Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-08-24
CHAPTER XXI.

men In his class. was expected home
on the first day of July: and 1t was re-
marked as coincidence by the curious
that Deer Trace manor-house WAS
closed for the summer no more than
week before the return of the Gordon
black sheep.
That Tom was black sheep. hope
less and incorrlgible social iconoclast
was no longer matter OF doubt In the
minds of any. Something may be for
given promising young man who has
been unhappy enough, or imprpdent
enough. to begin to make history for
himself in the irresponsible teens; but
also the act of oblivion may be repeal
ed. When 1t became noised about that
there were two children instead of one
IN the old dog keepers cabin in the
glen. Mountain View avenue was justly
indignant and even the lenient Cor
domains scowled and shook their heads
at the mention of the young boss
name.
To such an atmosphere of potential
social ostracism Tom returned after the
anal scholastic triumph in Boston: and
for the first few days he escaped as
phyxiation chiefly because the AFFAIRS
Of Gordon 6 Gordon and the Chiawas-
see Consolidated gave him no time to
test Its quality.
But after the first week he began 10
breathe It Enthusiastically. One evening
he called on the Farnsworths; the la
dies were not at home to him. The
next night he saddled Saladin and rode
over to Fairmount; the Misses Harrl-
son were also unable to see him. and
the butler conveyed a deftly-worded In
t!mation pointing to future invisibilities
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 fared a 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 Ms
he was dismcunting. There were re-
grets apparently hearty; but in recast-
Ing the incident later. Tom remembered
that 1t was the husband who did the
talking. und that Mrs. Young-Dickson
stood In TIE 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 reln-drawing
was at the stone pillared gates of Rock
HILL Again the ladies' were not at
home. but Mr.. Vancourt Henniker came
out and smoked 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 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 financieriny
promoter and intermediary. Would Mr..
Gordon come and talk 1t over with him
lat 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.
mo. I reckon not" was the reply.
punctuated by short laugh. THE ave-
nue seems to be depopulated."
"Seg 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 heap o. you. and IL
/. you could Jest We made out to keep
from gettin' so tangled with that gal o.
Tike-" he stopped abruptly. but not
quite soon enough, and the word was
as the flick of whip on wound al
ready made raw by the abrasion of the
closed doors.
$50 that miserable story has got
around to you at last. has it?", said
Tom, in fine scorn II did hope they'd
spare you and mother"
She's spared yet. SO far as I know"
said the father with backward nod
10 indicate the antecedent Of the pro
noun. Following which. he said what
iay uppermost in his mind. II been al
OWN maybe you'd come back this time
with your head sot on lettin' that gal
llone. son."
you've believed all you've heard,
have you?-condemhed me before /
.ould say word in my own defense?
That's what they've all done"
II don't say that, son." Then. with a
cote Of fatherly yearning In his voice:
I'm waitin' to hear that word right
now, Buddy-or as much of 1t as re
can say honestly"
you'll never hear 1t from me-nevcr
In this world or another. Now tell me
who told you'll"
why, It's in mighty near ever'body.s
mouth. son!" said Caleb. in mild sur
prise. You certainly didn't take any
palms to cover 1t up"
Didn't take any pains? Why should
n" 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 he
finally turned and tramped back It was
only to say an abrupt Goodnight"
and to pass into the house and up to
him room.
He thought he was alone In the
moon-lighted dusk of the upper cham
Der when he closed the door and bega
to pace rageful sentry-bea back and
forth between the windows But Ill
unknown to him one of the three fell
sisters. she Of the implacable front and
deep-set, burning eyes. had entered
with him to pace evenly as he paced,
and to lay maddening finger on his
soul.
Without vowing vow and confirm
ing 1t with an oath, he had partly turn
ed new life-leaf on the night of heay-
emily comfort when Ardea had sent him
forth to tramp the pike with her kiss
Of sisterly love still caressing him. Be-
yond the needs of the moment the re-
call of Norman and the determination
to turn his back on the world struggle
for the time being. he had not gone Ia
that first fervor of the uplifting i'm,
pulse But later on there had b..
other steps: a growing hunger for sue
cess with self-respect kept whole; i,
dulling of the sharp edge Of his hatred
for the Farleys; meliorating of his
fierce contempt for all the hypocrites
conscious and subconscious.
And now with Alecto's
maddening finger pressed on the soul
hurt, no man is responsible After the
furious storm of upbubbling curses had
spent itself there was little calm, moi
of surcease but of vacuity. since even