The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-05-01

passing. To such casual reckoning
he appeared to be in the early TWEEN
ties; but scrutiny, more or less infal-
lible. noting line here or an angle
there, was disposed to add ten years
to the score. There was in the nose
and chin a certain decisiveness which
In true youth is rarely developed. This
characteristic arrives only with man
hood, manhood that has been tried
and perhaps buffeted and perchance
little disillusioned.
What was one to do who had both
money and leisure linked to an IRE
sistible desire to leave behind one
place or thing in pursuit of another,
unfortunately? rhe inherent ambi-
ton was to make money; but recog.
nizing the absurdity of adding to his
income, which even In his extrava-
gance he could not spend, he gave
himself over into the hands of grasp
ing railroad and steamship companies,
or their agencies, and became for a
time the slave of guide and dragoman
and carrier. And then the wanderlust,
descended to him from the blood of
his rowing Dutch ancestors, which had
lain dormant in the several genera
tions following, eprang into active life
again. He became known in every
port of call. He became known also
in the wildernesses.
Whatever had for the moment ap-
pealed to his fancy, that he had done.
He was alone, absolute master of his
millions. Mammals with marriageable
daughters declared that he was impos-
sible; the marriageable daughters
never had chance to decide one way
or the other; and men called him a
fool. He had promoted elephant fights
which had stirred the Indian princes
out of their melancholy indifference.
and tiger hunts, which had, by their
duration and magnificence, threatened
to disrupt the efficiency of the British
military whimsical excuses,
not understandable by his intimate &C
quaintances who cynically arraigned
him as the fool and his money.
But, like the villain in the play, his
income still pursued him. Certain
scandals inevitably followed, scandals
he was the last to hear about and the
last to deny when he heard them.
Many persons, not being able to take
into the mind and analyze a character
like Courtlandt's, sought the line of
least resistance for their understand
ing, and built some precious exploits
which included dusky island prin-
cesses, diaphanous dancers. and comic
opera stars.
Simply, he was without direction
a thousand goals surrounded him and
none burned with that brightness
which draws a man toward his des-
tiny: until one day. Personally, he
possessed graces of form and feature
and was keener mentally than most
young men who inherit great fortunes
and distinguished names.
Automobiles of all kinds painted
hither and thither, An occasional
smart coupe went by as II to prove
that prancing horses were still neces
sary to the dignity of the old arietoc
racy. Courtlandt made up his mind
suddenly. He laughed with bitterness
He knew now that to loiter near the
stage entrance had been his real pur
pose all along, and persistent lying to
himself had not prevailed. In due
time he took his stand among the
gilded youth who were not privileged
(like their more prosperous elders) tc
wait outside the dressing rooms fol
their particular ballerina. BY and BY
there was a little respectful commo
ton. Courtlandts hand went instinct
lively to his collar, not to ascertain Il
1t were properly adjusted, but rather
to relieve the sudden pressure. He
was enraged at his weakness. He
wanted to turn away, but he could not
A woman issued forth. mufiied II
silks and light furs. She was followed
by another, quite possibly her maid
One may observe very we'll at times
from the corner of the eye; that Is
objects at which one is not looking
come within the range of vision. Th'
woman paused, her foot upon the steI
of the modest limousine. She whis
pered something hurriedly into be-
companions ear, something evidentl!
to the puzzlement of the latter. WHIT
looked around irresolutely. Sh'
obeyed, however. and retreated to thu
stage entrance. A man. quito as tai
as Courtlandt, his face shaded care
fully, Intentionally perhaps, by one o
those soft Bavarian hats that ar
uoru a1,coooagnIIv only nv Garmana