Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-01-29
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. o 0
In THE ROUGH
BY JACK LAWTON.
6 8 5000 ooo . ooooo % 90 .
Copyright. 1918. western Newspaper UniOn1

select Lakeside boarding place. Its
mistress, daughter of the man who
had in fortunate circumstances built
the imposing residence for his summer
home, was to be relied upon as bring
ing together only congenial people.
Many fashionable as well as staidly
respectable city folk felt free to send
their daughters unattended to Mrs.
Van Rensaler's for the summer.
Very exacting were Mrs. Van Rensa-
ler's summer people in their unspOken
rules of social convention; and one
evening when the women in their eX-
quisite organdies, and the men in the
proper attire of the hour, were gath
cred upon the veranda, the stranger
who scorned both rule and convention
arrived.
In the full light of the setting sun,
his coarseneSS Of face and feature
were plainly visible. "Repulsive crea-
ture," was what Dolly Flanders called
him. and she was not far from right.
Without waiting to change his
stained tweed suit, the stranger seated
himself in apparent brazen confidence
opposite Dolly Flanders and her moth
er. That acknowledged social leader
observing in diSgusted silence the
mans detached absorption to his meal.
arose and went forth presently to inter-
view Mrs. Van Rensaler at the office.
With her usual dignity and with
more than her usual reserve. the mis-
tress of Stone House, refused to dis
cuss her new guest. Moreover, indig-
nant protest had no effect.
ssMr. Carson would be there FOR the
rest of the season." she announced,
she had come with her full permis-
sion"
When later, the stranger settled
himself in an isolated corner of the
veranda to smoke his pipe, general in
Ggnation grew.
It had to be admitted that the man
knew his place. Though he continued
to pass coolly among them clad in
stained loose-collare6 woolens, nei-
ther by word or look did he seek COM
panionship or favor.
Once when Dolly Flanders saddle
horse reared and became unmanage-
able at the mount, the SCARED stran-
ger went quietly to her assistance, but
at her grudging "Thank you," he failed
to raise his hat.
might be burglar, judging by ap-
pearances," she said to her escort.
Each morning the stranger left the
hotel to go to work; returning at noon
from the direction Of the factories
across the bridge, dirtier, more stained
than ever.
Mrs. Flanders was disguSted anew
at the condition of the mans hands.
AIRS. Van Rensaler had been unaccom-
modating in not placing separate
table. Then one evening when the
favored few were indulging in corn
roast on the beach, Mrs. Van Rensaler
added to the chagrin by new all
nouncement.
'MrS. Carson is coming to join her
husband tomorrow" she said, and smil-
ing Serenely passed out from the pres
ence of her guests before they could
voice their outraged feelings.
'WaS not the man impossible
enough" they complained. "without
forcing among them the sort of crea-
ture his wife was sSre to be? What
had happened to Mrs Van Rensaler?"
And in the sunshine of the morn
ing came the beautiful young woman
Of charming personality.
ssWho is she?" She women whispered
wonderingly.
Again Mrs. Van Rensaler smiled.
'eThat," she replied, "is Mr.. Carson's
wife,
''It could not he possible" the guests
said among themselves. but down the
path at noon the beautiful one went
to meet the red faced man, coming
back with him. smiling happily into his
lined face. At table she sat- dressed
irreproachably and in most becoming
fashion; before the meal was ended,
Mrs. Flanders found herself cOnvers-
ing not only with the newcomer but
with her heretofore silent husband as
well.
"The woman is-charming," she con-
6ded later.
And it was only when she had won
her way into all hearts, that the OBJ
jectionable strangers wife sat one
evening among a bevy of girls. Her
lovely eyes gazed tenderly down the
way her husband was wont to come.
They had been speaking jestingly and
seriously Of love and its ways.
Little Mrs. Carson smiled. 'Love is
strange" she said. "When l first
saw my husband, he lay i'll in a hos
pital bed, his face hideously burned
by some chemical. I had left my own
home with an exalted purpose to be
q nurse and thus aid suffering human
ity Pleasing suitOrs had come and
gone in my fathers home; there in
st,tn o.