The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-27

eSS! 1t was very commonplace
communication | found on the third
or fourth reading. The sum and SUBJ
stance of its contents was the informa-
ton that she was going to Virginia
Hot Springs with the family for
month or two and that Lord Amber
dale was to join them there. 1t ap-
peared that her father. being, greatly
| overworked. was in need of rest. and
as the golf links at Hot Springs are
especially designed to make it easy for
rich men, his doctor had ordered him
to that delightful resort She hoped
the rest would put him on his feet
| again. There was a page or so Of
drivel about Amberdale and what he
expected to do at the New York horse
show. n few lines concerning Rose
mary, and brief. almost curt intima-
| ton that Il glimpse or two of me would
not be altogether displeasing't to her if
| ] happened to he coming that way
| 1t may be regarded rs strange CO.
incidence that | instructed Britton that
very evening to see that my golf clubs
were cleaned up and put into good
shape for n little practice on a course
near London. where had been put up
by an English author, and who was
forever dingdonging at me to come out
and let him put it all over me-" l
went out and bought new brassie to
replace the one destroyed by the ex-
4 m f;po u.ortb yonth aud
before got through with ii had 4 new
puttcr. n niblick and spoon, neither
Of which | needed, for the excellent
reason that | already possessed a half
dozen of each.
Keyed up TO high pitch of enthusi-
asm, l played golf for ten days and
found my friend to be a fine sports
man. Like all Englishmen. he took
beating gracefully, but gave me to un-
derstand that he had been having
good deal of trouble with rheumatism
or neuritis in his right elbow. On the
! last day we played he succeeded in
bringing me in two down. and I've
never seen neuritis dispersed so quick
ly as it was in his case. remember
distinctly that he complained bitterly
of the pain in his elbow when he start
ed out and that he was as fit as a tid
die at the eighteenth hole. He even
went so far as TO implore me to stay
over till the next sailing of the Maure-
tania.
But | took to the high seas. Mr..
Poopendyke cabled to the Homestead
at Hot Springs for suitable accommo-
dations. | cannot remxnber when
had been so forehanded as all that. and
] wonder what my secretary thought of
me. My habit is to proerastinate.
| almost forgot to mention trifing
bit of news that came to me the day
before sailing. Elsie Hazard wrote in
great perturbation and at almost I'M
feeling length to tell me that Count
Tarnowsy mad unearthed the supposed
ly mythical Rothhoefen treasure chests
and was reputed to have found gold
anG precious jewels worth at least
million dollars. The accumulated prod
ucts of century's thievery. The hoard
of all the robber barons. Tarnowsy's!
Strange to say, | did not writhe nor
snarl with disappointment and rage.
took the news with sang froid that
almost killed poor Poopendyke. He
never quite got over it.
Nor was ] especially disturbed or ir-
ritated by the telegram of coincidence
l received OH board ship from Tar
nowsy himself. He could not resist the
temptation to gloat. l shall not repeat
the message. for the simple reason that
/ do not wish to dignity it by putting
it irto permanent FORM
We were two days out when I sue.
ceeded in setting my mind at rest in
respect to Aline. Countess Tarnowsy.
l had not thought of it before. but I
remembered all of Il sudden that held
decided scruples against marrying
divorced woman. OF course that sim.
plified matters. When one has precon.
ceived notions about such matters
they afford excellent material to fall
back upon. even though he may have
disregarded them after fashion while
unselfishly thinking of some one else.
AS | say. the recollection of this well
defined though somewhat remorseless
principle of mine had the effect of nut
ting my mind at rest in regard to the
countess. Feeling as strongly as l did
about marriage with Divorces, she be.
came an absolutely undesirable person
so far as matrimony was concerned I
experienced rather doubtful feeling
of relief. 1t was not so hard to say to
myself that Lord Amberdale was wei.
come to her. but it was very, very diff
ficult to refrain from adding the un-
amiable words damn him.
This rigid, puritanical principle Of
mine, however, did not declare against
the unrighteousness of falling In love
with divorcee.
If l have by any chance announced
earlier In this narrative that the val
ley of the Donau Is the garden spot of
the world | must now ask you to ex-
cuse the ebullience of spirit that
prompted the declaration. The Warm
Springs valley Of Virginia is infinitely
more attractive to me.
l arrived there early one bright No.
vember morning three days after land