice:
now. Buddy-or as much Of 1t as "a
can say honestly"
You'll never hear II from me-nevcr
I'm this world or another. Now tell me
who told you,"
why, it's in mighty near ever'body's
mouth. son," said Caleb. in mild sur
prise. You certainly didn't take any
pains to cover Ii up"
Didn't take any pains? Why should
II" Tom burst out After which he
tramped heavily to the farther end OF
the veranda, glooming over at the
darkened windows OF Deer Trace and
letting bitter anger and disappointment,
work their will on him. And when ne
finally turned and .ramped back IL was
only to say an abrupt "Good-nigh .
and to pass into the house and up tc
him room.
He thought he was alone In the
moon-Iighted dusk OF the upper cham
Der when he closed the door and begar
to pace a rageful sentry beat back and
forth between the windows. But Il
unknown to him one OF the three fel
sisters. she OF the implacable front and
deep-set. burning eyes. had entered
with him to pace evenly as he paced
and to lay a maddening finger on hi:
soul.
Without vowing a VOW and confirm
Ing it with an oath, he had partly turn.
ed a new life-leaf on the night of heav.
emily comfort when Ardea had sent hin
forth to tramp the pike with her kis:
OF sisterly love still caressing him. Be-
yond the needs OF the moment. the re.
call OF Norman and the determination
20 turn his back on the world struggle
for the time being, he had not gone IL
that first fervor OF the uplifting i'm.
pulse But later on there had bear
other steps: growing hunger for sue.
cess with self-respect kept whole; :
dulling Of the sharp edge OF his hatred
for the Farleys; a meliorating Of hi.
fierce contempt for all the hypocrites
conscious and subconscious.
And now With Alecto'!
maddening finger pressed on the soul
hurt. no man IL responsible. After th'
furious storm o: upbubbllng curses hat
spent itself there was a little calm, no
Of surcease but of vacuity. since ever
the cursing vocabulary has its limita.