Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-01
CHAPTER XII
0a~eNuhst Awkward


As they approached the house and
caught glimpses Of the other guests
enjoying themselves in their hostess
short absence rather than otherwise
Hancock suggested as last desperate
means of relief that James meet few
of the country people and learn their
intrinsic worth. realize what true
democracy means.
"They are the backbone of the coun.
try. Jimmy" he declared enthusiastic.
ally.
James preferred not to know the
backbone OF the country, did not care
- have anything to do with it.
"You don't want to let them think
YOU are snob, Jimmy, old boy" pro
tested Hancock, panied at the mere
idea OF his friend appearing in a poor
light.
James waved the possibility indiffer-
emily aside. ~ have met country peo-
ple,' said he coldly, and they are, too
deep for me--too sophisticated. They
do not appeal to me, Jack, in any
way" ~. !
Hancock laughed and threw his arm
around his friends shoulders. Some
Maud Muller turn you down, old
sport?" he asked.
James removed his arm. mot at
ALL" said he in compressed dignity
So, side by side. the two trailed
around after their hostess, brought her
ices. coffee and cakes, stared langu1dly
over the heads Of the other guests and
sought to hide their bored feelings be-
hind q frank Darkness, While Han
cock wondered in what moment OF tenn
porary insanity he had asked James
to remain over a short time with
him, and strove to recall whether he
had said few days or had been fool
enough to make it few weeks, and
James wondered what had induced
him to linger in the backwoods when
he had been making straight for city
and civilization at the rate OF forty
miles an hour on the average. He
Judged he was getting old and q bit
Predetermined.
As they approached the house Molly
glanced at it, sick and miserable, her
heart heavy with foreboding. In an
upper window, pausing moment to
admire the view over the tree-tops far
out to sea, she caught fieeting sight
OF the tall lean figure of Mr.. Holmes.
No doubt Of his identity entered the
girls head before that staggering COM
bination OF light gray and pale blue
silk. Algernon Van Rensselaer, Todd's
favorite colors, carried so far as to
grace his yacht, his racing stables and
motor.cars. She glanced at Han
cocks good-looking profile, at his we'll
bred aloofness from the common af-
fairs Of the world in his position of
spectator instead Of participation and
wondered what he would say when he
knew, as he would in few short hours
now.
She was sure he would not under
stand. None OF his primeval instincts
and desires had ever been aroused. He
knew art, poetry, travel, the old and
the new world, but nothing of hunger.
of privation. Of unfulf1lled longings and
heart cravings. He Judged the world
from the lofty pinnacle Of several mil
lions In the cash of the realm, which
shut him out of the real game of life
as effectually as high board fence
without knot-hole excludes the small
boy without the price from a base.
ball game. His well-bred aloofness
was unintentional on his part the girl
realized. He simply could not help it,
for he had never been in position to
be otherwise, to understand, to learn
life as 1t is. He was honorable and
she did him the justice to believe that
he would always be so under any pro-
vocation, but the fact remained that
he had never been tested, that, after
all, his honor was more one of circum.
stances than principle. He would be
kind and try to be sympathetic, but
would be miles a1ay in spirit. He
glanced at James round fat pudginess
and knew he wouldn't attempt to un-
derstand The whole affair to James
would simply be another Of those un-
fortunate instances Of the depravity
of the country.
She felt sudden fierce hatred for
those who had everything and could
not understand, who were unconsci-
ously, and generally Internationally,
superior to the common people be-
cause they did not understand. They
ndQ never $1,000 dlOue, pellullesS anu
friendless, dependent upon their own
brains and hands for food, clothing
and a place to sleep. They did not
understand, did not know, could not
realize And she turned to the shah
billy, gaudily dressed assemblage of
country folk with certain companion
ship and longing as one in foreign
country will turn to a fellow-country.
man as to long-lost brother. They
and she talked and thought in the
same language, that of poverty, and
though they would condemn, they
would understand.
She chatted gaily in sort of men
tai stupor, watching herself in sur
prise and wondering how she did it, as
q critical audience watches new
star just risen into the ken of the
theater-going public. She felt an odd.
tmpersonal mother-tenderness for all
who had tried and failed. AS she
laughed and talked, walked here and
there among her guests, saw to their
comfort, nodded at Hancock's remarks,
smiled at James gloomy attempts to
be iocular, she kept watching for the
long gray figure, the sallow humorous