Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-03-24
CHAPTER ~.
The Pendlehavens.

In all or IOmpklnS county no IaInily
had more prestige than Pendlehavens'
John and Paul Pendlehaven had
chosen medicine and surgery as their
vocation when they were in college.
John was 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 a 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 sec
ond cousin to the Pendlehaven broth
ers and had made her home with them
since her children bad 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 Idd HOl ICLl llic optAA tAAANi'S 80
the southern wing of the house Many
times he had told his brother, John,
that he only waited with what pa
thence he could for the call to go
away, to follow after his girl-wife, and
perhaps, we'll, perhaps his child might
now be with her mother.
On the day that Uriah Devon re-
turned from his weeks bout, Doctor
Pendlehaven was seated opposite his
cousin. Mrs. Curtis at dinner.
Sarah" he began gravely, " wish
you'd consent to my taking Reginald
in hand for a time. He will be abso-
lutely ruined if something isn't done
with ltim."
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.
"What's he done now?" she cried.
"He isn't going to college at all"
said the doctor 'He won't pass any
of his examinations if he doesn't go to
class and get his hours in. :.
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 mTrch
afraid he takes what doesn't belong
to him."
Mrs. Curtis uttered 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. 1t will hurt
you to know that some one allndGt
stripped my wardrobe Of clothes, ard
now I find there isn't much left for
poor Paul. Paul is very much DIS.
tressed! I suppose If Reginald do
take them, he thought they were o. flo
value !"
"Were they?" queried 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 to Paul in that they held some
thing he priced highly. 1t hasn't been
my habit to interfere between you and
your children, Sarah, but 1 do wish
you'd ask the boy If he did take Pauls
clothes. If he's sold them, I'll pay
whatever the amount is"
"How perfectly disgusting" snapped
Mrs. Curtis. eff the child did sell
them, thinking they were no good,
you'd certainly not want them back
from a secondhand shop"
Doctor Pendlehaven rose from the
table.
"Ask him about the suits, Sarah"
he said, walking toward the door.
perhaps if you tell him Paul will
give him a hundred dollars for then
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 n gesture of despair, Doctor
went out of the room.
For moment after he'd gone, and
the sound Of his footsteps hal 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 mach in
fluence over Reggie, but I don't be-
lieve he's as bad as people say. In
little town like this person can't
take a step sideways without old wags
commenting on 1t. l hate Ithaca for
I,,ct that raoScp