Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-02
CHAPTER XNI1I
StOwell in London

CHAPTER XNIlI
Stowell In London
Victor Stowell had been more than a
week in London. Fortune had favored
him from the first. The Home Secre-
tary "a tall. spare. elderly man. with n
clean. shaven face of rather severe ex-
preston, rose when Stowcll entered his
room as If n spirit had appeared before
him. MY youth again. the young
man thought. but it was different
matter this time.
Has anybody ever told you that you
resemble your father. Mr.. Stowell?"
It turned out that the old Deemster
before he became a statesman had been
in chambers together in the Middle
Temple while reading for the bar. and
that the politicians had never lost re-
spect for the man who. in spite of bril-
liant promise of success in England
Che might have become an English
High Court judge with six times his
Manx salary. had returned to the OBJ
security Of his little island and the serv-
ice of his own people.
You have high traditions to live up
to. young man. Sit down.
Then came the subject of the inter.
view. The authorities had satisfied
themselves that on the score of legal
capacity the Governor recommended
tion was not unjustificd The only seri-
ons difficulty was Stowell's youth The
principles on which the Crown selected
elderly and even old (sOmctimes very
old men for the positions of judges
were simple and sound. First. seniori-
ty of service, and next. maturity of
character. so as TO avoid the dangers
that come from the temptations. the
trials. even the turbulent emotion of
early life. which might easily conflict
with the calm of the judicial Office.
Still. these principles could be too rig
idly ollOwcd-particularly in remote
colonies and small dependencies. where
the range of suitable selection was lin.
tied.
After this came personal cate
chsm. the old man looking Mt the young
one over the rims Of his tortoise shell
spectacles. Married? Not yet? Expect
to be? Yes. sir. Soon? Not. not for
a long time. How long? Six weeks at
least. sir.
The ends of the severe mouth rose
pcrceptibly. and in any other face they
might have broken into a smile.
Daughter of the Governor, isn't she?
Yes. but that isn't her chief character
stic. sir. What is? That she is he
!oveliest and noblest woman in the
world.
"Oh."
Again the severe mouth relaxed. and
the Home Secretary asked Stowell
where he was staying. StoweN told
him lthe Inns of Court Hotel, Hol-
born) and he made note Of 1t.
"Remain there until you hear from
me again. Mr.. Stowell. and meantime
say nothing about this interview to any
body"
"Not anybody whatever. sir:"
The Home Secretary's stern old face
became genial and charming as he rose
and held out his hand.
well. that supreme being. perhaps
Good day"
80 here am. my dear. Fenella."
wrote Stowcll. back in the bedroom of
my hotel. telling you all about It. How
long ] may have to remain in London
goodness knows. therefore | propose to
tell YOU something about my ways of
life while ! wait.
such change in me. When | was
in London last with Alick Cell. you
remcmber) | spent my days and nights
in the hotels. restaurants. theatres and
music halls that are the lovely and be-
loved world of woman. 1t is the world
of woman still, but quite another realm
of il.
1.-TWO nights ago strolled westward
along Oxford street. and thought with
lump in my throat about DE Quincy
and his Ann. Then. cutting through
1ar NJ o,I- 30, L., 4. 4 a.
the gate closed. tipped the porter to
and stood n long half hour before n
house in the silent little square. think.
ing of the day when the women of the
town sat on the stairs while poor Noll
(Oliver Goldsmith lay dead in his
rooms above. And then. coming out
into Fleet street lnidnight now. where
the big printing presses were throbbing
behind dark buildings, tried to think
] saw the great old johnson. God bless
him. picking up the prostitute from the
pavement. carrying her home on his
back and laying her on his bed.
Last night | strolled eastward TO
look at the outside of the Settlement
in which you used to be Lady Warden
lin the unbelievable days before you
came back to Mani, and returning by
n dark side street. came upon II queue
OF women crouching in the cold before
the doors OF Salvation Shelter. The,
were waiting for four in the morning
when they would have fighting chance
| Of one Of the beds q. e.. boxes like omen
coffins lying cheek by iowl on the floor
Of big halD after the washerw omen
who were then asleep in them would
get up and go to work.
But the climax came this mornin,
lSunday morning. when ! went to serv
ice at the Founding Hospital. Such q
sweet sccne--at first sight at all events
! The little women. like little nuns. il
their linen caps and aprons. singin:
IKE little angels in their sweet yOun,
voices. But my God, what tragcdy
lurked behind that picture also.
II did not hear much of the sermon
for thinking Of the mothers of thes
children Of shame and the condition
under which they must have given brit
to sometimes in a garret /,
secret, alone, driven to dementia by ,
sense of impending shame. How Otter
a poor miserable girl in the degradation
OF childbirth (which should be the crow
OF woman's glory must have beel
tempted to kill her child in fear of til,
tate thnt awaited bath IL and her. An,
10 think OF the giant arm of the might
law coming down on creature like tim
TO punish her. Lord. what crimes mr.,
committed In tho name of justjcel
s"HhepN vOtt arA ,oo,e rrh.xs-