The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-12-03

Presently, when she knew in general
what had happened, her face took on
virile firmness.
"Courtlandt," she said, you are evil
IDENTIFY not a poet. or else you would
see how deplorablo thing Il would
be to spoil this struggle between my
father and Mr.. Wood.
1T would be crude, barbaric. ugly
to throw to one or tho other a balance
or power. IL would ruin the high dra-
matte tone OF the game; 1t would be
vandalism, like spelling q canvas OF
Raphael, or manuscript OF Horace"
Miss Garrett" / said, this Is all
very beautiful. to quote your own APP
proprlate words; but, pardon me, are
you not giving tongue on tho wrong
trailY These lines should be spoken
to Randolph Mason. and not to his
fattered, but powerless, secretary"
She colored perceptibly; then her
face took on resolution. very we'll"
she returned. 81 will say them to Ran
dolph Mason"
wished then that had said moth
ing. Ii was worse than idle to go on
such an errand TO Randolph Mason.
There was no escape, so went with
Margaret Garnett in her carriage to
Randolph Mason.
began then. somewhat late in the
hour, to prepare her for this meeting.
l advised her of Mason's curious hab-
It's, OF his unusual abstraction. / warn
ed her against his abrupt, Indifferent
manner, his rigid, searching. brutal in
quiries. II she had any sensibilitles
to be hurt, or any fragile ideas OF
courtesy to bo outraged, we would do
better to go back on the instant.
was glad of this elaborate warming
when the girl stood finally before Ran
dolph Mason.
Mason deliberately laid down the
pen In his fingers and lifted his head,
with the expression of one who sub
mits out OF necessity to an Interrupt
ton.
Mr.. Mason" the girl began, 81 am
Margaret Garnett. | wish to inquire
why you care SO greatly for my father
to prevail over Mr.. Wood"
Il do not care" he said.
The young woman was evidently
In my father then?" she inquired.
i have no interest in him." replied
Randolph Mason.
No INTEREST,"" she repeated. why
did my fathers attorney come here?"
Why do you come here?" returned
Mason.
She began to speak then, her voice
vibrating like the tense string Of a
VOL. She repeated, but in finer Sc
Guence, all she had said to me on that
night OF Gafkfs drama, and all that
she had later said over our luncheon.
The spirit of the woman came forth on
the flood; she was deeply, virtually, pas
sionately in earnest, speaking against
sacrilege, speaking against a wrong.
demanding, urging. pleading with Ran
dolph Mason to remain immovably
neutral Let the struggle between her
fatler and this man be fair. Let it's
thrilling. dramatic balance remain I'M
disturbed. She was the one whose in
terest for her father should be deep
est, and she, above all things in this
world, wished to see the game played
out by the two now seated at the ia
bic. 1t was weak, eowardly in her ia
Their to come here for aid. II he could
not win alone, fairly, like q man, then
she, his daughter, Margaret Garrett.
wished him to lose.
The woman thus fired with tran
scendent courage was superb. NV
blood sang under her words. The
nerves in my fingers tingled, but Ran
dolph Mason sat watching her with
weary unconcern. When she had fin
ished he lifted his face, hard as metal.
May | inquire" he said, why you
are thus endeavoring to deceive me?"
The girl caught her breath az
though she had been dashed with wa.
ter. II am not endeavoring to de-
ceive you," she said.
why, then" said Mason, have YOU
made me these lurid speeches?"
u have made them" replied the
girl, Ito acqualnt you with my motive
for wishing you to remain neutral"
Pardon me-" said Mason, you have
made them to conceal that motive"
The girl recoiled before this bru-
tai thrust, like one before q blow.
Il do not understand YOU" she said.
But l understand you perfectly"
replied Randolph Mason.
Then he arose and walked past her
out into the hall.
returned over tho flag-stone walk
with Miss Garnett to her carriage. 7
could find no words OF ADEQUATE apol-
ogy. "Courtlandt," she said tell
your cold, Unconditional master that
since he has so ruthlessly taken from
my fingers the weapons of q man. I
shall meet him with the weapons Of q
woman"
| closed tho carriage door. and she
drove away proudly like an empress.
The only occasion on which | have
ever known Randolph Mason to go out
OF New York In any mans behalf was
when no went TO the residence OF John
A. Garnett at Bryn Mawr, suburb Of
Philadelphia. The railroad magnate
and the aspiring marshal had arrived
at terms, as l understood II, or, rath-
er, the one had accepted in capitula-
ton the terms Of the other The con-
ference was to conclude this treaty.
accompanied Randolph Mason, as I
usually did.
The Garnett residence at Bryn
Mawr is one OF the most distinctive