The Washington herald., 1921-03-20
COOKING OF GEORGE-HIRAM'S GOOSE
Mr.. SeUefance En-
counters the Sings and
Aroups of a Peculiarly
Outrageous Fortune

NJ
briskly up the shady street leading
4 from the station. Yale and happiness
written all over his handsome face. His
cousin. Adam Lawrence. kept In step with
some difieulty. Adams face wore well
coming smile he listened to the cheerful
chatter of George-Hiram, but inside he
was saying morosely: Some Of US will
cook your goose for you yet. young fellow.
II old 9. Hiram Severance. the>unele of
George-Hiram and Adam. had not been
patriarch. no one would have tried to cook
young George -Hiram's goose. old Sever g.
ance was not a patriarch of the usual sort
The conventional patriarch has halo OF
silvery hair and flowing. dignifed beard,
serene eyes. benign forehead. and hospi-
table knees around which the little chill
dren love to cluster. while in the. back i.
elders. Of whom the patriarch Is the re-
vered and adored head.
Old Severance varied from type. II any
little children got within cane reach of his
knees, Il was because they were congenital
idiots or else strangers to the town Of
Weston. The nearest approach Weston
youngsters made to him was to dent his
front door with stones. flung from a safe
distance. or. when he had the gout. stand
in front Of his library windows and make
derisive gestures at his bald old head Ono
silvery halo here). ready to ny when the
stern. keen eyes glanced upon them.
Severance had begun patriarching at the
age of "a. when his father and stepmother
had died. leaving four little half sisters to
be brought up on the ample fortune the
young man had inherited from his own
mother. At the same time his fancee. a
certain red-haired Helen Ross, had Tilted
him. So G. Hiram brought the little girls
nd rlo them
not to marry. The natural result was that
all four eloped ill-advisedly. In few
years death and misfortune had thrown
them back on Severance's hands with a
brood of some dozen children
George-Hiram being a posthumous baby.
old Severance had had him christened, at
the age of two days. after himself (using
a cracked crockery basin, which was the
first vessel he found though, as the baby's
mother moaned afterward, he might just
as well have taken the punch bowD. He
did not adopt the boy legally, but he
showed him sufficient favor to make all
the other children and their mothers mis-
erabIy jealous. Old Severance was mali
cious enough to enjoy the havoc he
wrought.
Young George-Hirsm was unaware of 1t.
He was a generous humble minded, thor
oughIy IovabIe child. and as he grew up he
kept his beautiful spirit. He knew he was
his uncle's favorite, but he assumed that
old man Severance would ultimately divide
his fortune fairly. Meanwhile he wanted
his cousins to like him. The one he could
never win was black-browned Adam, who
was nevertheless careful to show him all
fraternal attentions
Geo-ge-Hiram's spring overcoat tapped
in the wind as he strode along, his big,
zestful blue eyes rowing everywhere. his
brown curls trying to stand out from un-
der his hat Suddenly his eyes came to
rest on a figure a full block ahead of him.
Adam should have felt at ease. for George
Hiram had come upon the instrument for
cooking his goose.
"Hel-Ioy" said George Hiram. Look at
the way that girl waAs, Look at her hg-
ure! She must be. new to the town since
went away. Say, Adam. 1 believe that is
a perfectly good peach! Come on; let's
get closer"
For a step or two Adam Jagged. Then he
quickened his pace.
Look at her carriage. will your pur-
sued George Hiram. Wonder IL she's dark
or fair. Can't see her hair for that veil.
o, Adam. pipe her profile, She can have
me! Do you know who she is?'
"She is a Miss Bray" Adam replied ''she
is a music teacher. and, believe. hopes to
get some pupils here She has been in
town only a day or two. Yes. I've met
her"
Introduce me, quick" implored George
Hiram.
They overlook the girl. Adam lifted his
hat rather awkwardly. -. -.
Good morning. Miss Bray" he said
This is-may I present my cousin, Mr..
Severance?"
The girls color had come in a rush. She
gave her hand to George Hiram. George
Hiram dug at Adams ankle with his heel
why didn't you tell me she had red
hair7" the kick meant.
For old Severance had brought up his
nieces and nephews with the strict under
standing that he was never TO see red hair
or to hear the name Helen" they were to
regulate their circle Of friends accordingly.
George-Hira had never been disturbed by
the restriction. for he did not happen to be
particularly attracted by the Helens and
the red-haired girls of Weston. 49,
How do you do?" said the red-haired
girl mechanically. Then she added abrupt
ly to Adam: I'll should like to speak to
you for a moment.
George-Hirsm passed on. his mouth
whimsically twisted. Not thus was he
usually treated by ladies to whom he had
asked to be introduced.
The red-haired girl looked at Adam and
then turned aside her head =.
you. after ALL" she said.
You might have. you know" Adam re-
piled in tone that was bitter and gentle.
too-bitter for himself, and gentle for her.
you might say that I've acted like pref
ty poor sort of fellow. when you were
sick in my town of Royal this spring in
my boarding house. you might say, was
kind to you. and we became friends. And
when told you that had already made
plans to come to Weston to teach mu-