Middletown transcript., 1912-03-09
CHAPTER !.

ttb0 NB6UH @eN1
Miss Enid Maitland was highly
specialized product Of the far east. I
say far, viewing Colorado as a point
Of departure, not as Identifying her
with the orient. The classic shades
Of Bryn Mawr had been the. Groves
Of Academus where with old Plato
she had walked" Incidentally during
her completion Of the exhaustive cur
Ficulum Of that justly famous institu-
ton abe had acquired at least bow
ing acquaintance with other masters
Of the mind.
Nor had the physical in her educa-
ton been sacrificed to the mental. In
her at least the mems sana and the
corpore sano were alike in evidence.
She had ridden to hounds many times
en- the anIse-scented trail Of the West
Chester Hunt! Exciting tennis and
leisurely golf had engaged her atten-
ton on the courts and green's OF the
Merion Cricket club. She had buneted
"Old Oceans gray and melancholy
waste" on the beach at Cape May and
at Atlantic City.
Spiritually she was q devoted mem
Der Of the Episcopal church, Of the
variety that abhors the word "Protes-
ant" in connection Herewith. Alto
gether she reflected great credit upon
her pastors and masters spiritual and
&euAVUrAl and her up-bringing in the
three departments Of life left little to
be desired.
Upon her graduation she had been
at once received and acclaimed by the
Assembly Set" Of Philadelphia, to-
which indeed she belonged unques-
toned by right Of birth and position
and there was no other power under
heaven BY which she could have ef-
fectad entrance therein, at least
that is what the OUTS thought
Of that most exclusive circle. The
old home Of the Maitlands over
looking Rittenhouse Square had
been the scene Of her debut. In
al the refined and decorous gaft1es Of
PAlladelphia's ultra-fastidious.. society
she had participated. She had even
looked upon money standardized New
York in its delirium Of extravaganza,
ct least In 80 far as a sedate and we'll
born Philadelphia family could cOun-
tenance such golden madness. During
the year she had ranged like a con-
Querer-pRrdon the masculine appella-
tion-between Palm Beach in the
1N1akh RAA Harhnn lD
Philadelphia was proud Of her, and
she was not unknown in those un-
fortunate parts Of the United States
which lay without.
In all this she had remained frank,
free, unspoiled young woman. Life
was full OF zest for her, and she en-
5oyed It with the most un-Pennsylva-
nian enthusiasm.
The second summer after her COM
ing out found her in Colorado. Robert
Maitland was one Of the big men OF
the west. He had departed from Phil
Adelphia at an early age and had set
tied In Colorado while it was still in
the formative period. There he had
grown up with the state. The Phil
adelphia Maitlands could never under
stand 1t or explain It. Bob Maitland
must have been, they argued, rever-
sion to an ancient type, a throwback
20 some robber baron long antecedent
to William Penn. And the speculation
was true. The blood Of some lawless
adventurer Of the past, discreetly for
a,ok ~ A. nnnrarva%Jva oanRI0p ~ @ha
family, bubbled in his veins unchecked
By the repressiVe atmosphere OF his
home and immediate environment.
He had thoroughly identified him
self with his new surroundings and
had plunged into all the activities OF
the west. During one period Of his
life he had actually served as sherin
Of one Of the border counties, and 1T
was q rapid bad man" indeed, who
enjoyed any advantage over him when
It came to drawing his gun" HIS.
skill and daring had been unQues-i
toned, he had made name for him
self which stlll abides, especially in
the mountains where things yet re-
mained almost as primitive as they.
had been from the beginning.
His fame had been accompanied by
fortune, too; the cattle upon a thou
sand Ellis were his, the treasures Of
mines of fabulous richness were at
his command. He lived in Denver in
one Of the greatest Of the bonanza
palaces on the hills Of that city, con-
fronting the snow-capped mountain.
range. For the rest he held stock in
all sorts of corporations, was a d.
rector in numerous concerns and SO
On-the reader can supply the usual
catalogue, they are all alike. He had
married late in life and was the father
Of two little girls and a boy, the old
est sixteen and the youngest ten.
Going east, which he did not love,
on an infreQuent business trip, he
had renewed his acquaintance with
his brother and the one eve lamb Of
his brothers flock, to-wit, the afore-
mentioned Enid. He had been struck,
as everybody was, by the splendid
personality Of the girl and had striven
earnestly to disabuse her mind Of the
prevalent idea that there was nothing
much worth while on the continent
beyond the Allegheny except scenery.
What you need, Enid, is a ride
across the plains, sight Of real noun
tains, beside which these little foot
hills In Pennsylvania that people back
here make 30 much Of wouldn't be
noticed. You want to get some Of the
spirited, glorious freedom Of the west
into your conservative gtraight-laced
little body"
I'm my day, Robert" reproVingly re-
marked his brother, Ends father,
freedom was the last thing a young
lady gently born and dencately
Rurtured would have coveted"
"Your day is passed, Steve" re-
turned the younger Maitland with
shocking carelessneBs. Freedom Is
what every woman desires now, espe-
cially when she Is married. You ara
not in love with anybody, are youp
Enid?"
with not q soul" frankly replied
the girl, greatly amused at the col
lOQuy between the two men, who
though mothered by the same woman.
were as dissimiIar as-what shall
O.. N-.-.- A. "a