Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-09
CHAPTER VIII.
Uncle Richard Picks the Path.

It was seldom, indeed, that Claude Lor-
rain was f1ustered. and although he per-
ceived that Mr.. Bennington was still agi
tated over some recent occurrence, he
displayed no embarrassment. Good even
ing Mr.. Bennington" he said, easily.
You seem warm
II am warm snapped Mr.. Bennington.
who never permitted pleasant manners to
mollify him before he had enjoyed to the
full the luxury OF being thoroughly
aroused. Where is my nephew"
ST have not seen him for some time
He took his dog for a walk
mo wonder they get along we'll to-
gether. They, take the same practical
view of life Are you an anarchist. too"
"Oh, my dear Mr.. Bennington laughed
| Lorrain. as if replying to a pleasantly.
"Of course 1 take deep interest in the
modern trend, but l trust I am not un-
reasonable
Then you have marked advantage
over my nephew. All his life he has
been exercising and developing and train
ing every part of his makeup except his
reason. He's about as stable and trust
worthy as toy balloon"
"Oh, no, not so bad as that; although
/ must admit that at times his enthusi-
asm impels him to yield too hastily to the
natural instincts of his warm heart i
Bennington drew down the corners of
his mouth and looked at his guest criti
cally "Yes. l can easily believe you
he said, dryly. How did he happen to
meet you and your friends?"
1--WE met in Paris. Our mutual interest
in modern sociology was the magnet
which drew US together"
At this juncture Emil and Ivan en-
tered. They did not wear evening dress
Emil continued to wear the same ifnpos-
sible brown suit. covered with tobacco
ashes and with the pockets bulging with
newspaper clippings and government re-
ports. His bristly hair had been brushed
to its most aggressive angle. his broad
toed shoes had been polished, but he had
made no other preparations for dinner.
Ivan's dark hair had been carefully part
ed in the middle and his face bore the
peculiar sheen which strenuous use of
soap imparts, but he also wore the same
clothes in which he had arrived. The
suit was dingy black the coat too long
in the body and too short in the sleeves,
the trousers too tight, but so long that
they wrinkled grotesquely.
Bennington possessed dress suit which
he had owned twenty years and worn half
that many times, but It was one OF his
Inconsistencies TO like to have Dick dress
/ for dinner. He gave tho two men a nod
and asked Lorrain: And do you believe
that all the wealth should be divided
equanyr'
perfectly aware that after we become
fully enlightened, each years production
will be divided equally; but the change
from one system to another must, per-
force, he long and tedious. / am not
one Of those who think that all that is
necessary to turn this crude old world
into blooming paradise Is to hand Its
control over To the infallihle guidance OF
the inspired labor leaders"
Yes. but in time 1t will be turned over
to them - said Ivan faryeDflv I.nfr9iN'C
voice was even and musical. He always
spoke slowly enough to give each word
its proper terminal, which served to add
to his cynical attitude. VANS voice was
high pitched and inclined to vibrate with
passion. The effect was not artistic. 1T
will be turned over to them he repeat
ed. 1T is tnevitable-past history indi-
Gates It, present conditions remove all
possibility for doubt, and every opening
vista of the future discloses II in all its
radiant splendor There Is no USE
You're the one" interrupted Banning
ton. who had been studying him closely.
You're the very one. You're the source
OF all this natural-gas eloquence which
burst forth from my fool nephew this
morning. Every opening vista OF the
future discloses it in all it's radiant SPLEEN
DOR. Oh, that is Dick. al right-that is
exactly the kind Of trail that he is trying
to leave. Radiant splendor" Yes. Dicks
enthusiasm would hand that out and then
hug itself for two hours. Well, you take
| ii from me that Dick is going into the flu
ture as a man steps out or second
story window and lights on the top of his
| head. He'll see all the radiant splendor
| he can stand-oh, yes, he'll see stars
enough to furnish him with open vistas
| for the rest Of time"
| 1T is easy enough for a man to talk
| satire" said Emil. holding up pudgy
| finger. EImils voice was cultural and
| heavy. he rolled his RS and interchanged
| his is and DIS 10 a large degree: but his
| facial expressions drew all attention from
| his articulation. The pupils of his eyes
We're small and he had the power OF OPEN
| ing his lids until the pupils appeared to
| he little globes floating I'm a milky sky.
] He purscd up his lids. he twisted his head