The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-02-16

Maria Esmond, Lord Castlewoods
sister, and a woman more than twice
Harry's age.
The boy himself realizes his mistake
but he Is an Esmond and Virginian.
and for such there Is no drawing back
Madam Bernstein is not so scrup-
ulous, however.
Harry is young and, as his black
servant shamelessly asserts, royalty
rich.
He can do better for himself and
the family than throw himself away
on a scheming woman who Is penni-
less, and who has none too good q
reputation. Indeed there is scarcely
one Castlewood whose past would
bear inspection. Even the escutcheon
OF the baroness herself is dingy and
furnished. She is nevertheless kind
hearted and sincerely fond of Harry
and therefore with coach and postil.
lions, and outriders, and trunks, and
servants she bears him and his Lady
Maria away with her to Tunbridge
Wells.
On the journey Harry Is thrown
from his horse and his shoulder be-
ing injured he is carried into the near
est house which proves to be the home
Of Colonel Lambert whose wife was an
old school friend of Harry's mother. OF
course the Lamberts cannot do enough
| for the boy. Theo and Hetty, the
charming daughters of the family, are
never tired waiting on him; and when
he rides away to join his aunt four
days later he has formed a strong
friendship with the Lambert family.
Already the memory of the fair Maria
is bit dimmed.
All, when he reaches Tunbridge
Wells what q little world of fashion
and corruption 1t is! Our Virginian
has never seen anything of the like
before. Nor does he see 1t now with
discerning eye. The little painted
dancer whom the earl of March has in
his company must surely be as beau
tiful as she looks; and the men Of
rank with their gaming and drinking
are gentlemen all, in simple Harry's
estimation.
The fame Of the Virginian has pre-
coded him.
The tales told of his wealth have
rolled up until he has become n veri-
table prince with gold uncounted,
numberless acres of land, slaves, to-
bacco fields-diamond mines If you
will. AS Aunt Bernstein has spread
some of these tidings she begs her
nephew not to disgrace her by con-
tradlcting them, and therefore what
can he do? There is no choice but to
live the rich Virginian; spend money
freely, gamble as does all the world of
fashion; and these things Harry Es-
mond Warrington proceeds to do.
1t Is not a difficult role to play.
All Tunbridge is at his feet.
jewelers., diapers, dancing masters
wait on him.
He CANDLES and wins-continues to
gamble and win.
He becomes known as the Forum
ate Youth"
Everything he touches turns to
money.
But the lad does not become
prohigate; there is too fine stuff in
him. He is foolish, maybe; but he is
ever an Esmond and Virginian. Men
like him because he is honest; women
because he is chlvalrous.
Again and again Aunt Bernstein
tries to break off his engagement to
Maria. She even appeals to that lady
herself. But Maria will not give up
her treasure. A rich and handsome
young husband is no easy prize to
win. She has Harry's word and she
will hold him to it,
The baroness is in despair. She will
send Maria home and Harry to Lon
don on some trumped up errand or
other.
The boy has never seen London and
what a realm of enchantment it is
The fireworks at Vauxhall; the the
alter where Garrick plays to royalty;
Doctor Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds,
and the wits of the day whom one
meets at Whites or the Cocoa-Tree
NHuI 10 l. uIDIluSe WellS dllcI Seeing
London! Harry takes lodgings
luxurious lodgings, for must he not
maintain the dignity of his family?
And he goes to Whites in his chair
where the gay macaronis are only too
ready to welcome him and gamble the
gold from out his pocket. To London
too, come the Lamberts and with them
General Wolfe whom Harry has al
ready met at Tunbridge. Everybody
comes to London, and an alluring
career our Virginian leads there.
Then suddenly his luck changes.
One evening he loses at Whites; he
loses a second evening, and a third.
He plays with my Lord Castlewood
(my lords honor at cards might be
challenged) and all his horde of
wealth is swept away. Creditors APP
pear. Tradesmen who were servile
but a day or two before now become