The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-05-23

same as the old man q meted out
to every one around h;m-save Luke
for years past. Now there was no
exception. Goodness and cynicism to
all; and to the intruder, the newcomer,
to Philip de Mountford, an u~nvarying
courtesy N constant Difference that
at times Nverged on impassive submis-
sion. . ...E. ~
And the change. I must own, did not
come gradually. Have / not said that
only a month had gone by, and Ar
thurs son, from the land OF volcanoes
and earthquakes, had already con-
quered all that he had come to seek?
He who had been labeled an imposter
and a matchmaker took-after that one
interview-his place in the old mans
mind, IL not in his heart. eaven
only knows-for no n else was pres
ent at that first interview-what argu-
ments he held, what appeals he made.
He came like q thief, bribing his way
into his uncle's presence, and stayed
like a dearly loved son, a master In
the house.
And Luke was shut once and
for all from Lord Radclyffe's mind and
heart. Can you conceive that such
s~elfless affection as the older man bore
to the younger can live for a quarter
OF a century inc die in n hour? Yet
so 1t eemed Luke was shut out from
that innermost recess in Uncle RAIDS
NedTL WHICH Tie Hau OCCupISu, luis
puted, from childhood upward. NOW
he only took his place amongst the
others; with Jim and Edie and Frank,
children of the younger brother, or no
consequence in the house of the reign
ing peer.
Luke with characteristic pride
characteristic Incidence, mayhap,
where his own interests were at stake
would not fight for his rightful posi-
tion-his by right of ages, 20 years of
| affection, of fidelity and ~comradeship.
The day following the first mo-
mentous interview, Lord Radclyfte
| spent in lawyers company-Mr. Davies
In Finsbury court, then Mr.. Dobson In
Bedford row. The latter argued and
counseled. Though papers might be to
all appearances correct and quite i'll
order, there was no hurry to come to
a decision. But Lord Radclyffe
with that same dictatorial obstin-
acy with which he had originally
branded the claimant as an imposter
reversed opinion. Convinced-beyond
doubt, apparently that Philip de
| Mountford was his brother Arthur's
son, he insisted on acknowledging him
openly as his heir, and on showering
on him all those luxuries n privileges
which Luke had enjoyed for so many
years.
Hdki III IilClIhlly oolCy jim uiN
Eide protested with all the violence of
youth, VIOLENCE WHICH proved as useless
as tt was III considered. Luke said
nothing, for he foresaw that the end
Was Inevitable. He set about making
a home for his younger brothers and
sister to be ready for them as soon as
the cataclysm came, when Philip de
Mountford. usurping every right, would
turn his cousins out Of the old home.
Frank, absent at Santiago young
attache u at his first POSTPAID been
told very little as yet. Luke had tried
to break the news to him, in a guarded
letter, which received but the follow
ing brief and optimistic answer:
"Why, old mani! what's the matter
| with you? worrying over such rubbish L?
Take my advice n go to Carlsbad.
| Your liver must be out of order"
But the catastrophe came, neverthe-
less; sooner even than was expected.
Edie's language grew very unguarded
In Philips presence, and Jim-"in the
manners when the new cousin was in
the house.
One evening when Luke was absent
AS was very often the ase now-and
the family gathering consisted of Lord
Radclyffe-sullen and morose; Philip,
pleasantly condescending; and Jim and
Edie, snubbed and wrathful, a differ
CAIO III pOlANlSdl OplhAioAl SI"SC LlC
young people set a spark to the
s~mouldering ashes.
Philip-still pleasantly condescend-
ing-did not say much hat evening,
though he had been called a cad and
an upstart, and told to go back to his
niger relations; but the next morning
Jim and Eide received a curt admoni-
ton from Lord Radcliffe, during which
they were told that IL such a disgrace
full exhibition OF impertinance occur red
again, they would nave to go and pitch
their tent elsewhere.
They brought their grievance to
Luke; told him all tina they had
treasured up in their rebellious young
hearts against the usurper and much
that they had hitherto kept from the
elder brother, who already, God knows!
had a sufficient load Of disappointment
to bear
What could Luke do but promise that
Jim and Edie should, in future, have a
house of their own, wherein neither
usurper nor upstairs would have access,
and where they could nurse their wrath
in peace and unsnubbed?
For the first. time since many DAYS,
Luke was alone with his uncle in the
library. Philip was out, and Lord Rad
clyffe was taken unawares.
What luke would never have dreamed
Of doing for himself he did for his
49, SAoNSA w iAAdu0 all dDDGdi
to his uncle's sense Of right, of Justice
and Of mercy.
"Uncle Rad" he said, you have told
us all so often that this should be a
home for us all. 1t doesn't matter about
me-, but the others-Jim and Edie-
they haven't offended you, have they ?"
Lord Radcliffe was fretful and irrit =
able. When Luke first came in, 1t had
almost seemed as If he would order
him to go. Such an old man he looked
sour and morose-his clothes hung
more loosely than before on an OBJ
viously a~ttenuated frame. He seemed
careworn and worried, and Luke's
heart, which could not tear itself away
from h memories of past kindnesses,
ached to see the change.
Would you" he asked, insistently
would o rather we went away, Uncle
] Rad?
The old man shifted about cas- in
his chair. He would not meet Luke's
eyes any more than he would take his
hand just now.
Jim and Edie," he said, curtly. ARE
very Ill hammered and Philip feels
He passed his tongue over his lips
which We're parched n dry. A look
1t was q mere ~fiash-almost Of appeal
passed from his eyes to Luke.
Then" a Luke, simply, ut is this
this Philip whom Jim and Eide nave
offended? Not you. Uncle Rad?"
Philip Is your uncle Arthur's SON.
retoined Lord Radcliffe, speaking like
a fretful child in a thin voice that
cracked now and again. ''Ha will ht