The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-04-13


And another year we passed within
two days of each ether"
MOI Bennington exclaimed.
yes. 1t was In italy at Sorrento,
that 1 learned of your nearness. You
were off for Ana!f and | had just
come from there. For three DAYS ] ran
across your name in the hotel regis
ters."
Bennington looked about leisurely as
Warrington departed from the room to
obtain whisky and soda. 1t was just
the kind of room he had ALWAYS i'm
agined 1t was like the man who occu
pied it. Simplicity and taste abounded:
the artist and the collector, the poet
and the musician, were everywhere in
| evidence. He strol!ed over to the man
| Tel and took down one of the pictures
| signed Kate" He smiled. 1t was not
an indulgent smile, nor the smile of a
man who has stumbled upon another
| mans secret. The smile was rather ex-
ultant. He leaned against the mantel
and studied the face I'm it's varied eX-
pressions. He nodded approvingiy. 1t
| was lovely face; it was more than
lovely.--it was tender and strong Pres
emily he returned to his chair and sat
down, the photograph still In his hand
And in this position Warrington found
| him.
''Ah, YOU sly dog" he hailed, setting
down the glasses and pouring out a
| liberal bumper. $50 I've caught you?
Well, you're not the only man who has
been conquered by that very photo
| graph" He had half a notion to go in
| and bring her out; but then, women
are such finicky things.
Bennington laid aside the photo
graph. certain reverence I'm his ac-
that in ordinary times would not have
| escaped Warrington's notice.
What's this to be ?v asked Benning-
ton, ftt,er l.tr r1ae CIT rrt,, l,a
| ice.
thinner und INNER. as the German
has it," Warrington replied.
| For ever and ever. then.'
| And the two lightly touched glasses,
with that peculiar gravity which al
| ways accompanies such occasions.
| When man drinks your health In
! bad whisky, look out for him; but this
| whisky Is very good, Dick" Benning-
| ton set down his glass and wiped his
! lips 1T is very good, indeed"
well, how are things up in Hercu-
| laneum?" asked Warrington. You
know. or ought to know. that I get up
there only once year."
Things are not very well. There
| the devil to pay In politics, and some
| day l may have a jolly long strike on
! my hands" grimly. But l shall know
| exactly what to do. That man McQuade
owns about all the town now. He con-
L
| assemblymen. and the majority OF the
common council is his. body and SOUL
why don't you men wake up and
GUST McQuade? I'll tell you right here,
Jack. YOU have no one to blame but
| yourself"
do you know what they call me
up there?" Bennington laughed.
| II confess to ignorance"
well. the newspapers say covertly
| that I'm all but naturaliZed English
| man, a snob, when I'm only recluse,
a man who dresses every night for
dinner. who dimes instead of eats.
| There are some things II is impossible
to understand. and one Is the interest
| the newspapers take in the private af-
| fairs of men,
| II can explain all that. my boy Buy
| your clothes of the local tailors: get
| rid of your valet; forget that you ha se
| lived in England They'll come around
to you, then. You may talk as much
| as you like about the friendliness be-
tween the Englishman and the Amer
lean. 1t Is simply a case of two mas
tiers who are determined that their dogs
shall be friendly. Let the masters drop
| out of sight for a moment. and you
will find the dogs at each others
| throat. And the masters? The dollar
on this side and the sovereign OH the
/ other. There Is good deal of friend
ship these days that Is based upon
31s per cent. Get into politics, my
| boy"
They lighted cigars. and Bennington
took up the photograph again.
| "A lovely face" was HIS comment.
| with heart and mind even more
lovely" supplemented Warrington. my
word for 1t, she may have equals, but
| she has no superiors on this side of the
ocean"
| Bennington looked up sharply.
| Nothing serious?" he asked gently
1 Serious? No. We are capital friends
but nothing more. All, boy, you should
see her act!'
| II have. / saw her i'm London last
season. She was playing your War OF
| Women She appeared to me enchant-
| ing. But about these actresses ."
II know, I know" interrupted War
rington. Some OF them are bad, but
some OF them are the noblest creatures
| God ever put on earth; and yonder is
| one of them. / remember. We were
| more like two men. Without her help
| | shouldn't be where / am today. / al
ways read the scenario OF a play to her
| first: and often we've worked togeth-
er half a night on one scene. I shall
miss her."
What! Is she going away"
After fashion. She has retired
from the stage"
do you believe she means it?" ask
ed Bennington.
II think Miss Challoner will never
| act again."
| Remington was silent for moment
Finally he said How does 1t feel to
be famous, to have plays produced
simultaneously In New York and Lon
DOM"
| After the first success there Is never
! anything but hard work. fcilure once
in while acts like tonic. And some
| times we get an anonymous letter that
| refreshes us-a real admrer. who
| writes from the heart and doesn't fish
for letter or an autograph in return
I received one Of these only a few days
ago, and want you to read it," War
rington produced the missive and
tossed ii into Bennington's hands. Read
that. It's worth while to get letter
like that one"
Bennington took up the letter. smil-
ing at his friends enthusiasm. A SIN
gle glance at the graceful script. how
ever, changed his expression. He sat
pack and stared at Warrington.
/ Whats the natter"
Bennington did not answer but set
tied down to his task reading careful
ly and slowly. He did not look for any
signature, for he knew there would be
none. He returned the letter. his face
sober but his eyes dancing.
Now, what the deuce do you see
that is so amusing"
"Oh, nothing"
| "T,on,t fell me there isn't anv 70