The Coolidge examiner., 1931-11-06
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The Argument and
the Girl
By H. IRVING KING

in as nearly lounging position
as the Chippendale (reproductiOn)
chair which ne occupied allowed
of. Mr.. MOrtlake Callweather looked
/ like ready money" So did all about
/ him.
Before Mr. CallweGther stood his
son, fine. outstanding young man
of twenty-eight. connected, in a
rather nebulOuS way. by virtue of
/ his fathers social position, with
& bOnd-brokerage house "in the
| Street" There was strong con-
trast between father and son, the
one was thoroughly artificial and
! the other was thoroughly genuine.
My dear Arthur" said Mr.. Call
weather in a carefully mOdulated
voice, pray sit down. Your stand
/ ing attitude exaggerates your rather
| crude and too robust appearance.
/ The young man took a seat and
/ looked fiXedly at his father with
| apprehensive curiosity is to what
| this interview might portend. Arthur
! Callweather lived in bachelor apart
ments by his fathers express wish.
AS a member Of the paternal house
| hold his presence would disturb the
| calm, quiet elegance of the fixed
routine in which Mr.. MOrtlake
Callweather chose to pass his life.
Whenever, as in the present in
stance, Arthur received a summons
to the presence for an interview not
on the schedule, it meant something
and something unpleasant. Il have
sent for you" said Mr.. Callweather,
Ito confer concerning your mar
riage."
"Yes?" said Arthur eagerly. II am
glad of the opportunity"
Pray do not interrupt" went on
\ the father. 1T is such bad form to
interrupt. Although we meet only
at stated intervals | have cOnsd-
cred it my duty as a parent TO keep
myself informed with regard to your
doings. /. therefore. know all that
you would tell me-"
"As you please. sir" replied Ar
/ thur. but there is the possibility
that you may have been misin-
I formed. In that case think il only
fair that should be given an oppor-
tunity to be heard in my own be-
half"
You will not deny" said Mr. Call.
we& ther, toying with his eyeglasses,
that you have the intention of mar
rying Constance Gladding?"
NO" said Arthur with a rebel
lious look and a frmer setting OF
his jaw.
~AhI | thought not" purred Mr.
CalIwe& ther. well. my dear fellow,
it won't do at all. 1t is. of course.
time you were married-high time
And | fully appreciate the romantic
dreams and impulses which are so
apt TO disturb the judgment Of
youth.
Il charge myself with grave
dereliction that | have not kept a
closer supervision upon your devel
Opment. But regrets are vain. Be
sides, they age one. | will run over
briefly the present situation. When
your mother died, you being at that
time an infant. less than year old.
] came into the enjoyment of an
annuity which had been settled
upon us jointly by your mothers
great aunt for the term of our nat
ural lives. In fact, it was the settle
ment of this annuity, prudently ar
ranged between my father and your
mothers great-aunt. which brought
about our marriage. That annuity
ceases with my death. shall have
nothing to leave you. You have not
succeeded in amassing a fortune of
your own. There remains for you
a prudent marriage. have no doubt
Miss Gladding is charming-but she
has no money to speak of. Miss
Sally Bradish is also charming and
will be, in tine, immensely rich.
am in negotiation with her father
and think a marriage with her can
be arranged for you"
in matter Of this kind, sir"
said Arthur firmly. Il am forced to
disagree with you. And | strongly
object to having my marriage made
a matter of financial negotiation"
We'll" said Arthur to Constance
that night, II had an interview by
appointment with father today.
gathered from his few remarks that
he does not approve of our mar
riage."
But what exactly did he say?"
asked Constance.
"Oh, nothing of much Importance, p"
evaded the young man. But Con-
stance was of a persistent nature.
When she wanted to find out any
thing she generally found it out ;
and before Arthur realized what he
was doing he had given her pretty
accurate account of his fathers dis
course.
well" said Constance at length,
you are getting fair salary; ia
ther is not exactly poor-he would