The Monticellonian., 1918-12-13

4 13: ;: <. : .:: K: ::.5 ::: ::: 
 R8 turned his unhappy old
 eyes he saw evidences of the happy Christmas season; and he had quite determined to ignore Christ mas after his only child, Eve. had flouted her fathers objections to her marrying a poor young inventor and elopcd with George Lane, the afore- said inventor.
 Although Eve had pleaded for for ] giveness from her stern parent. Hiram l Jenner merely refused to listen to her i; i he turned q deaf ear toZthe pleas of her friends in her behalf returned her letters unopened and in every way possible enacted the role of hard hearted and pig-headed father whose daughter had disappointed him.
 And the worst of 1t all was. said Eyes friends. who clung Loyalty to her, the only objectionable thing about George Lane was that he was an in- ventor-and that was decidedly an ad- vantage for sometimes-in fact, quite inventors made a lot of money, if that vas what was worrying Papa Ienner. And why should it worry him. they argued, when the Jenner fortune was enough to launch three or four inventors on the sea of sue cess3 George Lane was not in Eyes social set, but he was fine fellow Well educated, we'll bred and mighty good looliing-and they loved each other to distraction
 Hiram Jenner was turning these things over in his tired mind for the handredth time in the past year. He nearished Il bitter resentment and jealousy. That his motherless daugh- ter should have chosen q strange young man-in preference to him! That was the sore point-one of them. The other sore point was that he believed young Lane wanted to marry money so that he could finance his idtotic in- ventions. Well, he wouldn't get any of the Jenner fortune
 4 tire on the limousine blew out at this moment and shattered the train of AIr. Jenner's thoughts.
 I'm afraid We can't get home, sir reported the chauffeur moment later Shall l call | taXicab, sir?"
 "No-Tll take car home; it's only T few blocks and one k coming now"
 So Hiram Jenner left his motor and swung onto the platform of north bound Madison avenue car that would leave him within Il block of his home.
 There was just one seat left and that waS in the forward end by the front window of the car. So Mir. Jenner sat down, fumbled for q nickel, and then sat gioomily watching the broad blue clothed back of the motorman on the platform outside.
 There was something familiar about that well-shaped head. covered with a crop of thick, fair hair; and the way the shoulders were squared reminded him very strongly of George Lane the night he had yentured to ask Mir Jen- her for his daughters hand and heart
 "The fellow is on my mind," growled Mir. Jenner to himself, still staring at the fair head beneath the neat cap of the motorman.
 Suddenly the man turned his head and Hiram Jenner felt distinct shock of surprise when he discovered the classic profile of his son-in-law
 "Ohol'
 So they had fallen upon evil times and the man had given up his foolish inventions and had gone to trolleying Times must be hard indeed with them. And Eve, how could she stand priva- ton?
 Hiram Jenner was worried. He felt q vague sickness as the car became crowded with people laden with Christmas packages. No matter which way he turned he was confronted by s-Ghristmas-and presents and happy Smiles-and the laughter of children. He remembered how he and Eve used 10 go Christmas shop ping together and Was Eve going shopping this Christmas? Had she any money? Was she suffering while her father rolled In luxury while her fathers servants perhaps fared better than Eve herself?
 And George Lane-why, the fellow must be made of good stuff after all, for he had gone to work at q menial iob rather than beg from his rich