Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-20
CHAPTER VIII.
Characterization,

InoTG was SLcuuy WIFI lIoIl Ilc
east and before it the fog swept in
land and lost itself among the hills
and forests but the evening was cool
and clear as Algernon turned into the
road to North Brockton for his nightly
ride before going to bed.
Young Hancock had come carly, to
see the moon rise over the ocean, he
had said. For the full effect one
should see it from Castle Crags. The
Pines stood as near the cliffs, but was
somehow not so we'll situated for that
particular moonrise. So they had gone
to the rocks, Molly in lovely yellow
wrap, bewitchingly fascinating the
man laden down with rugs and pill
lows; and Algernon, watching them
from the darkness of the summer
house where he had gone to smoke his
after-dinner pipe, realized with sud
den fierce pain what Molly's object
was in playing him mother. Like the
sudden fash Of the rising moon upon
the crest of tumbling wave 1t came
to him.
She had started in fun, as she had
said, but her intentions had changed
and Hancock with them. She intend
ed to marry him. but. how could she
bring it about? Hancock was quiet
high-minded yound fellow with an in
herited distaste for anything irregular,
and how could Molly explain the situa-
ton? If Hancock should propose be-
fore the month was up and the real
Mrs. Todd had returned, Molly would
either have to confess to him who she
was or else persuade him to elope for
some foolish reason or other and
marry her secretly before hint Of
such thing reached the papers and in
time Algernon's mother. II she did
not confess, HaEcock's methodical soul
would insist upon announcements Of
the engagement, upon a decent inter-
val before the wedding, and above all
upon frank publicity. But even a
person so well-known as Mrs. Todd,
the widow Of the great Phineas B..
Todd, would be chronicled in the
papers somehow the day before 1t
was consummated, and then it could
never be contaminated. unless Han
cocks love was great enough to for
give deception. When Hancock pro-
posed Molly would have to take the
initiative as to the marriage, and AL
gernon wondered if she would be
clever enough to do and yet let Han
cock believe that it was he who was
doing the urging to hasten the happy
day. Or when sure of his love by
spoken avowal, did Molly intend to
confess all and throw herself upon his
mercy? The risk would be great, and
Algernon shook his head gloomily as
he made his way to the garage,
moody and unhappy.
The second groom, Bates. stood
watching him as he cranked the car
and lifted the yaller pup into the seat
Of honor that had been occupied the
night before by his lady.
Seems to me- remarked the youth,
as Algernon began to pull on his
gloces, Seems to me that young Mr..
Hancock is here a darned lot"
"Shucks!" sneered Algernon. "You
ought to see the way the rich people
visit down in the cities. They are
never home, either in one friends
house or another's There's no one
for Hancock to visit up here but Mrs.
Todd"
Everybody can't be visiting
around" commended Bates, cor there
would be no one to visit"
"You don't call with the hope Of
finding any one in" explained Alger-
non mildly Heavens, if any one is
SO thoughtless as to be in you cut him
off your calling list"
"It's not Christian. It's New York, y
said Algernon.
Hancock finds Mrs. Todd in every
time he calls. Why doesn't he cut her
off his list?"
Algernon waived the point airily
aside He isn't New York. He's
Boston. The chief end Of man In New
York is dissipation, in Boston, con.
versation."
What do they talk about?"
themselves. Egotism is the root
of all conversations"
Money is the root of all evil" cor.
rected Bates coldly. "And I guess 1t
is. They must be fierce, them rich
folks
They have keepers" said Algernon
flippantly. Besides" he added rash
ly, endeavoring to head off a question
he saw formulating in Bates round
red head. Hancock isn't here SO often.