Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-07-30


morals, and when it comes and when
he submits, the gates are closed upon
tanclful, romantic adventures. If he
has been fortunate, he is content. He
sits at the west window, and his pros
pect is the sunset. He no longer asks
the great question of youth: Gould
make that girl like me?"
To me, after that first dinner with |
Mrs. Sidney and her daughter, the |
ecstacy was romantic folly. Isobel |
had captured me, my sense, my ra |
tiOnality my judgment, my mind, fancy |
and emotions. Beauty and youth alone |
are enough to do this for an imagina-
tive young man, and when attractive
aspects of character are back of beauty |
and youth, and when the young man
! looks forward to probability of that |
conquering circumstance, propinquity
he may be excused if his feet lightly
touch the floor. 1 was captured and
knew it after that first dinner-knew
it, and both loved and dreaded it.
was about to make a fool of myself
and be at once a happy and a miser-
able fool
In the exalted state of egoistic emo
tfons which have outlined, I went to
| Mr.. Sidley's room after dinner and sat
with him for two hours. 1 began to
appreciate how charmingly his life was
decorated. A really rare subtlety of
art was used to bring warm color
into this indomitable but feeble mans
winter of life. I did not fully appre-
ciate until later what thought and care
lay behind the unstudied comforts and
sensations Hartley house offered.
Mr.. Sidney was white haired and
very gracious. His manner was a
warm cordiality. 1t was not precise.
1t was robust, but it was be1ignant.
Later saw how his presence pervaded
the place.
We had cheerful talk. What he
said suggested to me that my world
| could not have been more than hun
dred years old at the most, and that
his included the period of inorganic
evolution in which the period of Or
ganic evolution is but a pin prick.
Youth is startled by such conceptions
of life, but l had an interesting even
ing.
Before I said good night, Jed came
in with two bottles of wine. He stood
and looked at me unpleasantly.
arose to go, and Mr.. Sidney said:
ST think we shall like each other.
At least, 1 hope you will be comfort
able, even happy. And don't be dis
tressed about the wine. I don't drink
it any more. Jed drinks it, and en-
joy seeing him do it."
y .
A whippoorwill was reiterant in the
woods at night, and its call came from
dark recesses odorous and mystic
riously yelled. Having said good night
to Mr.. Sidney, had gone to my room
with a book from the library. The
night was fresh, sweet-smelling and
cool. I had read for several hours
when I heard the cut bolt in my door
thrown against the piece of metal
which had been left in the socket.
: There was no transom above the
door, and evidently the threshold kept
light from appearing beneath it. had
been reading, as 1 said, for three hours
, at least, and whoever tried to bolt me
in had good reason to think I was
asleep.
1 knew who the person was. 1t was
Jed. Knowing I was not locked in
l was undisturbed and continued read.
ing.
Shortly afterward I heard a woman's
voice in expostulation far down the
hall. 1t arose abruptly to sharp cry
and I had to lay aside my book alG
expose the fact that my door was moi
l locked, a thing 1 had not wanted te
do until the secret of it's being locked
: could be discovered by revealing thai
it was not.
=. 1 hurried out and down the hall
Jed had woman by the wrist. Boil
of them saw me coming. She released
herself from his relaxing grip by {
quick jerk and ran. He stood until
. came up.
"What is the matter?" asked.
+ "What makes you think anything il
|, the matter?" he asked.
t Don't take me for a fool" I said
''That was Mrs. Sidney who screamed
You were holding her. 1t seems t.
me it needs an explanation"
'Who are you that you need an ex
planation?" said Jed.
"You are drunk again"
81 know I am. If that's satisfactor,
to my employer, why shoHld it bottle
you?"
81 doubt that it is satisfactory t
| your employer that you should be max
ing his wife scream at midnight. Loo
here: you're a servant in this house
What have you to say for yourself? Tr
going to have an explanation of this.
Jed had been surly and angry, bu
now he grinned.
"All right" he said, "but if you wan
to be decent about it, ask Mrs. Sidne
first whether she wants your help an
your asking. That's my advice, youn
fellow. And while we're asking, ho7
did you get out of your room? Your
not supposed to be out. We don't war
people in this house running aroun
the halls at this time of night"
"I opened the door and came ou
Why shouldn't I come out. I heard
scream and came"
He looked at me as if he were doub
Ing himself. think he was uncertai
- whether he had thrown the bolt or no
bn 1t transpired later that 1 was righ
but for the time 1 was worried.
When went back to my room, wf
a restless, as one naturally would be,
Of stranger in so strange house. 1t ws
Id impossible to sleep and difficult
es read. 1 sat by the window and alte
wv nately dozeo and read until day brol
lot and the woodthrush began to sin
ne Then, quieted, went to bed and hs
of two hours sleep.
'ty I thought it wise to speak to MI
ly. Sidney about the incident of the nigf
IN, She had seen me, she knew l had talk'
If, to Jed, she might ar might not kno