The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-03-26
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3 : Of Her Hand
George Barr MoCutCheOn
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it fifteen or twenty years ago, and left
it to her when he died. She and
Challis spent several summers there"
Vivian took me through 1t one aft
ernoon last summer"
"It must have been quite as much
of novelty to her as it was to you,
old chap" said Leslie gloomily.
What do you mean?"
"Vivian's bit of a snob. She never
liked the place because old man Gooch
built it out Of worsteds. She never
went there"
But the old mans been dead for
years."
THAT doesn't matter. The fact is,
Vivian didn't quite take to Sara until
after-well, until after Challis died.
We're dreadful snobs, Brandy, the
whole lot Of us. Sara was quite gooG
enough for much better man than
my brother. She really couldn't help
the worsteds, you know. I'm very
fond of her, and always have been
We're pals. Cad, it was fearful slal
at the home folks when Challis justi-
fed Sara by getting snuffed out the
way he did"
Booth made an attempt to change
the subject, but Wrandall got back
to it.
"Since then we've all been exceed
ingly sweet on Sara Not because we
want to be, mind you, but because
we're afraid she'll marry some chap
who wouldn't be acceptable to us"
Il should consider that very neat
way out Of it." said Booth coldly.
.'Not at all. You see, Challis was
fond of Sara, in spite Of everything.
He left will and under it she came
in for all he had. AS that includes a
third interest in our extremely refined
and irreproachable business, it would
be deuce of trick on us If she mar
ried one of the common people and set
him up amongst US, willy-nilly. We
don't want strange bedfellows. We're
too snug-and might say, too SNUG.
Down in her heart mother is saying to
herself it would be just like Sara to
get even with US by doing just that
sort of trick. Of course Sara is rich
enough without accepting sou under
the will, but she's canny person. She
hasn't handed it back to US on a silver
platter, with thanks; still, on the
other hand, she refuses to meddle. She
makes US feel pretty small. She won't
sell out to u.s. She just sits tight.
That's what gets under the skin with
mother"
"I wouldn't say that. Les, if we're
in your place
"It is a rather priggish thing to say,
isn't it?"
Rather"
you see, I'm the only one who
r-a:iy took sides with Sara. / forget
:ryso.i sometimes. She was such a
:,s:e:.:. all those years.
Sch was silent for a moment, not
II. ;, reflective look in his compan-
;c:s yes.
oppose the police haven't giTeE
-. i hope that sooner or later the
e 3 woman will do something to
& ;.erself away" said he.
ney don't take any stock in my
taeery that she made way with herself
noe night. I was talking with
si1e lief yesterday. He says that
aa"ons who had wit to cover up her
:-a1zs as she did, is not the kind to
....-.!. way with herself. Perhaps he's
right. 1t sounds reasonable. Cad, l
felt sorry for the poor girl they had
up last spring. She went through the
third degree, il ever anyone did, but,
by Jove, she came out of it all right
The Ashley girl, you remember. I've
dreamed about that girl, Brandy, and
what they put her through. It's sort
of nightmare to me, even when I'm
awake. Oh, they've questioned others
as well, but she was the only one to
have the screws twisted in just that
way"
Where is she now?"
She's comfortable enough now.
When I wrote to Sara about what
she'd been through, she settled neat
bit Of money on her, and she'll never
want for anything. She's out west
somewhere, with her mother and SIS
ters. tell you, Sara's wonder. She's
got :. heart Of gold"
II look forward to meeting her,
old man"
81 wss with her for a few weeks
this winter. In Nice, you know. WV
ian stayed on for week, but mother
had to get to the baths. Cad, I be-
liere she hated to go. Sara's got a
most adorable girl staying with. her.
A daughter Of Colonel Castleton, and
she's connected in some way with the
Mlrgatroyds-old Lord Murgatroyd,
you know. / think her mother was a
niece Of the old boy. Anyhow, mother
and Vivian have taken great fancy
to her. That's proof Of the pudding"
"r think Vivian mentioned COM
panion of some sort"
You wouldn't exactly call her a
companion" said Leslie. She's got
money to burn, take it. Quite keeps
up with Sara in making it fly, and that's
saying good deal for her resources.
I think it's a pose on her part, this
calling herself companion. An Eng
lish joke, Ell? AS a matter OF fact,
she's an old friend of Sara's and my
brothers too. Knew them in England.
Most delightful girl. Oh, say, old
man, she's the one for you to paint"
Leslie waxed enthusiastic. "a type,
positive type. Never saw such eyes IN
all my life Dammit, they haunt you.
You dream about 'em."
"You seem to be hard hit" said