Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-12-18
The Capitals
Short Story
COMMON CLAY
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE.
1copyright. lsls. western Newspaper unioa.s


Two married sisters of the Elston
family stood peering from behind a
window curtain at Warren Boyd. He
had just arrived. the guest of their
brother Harley. 1t had been over six
years since they had been playmates.
great changes had transpired since
then, but the worldly wise welded sis
tiers speculatively viewed the young
man whom they believed only one In
fiuence would ever bring to Walden.
and that was Nadia. She had been his
bright star of hope In boyhood days;
he had managed to meet her at least
once or twice during year. "A
sneaking fondness can't get rid of for
divinity" he told Harley sighfully,
who declared sturdily that MAZDA was
true blue and was waiting for him to
grow up, and no one else.
And now he had shown up. not one
particle changed. and as calculating.
shrewd witted Mrs. May Tolson turned
over this young man in her mind as a
possible desirable party for Nadia. her
admiration of any fine points Warren
might nave Iaued away.
ale won't do" she told herself. "He
is just the same big overgrown coun-
try boy. awkward, self conscious. clum-
sy. Why, he lets the little ones play
with him as if he was some great good
natured dog"
From another window Nadia peered
also, but the sweet serenity of her
face was almost angelic as she read
In this great accommodating guest an
innate love for children, and saw him
enter heart and soul into their inno-
cent pleasures. She had not seen
him for year. Yes. he was the same.
Some of the crude lines of face and
form had toned down, but there was
not trace of artifice, not the remot-
est attempt to act other than what he
was. The little ones piled upon him
as good natured big brother. He
amazed and delighted them with the
various marvellous little parcels of
sweetmeats he produced from strange
hidden pockets. and when Mrs. Tolson
and Mrs. Marcy sailed down into the
garden In all their royal array of dig
nifty and purpose in view, he brushed
back his hair as would some embar-
raised school boy and sat uneasily on
the chair between them. feeling some
how that he was In the presence of
unfriendly censors, yet knew not why.
Nadia stole last distant glance at
him. She fancied she liked certain
forced repose and guardedness that
came into his face as he confronted
her officious sisters.
"We learn great news, Mr.. Boyd"
spoke Mrs. Tolson sweetly. "Your
uncle has made permanent provision
for your cousin and yourself. we un-
derstand?"
"The grand old TRIUMPH" cried War
rem. Hes cared for us orphans, he's
educated us and now he's started rs
out in life-a man to love, truly"
"Has he--has he quite settled his
business affairsT delicately Mrs. Mar
cy intimated.
"Oh. quite" answered Warren blunt
". @You see, there's the town proper
ty and the bank. That was the bulk.
He wanted to divide it between Arthur
and I. No sirr I said Arthur is a
cripple, an invalid. He needs a sure
income. Give him the sure end Of the
estate so he'll have no worry Dear,
brave Arthur gentle as girl, patient
amid all his great sufferings."
"Why-why-," overlooked the as
founded and indignant Mrs. Tolson,
'swhat was left for youY'
sThe old brick works down the riv-
er. You see, that was losing invest
ment for Uncle Carr. who never I'M
derstood the business, and neglected
1t. went down there last week and
looked 1t over. / saw all those neat
little cottages gone to neglect and ruin.
saw the workmen half employed, half
paid. half hearted. oh, Unclel' said,
give me these men, these women,
these children. Give me Mud Creek.
sunk in the slovenliness of indiffer-
ence, give me this business to raise
to something worth while, these souls
to place upon the higher ground of a
new existence Thank Godl he did
II, and have found my life work"
Nadia Elston had come down into
the garden. Twenty feet away. she
stood fairly entranced by the sudden
inspiration that had flashed from the
soul of a man who to all had been a
mere lump of common clay. Her soul
took fire in turn. His face was irradi-
ated. he was at once transformed.
'sThe blind. perverted idiot" NUT
tered Mrs. Tolson. under her breath.
"When he could have grabbed ease,
luxury. wealth. ~ echoed Mrs. Marcy.
'oh. indeed: this plodder. this being
who whitfield away his chances would
not do for Nadia at alll
81 heard you-it is spIendidir cried
Nadia, with beaming. overfiowing eyes,
an hour later. Eyes, yes, dear War
rem, say 1t again." she pleaded. and
she chung to his outstretched hands.
'sYou are to go among those poor. for
gotten people, little brother OF the
poor. You are TO have money, abso-
lutte control. a free hand. And you
come to ask me-
eff you could suggest some One
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