The herald., 1920-12-23
CHAPTER ~.
The PendIehaYens.

had more prestige than PendlehaveAs
John and Paul Pendlehaven had
chosen medicine and surgery as their
vocation when they were in college
John was a bachelor. and Paul a wild.
over. At the time this story opens the
latter was an invalid. his infrmity
brought about by the death OF his
young wife. who had died at the birth
Of their daughter. and the disappear
ance OF the little girl when she was
but a year old. Pendlehaven place
comprised q whole city block, on which
stood a house, almost a mansion. In
the family were John. Paul. and Mrs.
Curtis and her two children. Katherine
and Reginald. Mrs. Curtis was a Sec
ond cousin 10 the Pendlehaven broth
ers and had made her home with them
since her children had been left father
less. Mrs. Curtis had buried two hus-
bands, Silas Curtis, the father OF
Katherine, and Edmund Brown, the
father OF Reginald.
For over a year now Paul Pendle-
haven had not left his apartments In
the southern wing OF the house. Many
times he had told his brother, John.
that he only waited with what pa
tlence he could for the call , to 90
away, 20 follow after his girl-wife, and
perhaps, well, perhaps his child might
now be with her mother.
On the day that Criah Devon re-
turned from his weeks bout, Doctor
Pendlehaven was seated opposite his
cousin. Mrs. Curtis, at dinner.
Sarah" he began gravely. II wish
you'd consent 10 my taking Reginald
In hand for q time He will be ahSo
lurely ruined If something lsu'S den.
w''h liT "
The coquettish smile which Mrs
Curtis always used in the presence Of
the eminent doctor left her face. and
her lips drew down at the corners.
whats he done now?" she cried.
"He isn't going TO college at ALL"
said the doctor. He won't pass any
Of his examinations II he doesn't go to
class and get his hours IL. :"
He paused a moment and then went
on, Another thing l dislike TO speak
of. but must Reginald has no idea
Of mine and thine. I'm very much
afraid he takes what doesn't belong
10 him."
Mrs. Curtis uttered a squeal.
Goodness gracious, you accuse him
Of stealing" she screamed.
I'm afraid he does. Sarah" he an
swered gently. Constantly I'm miss
ing money and things. II will hurt
you to know that some one almost
stripped my wardrobe Of clothes, and
now ! find there isn't much left for
poor Paul. Paul Is very much dis
tressed! l suppose II Reginald did
take them, he thought they were Of no
value"
-Were they?" querted Mrs. Curtis,
leaning over the table, still very
angry.
whether they were or not, Sarah"
replied Doctor Pendlehaven. ignoring
his young cousins appeal. they didn't
belong to him. And they were val
liable 10 Paul In that they held some
thing he priced highly. II hasn't been
my habit TO interfere between you and
your children. Sarah. but / do wish
you'd ask the boy II he did take Paul's
clothes. II he's sold them. I'll pay
whatever the amount is
"How perfectly disgusting" snapped
Mrs. Curtis. "If the child did sell
them. thinking they were no good,
you'd certainly not want them back
from q secondhand shop"
Doctor Pendlehaven rose from the
table.
ASK him about the suits, Sarah"
he said, walking toward the door.
Perhaps If you fell him Paul Will
give him a hundred dollars for them
and the contents Of their pockets, he'll
look them up"
Mrs. Curtis rose with dignity. her
damp handkerchief clenched In her
hand
"Tll not insult my only son." she
said distinctly.
With a gesture OF despair. Doctor
Pendlehaven went out Of the room.
For a moment after he'd gone. and
the sound OF his footsteps bad been
lost in the corridor, the mother stared
at her daughter.
The fact IS" she burst out. "it's as
Cousin John says. ! haven't much IN
fuence over Reggie, but don't BE-
lieve he's as bad as people say. In q
little town like this a person can't
take step sideways without old yags
on II. hate Ithaca for
Just that reason"
IF Reggie'd behave himself" re
piled the lady's daughter In bored
tone, 'he wouldn't have to be chat
oh odrfro mamma