Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1909 — The Man From Home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Man From Home

A Novelization . of the Play of the Same Name Copyright, 1909, by American Preaa Aaaociation

By BOOTH TARKINGTON and HARRY LEON WILSON

SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER X.—Daniel Voorhees Pike, a rising young Kokomo (Ind.) lawyer, hears that his ward, Ethel GrangerSimpson, is to be married abroad to the son of an English earl. Her father was his nearest friend and he has long loved the girl. He goes abroad to arrange with her the business matters connected with her marriage. ll—Ethel Granger-Simpson and her brother Horace, have become anglomaniacs and are spending much of their late father’s fortune in travel and entertaining. They become intimate with Lady Creech, the Earl of Haweastle, his son, Aimeric St. Aubyn. and Comtesse de Champigny, an adventuress and associate of the earl's. They are at a hotel at Sorrento, Italy. Ethel promises to marry the son because she craves a title. Ill—The Russian Grand Duke Vasili is shortly to arrive at the same hotel incognito as Herr von Grollerhagen. IV—The Earl of Haweastle is in need of money and wants his son to get a huge settlement of money at his marriage to Ethel. An escaped Russian bandit is located at Sorrento. CHAPTER V. THE ENGAGEMENT. ••W’NT OW can one know it Is not Ivanoff?” she asked slowly, S p and tills time the earl laughed aloud. “He wouldn’t be called an infamous brigand,” he said, but the countess waved her hand. “That, my friend, may be only Italian Journalism.” “Pooh!” said Haweastle. “This means a highwayman—not—not an embezzler, Helene.” The countess arose from the table and moved about restlessly with her eyes on the blue expanse. “I should be glad to believe it, my good friend, but I—l care for no more to eat. I have perhaps some foolish feeling of unsafety. It Is now two nights that I dream of him—of Ivanoff —bad dreams for us both, my friend.” The earl looked up In amazement and then burst Into a laugh. “What rot!” he exclaimed. “It takes more than a dream to bring a man back from Siberia.” The countess looked at him with some sharpness. “Then 1 pray there has been no more than dreams,” she murmured quietly. Even as she spoke there came the tinkling sound of the mandolins and guitars, and tnadame turned to the lemon grove in time to see a young girl in a fawn colored riding habit, with a soft felt hat upon her head and a riding crop In her gauntleted hands, enter, followed by three picturesque banditti with the instruments. As she reached the terrace she paused and drew from her glove some silver which she dropped Into the hand of the first villain with a laugh. Then she turned, smiling, as the musicians withdrew and waved her crop at the two who were watching her. The earl arose with a bow, and madame advanced with outstretched baud. “Ah, the divine Miss Granger-Simp-son!” said Newcastle with raillery In his tones, and the girl laughed with a happy, care free face. “The divinely happy Miss GrangerSimpsou,” she said, and at the sound of her voice and the look In her eyes the countess ran to her and kissed her rapturously upon each cheek. “Oh, I hope you mean”— she began, when Haweastle Interrupted her with some excitement. w -- “You mean you have made my son divinely happy?” The girl extricated herself laughingly from the embrace of the countess and turned to the earl. "Is not every one divinely happy at Sorrento,” she cried, waving her crop, “even your son?” and with another laugh ran quickly up the steps and Into the hotel, leaving the other two looking at each other with astonishment

as they looked a piano from the music room that opened upon the terrace broke forth with Chaminade’s “Elevation,” and Ethel’s voice took up the words clearly. The countess turned to her companion. "Bhe flies to her piano, mon cher. Ah, that Is good for our little enterprise, eh? Listen!” Haweastle sat down with a grunt of satisfaction. “It’s time! If Aimeric had been anything but a clumsy oaf he’d hava made her settle it weeks ago.” The woman turned her dark eyea upon him with a flash. "You are telfljous, mon ami My.

affair is not set led. Am I a clumsy oaf too?” The earl lau bed quietly. “No, Helene Your little American Is so in love with you that If 'you tsked him suddenly, ‘Horace, Is this day or night?’ he would answer, ‘lt’s Helene.’ But he’s too shy to speak. You’re a woman: you can’t press matters. But A 1 merle’s a man; he can. He can urge an Immediate marriage, which means an Immediate settlement and a direct one.” Mme. de Champigny picked up a silver fork from the table and examined it carefully. “It will not be small—that settlement? You have decided what sumr Haweastle looked up sharply and nodded with decision. “I have—a hundred and fifty thousand pounds!” From the countess came a gasp of astonishment. “My friend! Will she?” And she turned and stared at the room where the piano was still playing. Haweastle laughed grimly. “Not for Aimeric, but to be the Countess of Haweastle. My ancient sister-in-law hasn’t been her chaperon for a year for nothing. And, by Jove, she hasn’t done it for nothing, either!” And this time he laughed quite heartily as with a grim appreciation of the jest. “But she’s deserved all I shall allow her,” he resumed. “You see, it was

she who found these people. Indeed, we might say that both you and I owe her something, ”Even a less captious respectability than Lady Creech’s might have looked askance at the long ‘friendship’ that has existed between us. Yet she has always countenanced us, my dear, though she must have guessed a great many things. And she will help us to urge an immediate marriage. You know as well as Ido that unless it Is immediate there’ll be the devil to pay. Don’t miss that essential. Something must be done at once. We’re at the breaking point, If you like the words—a most damnable insolvency.” As be finished speaking the Immaculate and vacuous Aimeric himself strolled into the terrace and, putting up his glass as he came forward, said softly: “Hello, governor! Howdy, countess!” With an affectation of boredom he sprawled into a chair and tapped at his boots with his crop. “Out riding a bit ago, you know, with Miss Granger-Simpson. Rippin’ girl, isn’t she?” His father leaned across the table with tension In every line of him. “Go on!” he said anxiously, and Aimeric looked up at him with a silly smile. “Didn’t stop with her, though.” “Why not ?” demanded the earl angrily. * “A sort of man In the village got me to look at a bull terrier pup,” Aimeric went on, with a yawn. "Wonderful little beast for points. Jolly luck, isn’t It? He bas got a bead on him”— Haweastle Interrupted savagely. “We’ll concede his tremendous advantage over you in that respect,” he said and threw the cigar he had just lighted into the coffee cup. “Is that all you have to tell us?” implored the countess, with a dramatic gesture, leaning forward. Aimeric looked up with surprise. “Oh, no!” he said. “She accepted me." The earl dropped Into a chair with a sigh of relief, and the countess clasped her hands ecstatically. “Enflnl Brava I And will she let It be soon?” Again Aimeric stifled a yawn. “I dare say there’ll be no row about that,” he replied. “You see. I’ve made her awfly happy.” “On my soul, I believe you’re right,” said Haweastle, "and thank God you are!” Rising, be walked up and down the terrace and then turned quickly. “Here’s her brother,” he sold softly. “Attention now!"

CHAPTER VL EAST PRET. VSUALLY when a man through Inclination or environment decides that the manners of his people will not serve for him and that the customs of the land of his adoption are more applicable to his purpose he outdoes even the natives in his conformation to the existing modes. Horace Granger-Simpson—the Granger was but a recent innovation due to the belief that Simpson by itself was altogether too hopelessly plebeian to attract even a modicum of attentionhad consorted with the glided youth of several capitals, and his education had progressed to such an extent that the youth of Kokomo would have stoned him instantly apon his arrival at the town depot. He ambled with a rocking gait, drawn from the guardsmen he had so carefully watched, down the steps 01 the hotel on to the terrace, and his attire would hafoa attracted notice from a Hindoo Idol: He wore spotlessly white flannels, 'white shoes pipeclayed to a dazzling degree, a thoroughly British straw hat, chamois gloves and a pale blue scarf held together with a massive pearl. For an instant Mme. la Comtesse looked at him and then, with a little cry of greeting, rushed toward the steps and took both his startled hands. “Ah. my dear Horace GrangerSeempson!” she said excitedly. “Has your sister tcld you?” Horace swallowed once or twice savagely and then made a heroic effort to keep down the radiance that was choking him. made two effectual dabs at his eyes with the handkerchief he took from his sleeve and responded Joyfully, though brokenly: “She has, Indeed. I assure you 1 am quite overcome, my dear friends. Really, I assure you.” With a silvery laugh Mine, de Champigny stepped backward from him, making a little courtesy as she did so. The earl came forward with outstretched hands and grasped one of Horace’s between both his own. “My dear young friend,” he said. “Not at all—not at all.” As the remark seemed a trifle ambiguous, Horace looked at him inquiringly, but, reading reassurance in his face, replied Instantly: “I assure you 1 am. 1 assure you I am. It’s quite overpowering, isn’t it?" With a look of commiseration the countess regarded him and said softly: “Ah, poor M. Horace!” From his sprawled attitude in the chair the honorable Aimeric drawled a protest. “1 say! Don’t take it that way, you know. She’s very happy.” Horace recovered himself instantly and crossed the terrace quickly to grasp the hand of the bridegroom to be. The fact that it was as limp as a mackerel did not worry him an instant. “She’s worthy of it—she’s, worthy of It! I know she is! And when will It be, St. Aubyn?” he said. “Enchanting!” cried the countess enthusiastically. “So clear is his grasp of the case, eh?” Haweastle flashed her a glance and turned to Horace. “Oh, the date?” he said doubtfully. “I dare say within a year—two years”— „ There was another little cry of protest'from the countess, and the earl glared at her menacingly. Horace started, too, and seemed to be about to enter a positive objection, but he contented himself with saying: “Oh, but I say, you know, Isn’t that putting it Jolly far off? The thing’s settled, isn’t It? Why not say a month Instead of a year?” “Ha-hum!” said .the earl. “Oh, If you like! I don’t know that there Is any real objection.” “I do, Indeed,” returned Horace. “See here! Why not let them marry here in Italy?” Haweastle could scarcely conceal his satisfaction, while Mme. de Champigny executed a bit of a pas seul behind Horace’s back. “Ah, the dashing methods of you Americans!” returned the earl smilingly. “You carry things on so! Next you’ll be saying, ‘Why not here at Sorrento?’ ” “Well, and why not, Indeed?” asked Horace instantly. “And then,” went on Haweastle, smiling, “and then it will be, ’Why not within a fortnight?’ ” “Right-o!” cried Horace. “And why not within a fortnight?” Aimeric sat np and stared at his noble father and brother-in-law to be, but the earl smiled once more that cheerful smile and waved a deprecating hand. “Ah, you wonderful people! You are whirlwinds, yet I see no reason why it should not be In a fortnight” “Oh, here! I say, you know!" Interjected Aimeric, heaving himself erect In the chair and waving a protesting crop. The earl turned on him Instantly. “As I say, dear boy, why not?” he Inquired suavely, and Aimeric wilted Immediately. “Just as you say, governor," he answered meekly. “Enchanting! Brava P’ cried the countess, and Haweastle again turned to the palpitating Horace. "My von Is all Impatience," he murmured, fixing the young man with his eye. “Quite so, quite so!” answered Aimeric dazedly, and his father went on: “Shall we dispose of the necessary little details at once—the various minor arrangements, the—er—er—settlement?” and Interrupted himself with a friendly laugh and patted Horace upon the back. “Of course as men of the world—our world—you understand there are formalities In the nature of a settlement." Horace, who was In the seventh heaven of delight at the approaching alliance between one pf the ancient

houses of Kokomo, Ina., and the honorable line of Haweastle, broke In eagerly: “Quite so, of course! I know! Certainly! Perfectly!” “Then we’ll have no difficulty about that, my boy. I’ll wire my solicitor tonight and he’ll be here within two days,” said the earl carelessly. “If you wish to consult your own solicitor you can cable him, of course.” Suddenly Horace seemed taken with a fit of embarrassment. “The fact Is, Lord Haweastle,” he said, “I’ve a notion that our solicitor —Ethel’s man of business, that is—from Kokomo, Ind., where our governor lived—ln fact, a Bort of guardian of hers—may be here at any time. I’ve heard from friends that be Is coming in this direction.” 0 The word had caught Hawcastle’s attention, and he leaped at it. “A sort of guardian? What sort, eh?” he inquired, seemingly taken aback. “I really can’t say,” replied Horace apologetically. “Never saw him that I know of. You see, we’ve been on this side so many years, and there’s been no occasion for this fellow to look os up, but he’s never opposed anything Ethel wrote for. He seems to be an easy going old chap.” “Hum!” said Haweastle doubtfully. “Would he consent to your sister’s marriage—or the matter of a settlement ?” Horace laughed cheerfully. "I have no doubt of It. If be_has tEe slightest sense of duty toward my sister he’ll be the first to welcome the alliance, won’t he?” “Then when he and my solicitor come they can have an evening together ovei a lot of musty papers, and the thing will be done. Again, my boy, I welcome you to our family. God bless you!” He wrung Horace’s hand again and turned away as If to hide his emotion, but really to wink at the countess. “I’m overpowered, you know—really overpowered, you know,” stammered Horace, fanning himself desperately with his hat. “Come, Aimeric,” said the earl, and as the youthful heir to his house arose languidly he sidled close to the countess and whispered in her e'ar: “Let him know it’s a hundred and fifty thousand." Then he and Aimeric went up the steps Into the hotel, leaving Horace and the countess gazing at each other delightedly. She crossed over to him impulsively and, taking both his handiagain, said: “My friend, I am happy for you.” “Think of it!” said Horace joyously. "In a fortnight at the most dear old Ethel will be the Hon. Mrs. St. Aubyn, future Countess of Haweastle!” “Yes,” replied the countess, withdrawing her hands and picking up her parasol, “and there is but the little arrangement of the settlement between your advocate and Lord Hawcastle’s. But you Americans—you laugh at such things. You are big, so big, like your country!” Horace followed her across the terrace to the wall. “Ah, believe me, dear countess,” he said, “the great world—your world, countess has thoroughly alienated me.” The* countess turned her shapely head and looked at him admiringly and with a touch of irony at the surprise she was about to give him. “Ah, you retain one quality. You are careless, you are free,” and she laid her right hand upon his arm, and Horace thrilled at the Intimate touch. “Well,” he laughed, “perhaps In those things I am American, but In others I fancy I should be thought something else, shouldn’t I?” She laughed openly at him now, but earnestly withal, and said: “You are a debonair man of the world, and yet you are still American In that you are abominably rich. The settlement—such matter as that, over which a Frenchman, an Italian, might hesitate—you laugh. Such matter as £lso,ooo—you set It aside, you laugh. You say, ‘Oh, yes; take it!’ ” For a moment she feared that Horace would fall over the low parapet, so white did his face become and then so flushed, but the boy was game all through. The generations of simple Indiana stock came to his rescue, and he steeled himself with an effort and replied quietly: “A hundred and fifty thousand pounds! Why, that’s seven hundred and fifty say, countess, she couldn’t use the money to better advantage!” There was real admiration In the Frenchwoman’s glance this time, for she had lost none of the little byplay, and she admired the courage of the youngster. So she said: “My friend, how wise you are!” As she spoke she turned in time to see Ethel come down the steps of the hotel with a book beneath her arm and ran to her, clasping her In her arms and kissing her.

(To be Continued.)

A young girl followed by three picturesque banditti.

“She accepted me."