River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-09-19
The COrrectOr of DeStinieS
Being Tales of Randolph Mason as Related by
His Private Secretary, Courtland Parks
The Interrupted Exile
BY Melville DAVIDSON Post
Copyright by Edward J. clode

one knew what was gong 10 happen
and IL did happen: Horses were IN
harnessed. motor cars were ordered
back into their garages, and we went
ND in the day coaches of a railroad
special with furry of snow driving
against the windows.
We were met at the little station
shed by a row Of closed carriages,
jolted off to village church and pack
ed into tight little pews. There, II
one were really an old and dear friend
OF the family and had known the bride
since she was a tow-headed little girl
in fluffy frocks, he berated old Gen
eral Cruger as though he were a pick
pocket, vilifed Emily and damned the
Institution OF marriage. Then we were
whisked away in the snow-covered car
riages to Cliffcourt and luncheon But,
first, we piled our rubbers in an ante
room by the porte-cochere, passed in
review before the old general, kissed
the tips of Emily's gloved fingers,
quoted TO the groom the appropriate
remark OF Solomon, and then girded
our loins to fight for a place by the
Generals feshpots
Fortune sat me down at luncheon
opposite q man at whom ! was very
glad to have look. Vague whisper
ings had linked his name with Emily
Cruger's for many long day. He had
proceeded with his plans to win her
with the deliberation Of a Japanese
field marshal
But women are not to be taken with
chain of forts
The man was carrying on his face
a courteous unconcern, but the enamel
of it was set over savage lines.
Gossip had it that his plans for the
housing Of this wife were already car
ried out; the land for mile farther
up the Hudson had become the splen-
did, formal gardens of French es-
tate, the rising walls of the chateau
loomed line Of gray, on the bluff
above the river The great Oriental
was making ready while he waited.
had no opportunity to speak with
him. Mrs. Chenley Gaynor, with a
niece on the block, had him at her
right. The practical old dOwager was
in every slave-market
Any mother would have feared so
dangerous a man, but not so Mrs
Chenley Gaynor. This freebooter was
the richest on the seas, he had sacks
or doubloons packed to the gunwale
of his brig What mattered 1t if the
dearest illusion of a maid walked the
plank with two gold pieces bound
tight over its eyelids. provided one
got a country estate. town house
and perhaps yacht? Mammon was
the only god who was never sleeping
or on a journey. The man lowered
n bit about the debutante, praising
her charms, but he did not want her,
that was clear. He nursed a hurt
with his hand on his cutlass.
|, was glad that the old general was
independent and the man Emily Cru
ger had chosen well enough to do.
This brown wolf would be a fearful
beast, prowling at ones door.
We depleted the larder to it's last
pate, got into our rubbers and pro-
ceeded to embark in our covered car
riages. We trod upon one another's
toes, damned our elbows into our
neighbors, and apologized sweetly for
it; but underneath, fear, we were ra-
vening wolves. The tragedy of a coun-
try wedding in a May blizzard, twenty
miles from New York!
The women all had been carried
away, and l was entering a carriage
after the last man when servant ran
out and said the general greatly wish
ed me to remain.
The servant took me to a guest cham
Der where ! found glass of whisky,
a hot bath and a dinner jacket Mean
while night descended and 1 joined
She old general below stairs. We
Gined in rather desolate splendor I'M
der the lamps; after that we smoked
by little smoldering twig fire in the
library overlooking the river. Then it
was that l discovered why he wished
me to remain.
"Courtlandt," he began, you sat OPP
posite a curious person today at
luncheon. What do you think of
bim?"
Well" l said. eff one were lacking
names, l think he might be safely
called a wolf"
He took my answer with a slow nod
ding Of the head; then he walked over
to the window and stood looking out
at the snow driving up the dim river.
Emily loves this place." he said;
i am glad ! saved it to her; but it
was like the story in the Russian fairy
book, tossed the wolf everything
else for it"
Then he came back to the fire and
sat down in his leather chair with
his feet stretched out to the fender.
Il will keep your name wolf, Court
landt," he said; II like it better than
the one his father gave him. 1 am
glad Emily is we'll out of his way,
God bless her. 1 used to shudder when
/ saw the beast at her heels. 1t does
not matter so much when man is
devoured, he takes that chance in the
forest; but the nursery tale of little
Red Riding Hood is full of heart
aches. / used to see in fancy this
wolf in my smoking jacket by the fire
in this chair here. / have barred him
out from my little Red Riding Hood;
but I await the destiny of the helpless
old grandmother"
He reached out his arm. moved
some papers on the library table. IN
covering a legal document in its blue.
stiff wrapper.
81 have got to sign This for him %