The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-06-16
CHAPTER III.-(Continued.) }

1HOIudS JeIIerSOn, aWe-StrucR anu
gaping. found himself foot-loose for
time in the Marlboro rotunda while his
father talked with a man who wanted
to bargain for the entire output or the
Paradise furnace by the year. The com
mercial transaction touched him hght-
ly; but the moving groups, the import
ed bell-boys, the tesselated floors res
coed ceiling and plush covered 1urnl-
ture-these bit deeply. Could this De
South Tredegar. the place that haa
hitherto figured chiefly 10 him as
court day" town and the residence OF
his preacher uncle? 1t seemed hugely
incredible.
After the conference with the iron
buyer they crossed the street TO the
railway station; and again Thomas
Jefferson was footloose while his faith
or was clcseted with some one in the
mana gers office.
An express train, with Kissing air
brakes, Solomon gnificent sleeping
cars. and locomotive large enough TO
swallow whole the small affair that
used 10 bring the once-a-day train
from Atlanta, had just backed in, and
the boy took its royal measure with
eager and curious eyes. walking slowly
up one side OF il and down the other
At the rear of the string or Pull
mans was private car. with deep
observation platform. much polished
brass railing. and sundry other .luxuri-
Gus appointments. apparent even to the
eye OF unsophistication. Thomas Jei-
ferson spelled the name in the medal
lion, -Psyche"-spelled it without Try
ing TO pronounce it-and then turned
his attention to the people who were
descending the rubber carpeted steps
and grouping themselves under the dl-
rection of a tall man who reminded
Thomas Jefferson OF his Uncle Siias
with an indescribable something left
out OF his face.
"As / was about to say. General. this
station building is one Of the relics.
You mustn't Judge South Tredegar-
our new South Tredegar-by this Eth?
II beg your pardon, Mrs. Vanadam?
Oh. the hotel? 1t is just across the
street. and a very good house; remark
ably good. indeed. all things consider
cd In fast, we're quite proud Of the
Marlboro"
One OF the younger women smiled.
How enthusiastic you are. Mr.. Far
iey. I thought we had outgrown all
shat-we moderns."
But, my dear Miss Elleroy, IL you
could know what we have to be enthu-
siastic about down herel Why, these
mountains we've been passing through
for the last six hours are simply 50
many vast treasure houses; coal at the
top. iron at the bottom. and enough CT
both to keep the worlds industries go
Ing for ages, There's millions in
them"
Thomas Jefferson overheard without
understanding, but his eyes served a
better purpose. Away back in the line
Of the Scottish Gordons there must
have been an ancestor with the seer's
Of his blood had come down to this
sober-faced country boy searching the
faces OF the excursionists for his cue
OF fellowship or antipathy.
For the sweet-voiced Young woman
called Miss Elleroy there was love at
first sight. For a severe, beskliked
Mrs Vanadam there was awe. For the
portly General with mutton-chop wills
kers. overlooking eyes and the air of
. dictator. there was awe, also, not
unmingled with envy. For the tall
man in the frock- coat, whose face re-
minded him Of his Uncle Silas, there
had been shrinking antagonism at the
drst glance-which keen first impress
sion was presently dulled and all but
sffaced by the enthusiasm, the suave
tongue, and the benienant manner
Which proves that insight like the film
Of recording camera, should have
the dark shutter snapped on 1t If the
picture is 10 be preserved.
Thomas Jefferson made way when
the party. marshaled by the enthusi-
asst. prepared for it's descent on the
Marlboro. Afterward, the ROYALTIES
having departed and a good natured
porter giving him leave. he was at lib
srty to examine the wheeled palace 1T
near-hand. and even to climb into the
vestibule for a peep inside.
Herewith. castles in the air began
TO rear themselves, tower on wall.
Here was the very sky-reaching sum-
NIT Of all things desirable: to have
ones own brass-bound hotel on
wheels; TO come and go at will: to
give curt orders to a respectful and
uniformed porter. as the awe-inspiriny
gentleman with the mutton-chop whis-
kers had done.
At the highest point on the hunch-
I'd shoulder OF the mountain Thomas
Jefferson twisted himself In the buggy
seat for final backward look into the
valley OF new marvels. The summer
day was grazing to its twilight, and a
light haze was stealing out of the
wooded ravineseand across the river.
From the tall chimneys OF a rolling
n1ill a dense column OF smoke was as
pending. and at the psychological mo-
ment the Stag flare from an iron-fu--
mace changed the overhanging cloud
into fiery aegis.
Having no symbolism save that of
Holy Writ, Thomas Jefferson's mind
seized instantly on the figure, building
far better than II knew. II was a new
Exodus. with its pillar of cloud by day
and its pillar Of fire by night. And
It's Moses-thcush this. we may sup
pose. was beyond a boys imagining
was the frenzied, ruthless spirit of COM
mercislIsm. named otherwise, by the
multitude, Modern Progress.