Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-17
BY BERTA RUCK

between the rnOQOUeHurOn DuSheS
of the ascending drive. 1t struck ,
Archie as a beast OF q drive. Il
was steep. 1t turned at a nasty
angle, YOU couldn't get a fair run
at 1t anywhere. he wondered how
many cars had stuck on 1t halfway
to the top.
But at the top II ended in a broad
level sweep. bordered on one hand
by an ocean of lawn and on the
other by a giant oak guarding the
long gabled house. white as = chalk
cliff in the gloomy dusk. 81
Archie Laverock, stopping to make
sure which OF many windows might
be the entrance to this place, was
greeted by the small. but unmis.
taxable, sound OF breaking glass.
At the same moment a voice. old
and weak, yet somehow boyish.
cried from far corner OF the
vcranda: There goes the last oue."N
A moment later maid passed,
carrying basket that held a nun.
Der OF empty medicine bottles. See.
ing Archie, she paused: turned.
Mr.. Rice Mathews came forward
out of the shadows.
He was the frailest- looking old
gentleman imaginable-so small and
slender that he seemed bent over BY
the mere weight of seals at his
waist. Hair fine rs thistledown
covered his head. and all the bone
OF his face showed through his
delicately wrinkled skin. In that
feeble. but indomitable. voice he
greeted his guest.
"Ah. Mr.. Laverock. isn't Il: How
do you do. how do you do? ! am
very glad to see you. l think my
granddaughter slim shape ap.
peared behind his shoulder--"ex.
planned to you why we must have
seemed so very rude? . = But You
had a good run down from London?
And did you find your way
without difficulty to his house? 49,
VIII you sit-Ah, dinner Is in? win
you come here?"
set on the wide fiagstones between
the French windows of the house
and the outer. deepening gloom OF
the grounds. The light of the rosily
shaded oil lamps fell upon Elimpses
of turf silvered with wet, upon those
cleaning strings of rain that hung
between the gaZer and the landscape
Ikea bead curtain, and upon the
gredt arms OF the oak-sleeved with
moss, fringed with polypodium fern
that QuiVered under the still falling
downpour. Always the word wales"
would bring back to the Rover the
smell of the wet moss. the sound of
rain on foliage. the sight of ferns
climbing high up on trees. 49,
mo rain drives me indoors any
more" boosted Archic's host. pres
emily. For the last thirty years I
have been kept in cottonwood Mr..
Laverock--in cotton wool. No fresh
air If they could help 1t. No fresh,
cool wet. Hey? Il hardly know why
l tell you all this ut onCeO -
Archie Laverock. from his side Of
the table, uttered small sounds that
conveyed sympathy, respect. interest
He was good at" this sort OF thing,
as his firm had known when they
sent him down with orders 10 keep
the old gentleman pleased with him
(and the firm). Besides. he was
geninely interested in this extra
ordinary little old man who smashed
medicine bottles and yet looked as
II a pun of night-breeze would
carry him away: who preferred TO
eat his excellent saddle Of Welsh
mutton and his wonderful peas to
leaves, splashing I'm pools OH the
gravel just behind his chair.
The mutton. by the way. was
exquisitely carved at table. by the
granddaughter. 49,
mo. Laverock: even you have not
been ministered unto by the charm
Ing Sex as l have for the last thirty
years." pursued the old man. For
just thirty years I have not been al
lowed to do anything. Not a thing.
Kept as an invalid. Say a mummy,
OF course the excuse was" lie
put his hand-the skeletonized claw
of q sea -bird!--to the left of tho
old -fashioned dress waistcoat with
silver buttons. 1.-THE excuse was that
one would-er-snuff out-er--Go
West in ten seconds IL one did
Perhaps you'd prefer n whisky
and a soda? This is some of that
old whisky. hey?" he added TO the
parlor maid. Good. haven't
tasted whiskey for thirty years
either. I'll join you in n peg" lie
blinked eyes, mutlnous rs u chllds.
Milk with barley water was my
poison for thirty years. Wonderful.
the caro- my wife took of me. She
was good woman. So was Mary.
A good, good woman"
Young Laverock remembered that
Mary" was the granddaughter who
married into the motor firm. Then
he almost jumped in his chair.
For. suddenly. Mr.. Rice Mathews
brought BOTH hands down on the
arms of his own chair and raised
his voice. In q tone that qulvered
with high and passionate resent
ment. the tone of indictment against
a Fate undeserved, the old man
cried out:
"All my life / have been surround
ed by these good women!"s
Equally suddenly the voice drop
ped. adding with great gentleness,
Not you. Mauve." He turned TO
the girl, slim and silent. at hissright
hand. Il didn't mean yon. my dear
II know you didn't, grandfather,
the girl accepted his tribute.
Continued Tomorrow