The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1911-02-04
CHAPTER |.
4 Telegram from Paul stoddard.

A Telegram from Paul stoddard.
Stoddard's telegram was brought to
ne on the Glenarm pier at four
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the 9Th OF
June. l am thus explicit, for all the
matters hereinafter described turn
upon the receipt of Stoddard's mes
sage, which was, to be sure, harmless
enough in itself, but, like many other
scraps of paper that blow about the
world, the forerunner of confusion and
trouble
My friend, Mr.. John Glenarm, had
gone abroad for the summer with his
family and had turned over to me
his house at Annandale that | might
enjoy its seclusion and comfort while
writing my book on Russian Rivers
If John Glenarm had not taken his
family abroad with him when he went
to Turkey to give the sultan's engi-
neers lessons in bridge building; If
| had not accepted his kind offer of
the house at Annandale for the sum-
mor; and If Paul Stoddard had not
sent me that telegram, | should never
have written this narrative. But such
was the predestined way of it. / rose
from the boat | was caulking, and,
with the waves from the receding
steamer slapping the pier, read this
message:
Stamford, Conn, June 5.
Meet Miss Patricia Holbrook AMMAN
dale station. five twenty Chicago express
and conduct her to st. Agatha's school,
where she is expected. She will explain
difficulties. 1 have assured her of your
sympathy and aid. VIII join you later If
necessary. Imperative engagements call
| me elsewhere. STODDARD.
To say that l was angry when
read this message is to belittle the
truth. | read and re-read it with
growing heat. | had accepted Glen.
arms offer of the house at Annandale
because it promised peace, and now
was ordered by telegraph to meet a
! strange person of whom | had never
my sympathy and aid. | glanced at
my watch. 1t was already after four.
| Delayed in transmission" was
stamped across the telegraph form
! | learned later that II had lain half
the day in Annandale, New York
so that l was now face to face with
the situation, and without opportunity
IL wanted to. Nor did even know
Stamford from STEAMBOAT, and ! am
not yet clear in my mind-being an
lrishman with rather vague notions of
American eography-whether Con
necticut is north or south of Massa,
chusetts
"Ijima!"
I called my Japanese boy from the
boathouse, and he appeared, paint
brush in hand.
Order the double trap, and tell
them to hurry"
/ reflected, as | picked up my coat
and walked toward the house, that II
any one but Paul Stoddard had sent
rne such message | should most GER
tainly have ignored It; but knew him
as a man who did not make demands
or impose obligations lightly. AS the
founder and superior of the Protestant
religious Order of the Brothers OF
Bethlehem he was, | knew, an ex
ceedingly busy man. His religious
house was In the Virginia mountains
but he spent much time in quiet, hum
BILE service in city slums, in lumber
camps, in the mines of Pennsylvania
and occasionally he appeared like {
prophet from the wilderness in some
great church of New York, anC
preached with marvellous eloquenct
to wondering throngs.
The trap swung into the archet
driveway and | babe the coachmaI
make haste to the Annandale station
The handsome bays were soon trot
ting swiftly toward the village, Will,
drew on my gloves and considered
the situation. A certain Miss Hol
brook, of whose existence | had beer
utterly ignorant an hour before, wal
sbout to arrive at Annandale. A
clergyman, whom l had not seen TO
two years, had telegraphed me from
town In Connecticut to meet thi
person, conduct her to st. Agatha
,chool-just closed for the summer, a.
4