The Washington herald., 1921-04-10
An Q. Henry Story
THEDUPLICITY OF HARGRAVES /.


bowl, fruit, and big bunch OF
fresh green mint.
TT Occurred to me-" the major
would begin-he was always cere-
monious-.that perhaps you might
have found your duties at the--at
your place of occupation-sufi-
ciently ardnous to enable you, Mr..
Hargrayes,d to appreciate what the
poet might~well have had lin his
mind when he wrote, tired Natures
sweet restorer,'-one of our South
ern juleps."
1t was a fascination to Hargraves
to watch him make it. He took'rank
among artists when: he began, and
he never varied the process. With
what deIicacy he bruised the mint;
with what exquisite nicety he esti-
mated the Ingredients; with what
solicitous care he capped the com
pound with the scarlet fruit glow.
ing against the dark green fringei
And then the hospitality and grace
with which he offered it. after the
selected oat 'straws had Z been
plunged into it's tinkling depths! 4
After about four months in Wash
ington. Miss Lydia discovered one
morning that they were almost
without money. The Anecdotes
and Reminiscences' was completed,
but publishers had not jumped at
the collected gems of Alabama
sense and wit. The rental of a
small house which they still owned
in Mobile was two months in ar
rGsrs. Their board money for the
month would be due in three days.
Miss Lydia called her father to a
consultation. .!r
No money!" said he with a sur
prised look. 1T is quite annoying to-
be called on so frequently for these
petty sums. Really, l." s..- ]
The major searched his pockets.
He found only a two-dollar bill.
which he returned to his pocket.
Il must attend to this at once,
Lydia" he said. kindly get me
my umbrella and I will go down
town Immediately. The Congress
man from our district. Gen. Fulg-
hum, assured me some days ago
that he would use his influence to
get my book published at an early |
date. 1 will go to his hotel at once
and see what arrangement has been |
made"
With a sad little smile Miss Lydia |
and depart. pausing at the |
door. as he always did. to bow pro-
foundly.
That evening. at dark. he returned. |
1t seemed that Congressman Fulg-
hum had seen the publisher who |
had the majors manuscript for |
reading. That person had said that |
II the anecdotes, etc, were carefully |
pruned down about one half, in or
der to eliminate the sectional and |
class prejudice with which the book |
was dyed from end to end. he might |
consider its publication.
The major was in a white heat Of |
anger. but regained his equanimity, |
according to his code of manners, as
soon as he was in Miss Lydia's
presence.
We must have money" said Miss
Lydia, with a little wrinkle above
her nose. Give me the two dollars,
and l will telegraph to Uncle Ralph |
for some tonight"
The major drew a small envelope
from his upper vest pocket and
tossed it on the table.
Perhaps IT was injudicious." he
said mildly. but the sum was SO
merely nominal that / bought
tickets to the theater tonight. It's
new war drama. Lydia. I thought
you would be pleased to witness its
hrst production in Washington. Y
am told that the South has very
fair treatment in the play. I con-
fess / should like to see the per
fcrmance myself"
Miss Lydia threw up her hands in
silent despair.
Still. as the tickets were boIRh,.
they might as well be used. So tnat
evening. as they sat n the theater
listening to the lively overture ,ven
Miss Lydia was minded to reicgate
their troubles, for the hour. to Sec
ond place. The major, in spotless
linen. with his extraordinary coat
showing only where 1t was closely
outtoned' and his white hair
smoothly reached. looked really fine
and distinguished. The curtain went
up on the first act of "A Magnolia
FloWer' revealing a typical South
ern plantation scene. Mai TaIbot
betrayed some interest
oh. see" exclaimed Miss lydia
nudging his arm. and pointing to
her program.
The major put on his glasses and
read the line in the cast of char
acters that her finger indicated,
Col. Webster Calhoun Hopkins
HarEraves
It's our Mr.. Hargraves." said Mise
Lydia. 1T must be his first ap-
pearance in what he calls the ie-
gitimate.' I'm so glad for him"
Not until the second act did Col. T
Webster Calhoun appear upon the
stage. When he made his entry
Maj. Talbot gave an audible snir.
glared at him and seemed to freeze
solid. Miss Lydia uttered a little,
ambiguous squeak and crumpled her
program In her hand. For Col. CAL
noun was made up as nearly re-
sembling Maj. Talbot as one pea
does another. The long, thin white
hair. curly at the ends, the aristo-
cratic beak of nose, the crumpled.
wide. raveling shirt front, the string
tie. with the bow nearly under one
ear, were almost exactly. duplicated.
And then. to clinch the imitation,
he wore the twin to the majors sup
posed to be unparalleled coat. High
collared. baggy. empire-waisted,
ample-skirted, hanging a foot lower
In front than behind, the garment
could have been designed from no
other pattern. From then on, the
major and Miss Lydia sat bewitcnod
and saw the counterfeit presenCA.
ton of naughty Talbot dragged"
as the major afterwards expressed
1t, through the slanderous nire
Of corrupt stage"
Mr.. Hargraves had used his op-
portunities well. He had caught the
majors little> idiosynSrasies of