The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-11-08
ELIZABETH
CONVERSION
BY STANTON LEEDS
BY STANTON LEEDS
Copyright
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

Hy you. We nave SuGn OlAeAShe ANS"S
of life."
Saying this she had taken as 1t were
the INTERVIEWING silver cords OF tnelt
boy and girl affection. full twenty
years of intimacy, and snapped them
clean and clear. This from Elizabeth!
He hardly credited his hearing.
Sharply as lightning cuts the appah-
ing blackness OF ruin swept night, so
sharply did her clipped, brief words
cleanse the distemper OF his mentai
attitude toward her that 1t needed a
Riient minute for him to sense his IN
nate and changed awakening.
Then he shook back his shoulders
and stood up. He was free.
When William--or Bill, as he was
called without his mothers permission
went to New Haven he became
famous half back.
1t was about the same time that BID
went to Yale as a freshman that Ei1z-
abeth Trevor. whom Bill had known SO
long that he had forgotten when ne
had not known her, came back from
being finished at New York boarding
school and packed up to go to Paris.
Elizabeth had gone away a blue
eyed doll, with soft hair falling down
her back in wealth OF tossing curls'
She returned from school young
lady. She returned from Paris
spoiled.
"Good-by, Billy" she said to him
Mt the station.
She shook hands with him frankly
but stiff-armed, thereby leashing his
tendency to show affection.
When she came horne from her stay
IN France she had acquired ideas about
life. She called Billy by his last name
and practised indifference. He took 1t
calmly at first Yale had taught him
things, and he had another year there.
Dear old Hathaway" said Eliza
beth, when Bill returned late in Au-
gust from a camping trip In Maine
and for the first time saw her after
a three years lapse. Dear old Hath
away"
She placed her hands on his shout
ders and looked down at him
Same old boy" she informed him.
"Eame dear, silly old face.'
SAY" he demanded, "where'd you
cop the accent? English or mon
grel?"
.Tm really no longer American in
sympathy" she impaired. why
should cling to the twang. dear boy7"
Why, indeed? Bill couldn't say.
Gosh" he gasped, recovering his
breath. "Goin' on the stage. or is 1t
for home consumption"
Elizabeth looked panied.
'Have you pulled this on your dad?"
he questioned.
Dear old governor" she told him
with a sigh. HE doesn't understand"
'-No wonder" after reflection Will
lam added feelingly. when you ask
him for more money, do you do it in
American, so he'll get you sure?"
Bill-it seems so unsociable to call
him anything but Bill, despite his
mothers prohibition-+Bin went back
TO New Haven in September for the
football practise.
His mother was q lady much given
10 having her own way. She tended as
well to campaigning militantly for the
ballot. His father was q gentleman OF
decision. He also liked calling his SOD
just plain Bill.
Mrs. Hathaway had named her son
for a favorite brother, william Geof-
frey, who, by devoting his attention
strictly to his own affairs. added to
himself holdings that rendered nam
ing a son for him DESTROYS for other
than sentimental reasons. And aided,
though he knew not. by his sisters
thoughtful but unneeded efforts, he re-
manned bachelor.
So when her brother Unexpectedly
sxpired one August day from the heat
and hamilton, his sister mourned duly
and dyed black even her newest frocks
With her husband and son she left for
q neighboring town for the funeral.
After the ceremony the will was
read, and Mrs. Hathaway, with unbe-
lieving ears, learned that her brothers
moderate Accommodations had been de-
vised Internationally to woman of
whom she had not the most remote
remembrance. Upon investigation she
piously thanked Heaven she had not
and forthwith left entirely from her
supplications all petitions for the
peace of her brothers soul.
He should worry her husband
said. and was reproved promptly for
ungodIiness.
Mr.. Hathaway had been rendered
caustic by his wife's disinclination to
be reminded of her brother by his ten.
dency to call his son Bill. He grew
more so when all effort to annul the
document proved futile. and he was
further stigmatized.
So, despite the christening they
were poor. To Elizabeth, who enjoyed
y soul satisfying reputation with her
self for aristocracy, this grew to have
Significance. Aristocrats must live up
TO the manner born.