Nogales international., 1932-08-27
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY


or divorced He never worked, never
worried so far as the world knew, and
seldom did anything to disturb the
social balance Of the outer world. dav-
ing been born into prepared position,
he agreed with life, and to a large
extent life agreed with him. Gilbert
Van Horn was considered a typical
Van Bibber, creature utterly TN
known to fact, but beloved of fiction
Gilbert was genial. Women were
attracted to him; SO general was this
that the effect became negligible. lie
had good breeding and common sense
and a certain lack of perception. The
combination saved him from becoming
an utter loss. Had he wished he might
have married money but the thought
never occurred to him The daughters
of half dozen or so of the country,s
richest and hardest-working plutocrats
might have accepted him, one at a
time, of course.
These Woodworking men might even
have respected him. Gilbert Van Horn
stripped like heavyweight and had a
wide reputation as an amateur puglllst.
But we must go bit further with
the story of this bachelor, prize fight
fan and general all'round favorite of
: fortune. -.
He was certain of beneficent
providence that looks out for gentle
men. To be a gentleman, as he UNDER
stood it, was the highest ideal of, well,
of gentleman He never got beyond
that; it. was like. many OF the great
fundamental things, it was simply so,
and no gentleman could question it,
and still remain gentleman. His code, |
for in those days it was the fashion to |
have one, included frank understand
ing in advance. Whatever hopes he i
raised were always doomed to disap-
pointment.
Gilbert had no desire to make money,
for the frugal habits of his father had
left the family fortune fairly well
recuperated 1t was not colossal for
tune, but it was ample, at least for a
bachelor. His funds had been placed
in trust and this did much to make
him static. He was liberal, in, a way,
and when the feeling seized him, he
could be downright generous, actually
Gripping himself for months on end
to do good turn for a friend. But
the trustees saw to it that his gener-
osity was confined entirely to his in
come. Nv -
AT thirty-fve Van Horn still be-
1ieved in the benehcence of his partic-
ular fortune He was growing slightly
heavy as his bent for hard exercise
slackened and his hair tinged with
gray. At forty doubt seized him, doubt
that overtakes all men as they ap-
proach those middle years when the
little question begins to be heard
"Wl1at have you done, with your pre-
cious twenties and thirties g.
.r* What: had he done Nothing in fact.
But he did remember a lot of great
times, times he was fond of recalling
when in company with that wit, Judge
!: Marvin Kelly, friend Of his father and
:: big: brother to the orphan Gilbert Van
Horn. Marvin Kelly, a politician, not
unknown in Tammany Hall, power
and philosopher, snoothed over
much rough ground in the mental trail
!. OF Nan Horn: - 4:
Judge" he said one day as they
were ins the library smoking and talk
ing, "a distant connection OF; mine has
died, out in Kentucky, "a Lambert;
Hosea Lambert. He leaves daughter.
Josephine: Pr1sthinl<ing Of having her:
4 on here: She's my nearest relative, so
+ far as I;linow,e he added; locking out
/. of the window .. s..::s.xs
How old2" Judge Kelly was prac-5
teal.
% .%. About twelve"
Him, safe enough for few,
years" : ::= Z !
Josephine arrived in New York, Al
little girl with sash and very long;
!: legs who rolled hoop. It was another;
milestone in the life Of Gilbert Van
. Horn. Aunt Wen, or Mrs. Anthony
Wentworth, a decayed lady of quality,
to describe her IN formula, accom-:
panied josephine and remained in the.
!: Nam Horn home. There was no CUES
ton about her remaining, and Gilbert,
when he came TO consider the matter,
was. glad enough TO- have her there
Certainly many, matters must arise in
the life of a young girl requiring the;
instruction OF: q gentlewomat:: This
: profound thoaght, came 10. him quite
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