Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 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 Press Association

By BOOTH TARKINGTON and HARRY LEON WILSON

SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I. — Daniel Voorhees Pike, a rising young Kokomo (Ind.) lawyer, hears that his ward, Ethel GrangerSlmpson, 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 connetrted with her marriage. ll—Ethel Granger-Slmpson and her brother Horace, have become anglomanlacs and are spending much of their late father’s fortune In travel and entertaining. They become Intimate with Lady Creech, the Earl of Hawcastle, his son, Almerio 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 Hawcastle 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. V—For some reason the comtesse fears the alleged bandit la one ivanoff. Almerio tells his father Ethel has accepted him. Vl—Horace agrees to persuade his sister Ethel to settle $750,000 on Almerio. CHAPTER VII. y snubbed! ARGESSE, sweet Countess of B Hawcastle!" the woman cried. “Largesse! And au revoir! Adieu! I leave you with your dear brother!" She ran quickly up the steps with a flirt of her parasol, and Horace took his sister’s baud with tears In his eyes. “Dear old sis! Dear old pal!” he said, and she turned a radiant look upon him. “Isn’t it glorious, Hoddy?” she said with exalted tone. "Look!” and held up the book she carried. “It’s Burke’s ‘Peerage.’ Aud Froissart’s ‘Chronicles’—l’ve been reading It all over

again. The St. Aubyns were at Crecy and Agincourt. and St. Aubyn will be my name.” “They want it to be your name soon, sis,” he answered her. For a moment she turned away and then looked at him straight in the eyes. “You’re fond of Almeric, aren't you, Hoddy? You admire him, don’t you, dear?” “Certainly. Why, think of all he represents, sis!” “Ah. yes, Hoddy! Crusader’s blood flows in his veins. It is the nobility that must be within him that I have plighted my troth to. I am ready to marry him when they wish!” Horace sighed. “It will be as soon as the settlement is made and arranged. It will take about all your share of the estate, sis, but it’s worth it—a huudred and fifty thousuud pounds.” Ethel lifted the book to the level of her eyes. “What better use could be made ol a fortune, Hoddy, than to maintain the state aud high condition of so ancient a house?" He looked at her affectionately and took her hand. "It does seem Impossible that we were born in Indiana, doesn’t it, sister?" And the tones of his voice were those of Incredulity. She smiled at him fondly. “But isn’t it good that the pater 'made his pile,’ as the Americans say, and let us. come over here while we were young to find the nobler things, Hoddy—the nobler things?” “The nobler things the nobler things! Why, sis, when old Hawcastle dies I'll be saying offhand, you know, ’My sister, the Countess of Haw castle’ ” For a moment Ethel remained thoughtful and then turned to her brother. J ‘You don’t Imagine that father’s friend, this old Mr. Pike, will be—will be queer, do you?” “Well, the governor himself was rather raw. you know. This is probably a harmless old chap, easy to handle.:* “I wish I knew. I shouldn’t like Almeric’s family t<r think we had queer connections of any sort, and he might turn out to be quite shockingly American. I—l couldn't bear that. Hoddy!" There was a note of genuine pathos in her voice, and her brother responded instantly:

“Then keep him out of the way. That's simple enough,” he said. "None of them, except the solicitor, need see him.” Almost in a burst like an eruption there came an uproar outside the gates beyond the hotel—wild laughter, riotous cheering and the notes of the tarentella played by mandolins and guitar, then more shouts and cheers and cries of “Bravo, Americano!” and “Yanka Dooda!” Horace ran to the gates, but they were closed, and the uproar continued. Ethel stood by one of the tables, amazement written on her features, and turned to her brother as he came back shaking his head. “What Is that?” she asked tremulously. Lady Creech, all In a flutter, entered from the hotel. At a glance one would set her down for an aristocrat. There was no doubt of It. From the topmost tip of her white hair to the toe of her solid shoe she was an aristocrat. "One of your fellow countrymen, my dear,” she said to Ethel. “Your Amer leans are really too” “Not my Americans, Lady Creech!" Bald Ethel spiritedly. “Not our, you know. One could hardly say that, now!” reiterated Horace. Almeric entered, at once laughing and beating his boot with his crop. Almost exhausted with his mirth, he threw himself into a chair and burst out: “Oh, 1 say, what a go! Motor car breaks down on the way here. One of the Johnnies, a German chap, discharges the chauffeur, and the other Johnny—one of your Yankee chaps, Ethel—hires two silly little donkeys, like rabbits, you know, to pull the machine. Then, as they can’t make it, you know, he puts himself in the straps with them and proceeds, attended by the populace. Ha, ha!” He laughed long and loudly. “I went up to this Yankee chap, I mean to say—he was pulling and tugging along, you see—and I said, ‘There you are, three of you In a row, aren’t you?” meaning him and the two donkeys, you see, Ethel, and all he could answer was that he ‘picked the best company In sight.’ No meaning to It. I had him, you know, I rather think, didn’t I?” At this moment Lord Hawcastle entered with a bundle of ‘newspapers under his arm aud proceeded to settle himself at one of the tables. Almeric approached him. “English papers, governor? I’ll take the pink un. I’m off.” And he picked up the tinted sheet as he spoke. Ethel came up 1o touched him on the arm. “Going for a stroll, Almeric? Would you like me to go with you, dear?” He looked at her vacantly for an instant and then stammered: “Well, 1 rather thought I’d have a quiet bit of reading, you know.” Ethel drew back quickly and said in a very small voice:

“Oh, I beg your pardon.” Then she sat down hurriedly by Lord Hawcastle.

CHAPTER VIIL THE AMERICAN. THE clatter without continued unabated, and Ethel and thecountess walked back to the terrace rampart to stand looking out over the glorious bay. Horace, still In the seventh heaven of delighted realization, took the Dally Mail from the table on which the earl had thrown It and seated himself to read beside Lady Creech, who was already deep In the Church Register. The earl had buried himself In the Pall Mall Gazette and was apparently oblivious to such minor details as an Italian peasant row. But to Horace in bis highly strung condition of nerves tne uproar was aggravating, and he called to Mariano, who was busily setting the table again: “Mariano, how long is this noise* to continue?” The maitre d’hotel shrugged his. expressive shoulders and replied: “How can I know, m’sieu? We can do nothing.” Michele, who was assisting his chief, smiled covertly at the young man. * “The populace they will not be depart so long as there shall be the chance once again to observe the North American who pulled the automobile with the donkeys!” “Merci!” cried Mariano, with vigor. “He have confuse me. He have confuse everybody. He will not be content with the dejeuner until he have the ham and the egg. and he will have the egg cooked upon but one of two sides, and how in the name of the heaven can we tell which of these two sides?” Mariano was about to continue his grumbling complaint when from the doorway of the hotel there came an interruption. The courier who had spoken with him earlier in the morning stood there and voiced but one word. “Garcon!” he said softly. But it was like the command of a cavalry officer in its effect, for instantly the maitre d’hotel and his aid stood at attention like trained veterans. The earl evidently was not too deeply Immersed to catch the sudden silence, for he looked up from his paper and observed: “Upon my soul! Who’s this?” Mariano did not turn his head nor relax his attitude of stiff attention, but answered obsequiously: “It Is the Herr von Grollerhagen, a German gentleman, milord.” Hawcastle turned with an amused smile to Horace. “The man who owns the automobile. Probably made a fortune In sausage.” From within the hotel there came the tones of a heavy though cultivated voica declaiming quietly: “Nein, nein, Rlbiere! ’S macht /lichts!” And instantly there came down the Iteps the German gentleman aforesaid. He was tall and of a commanding presence. He wore a grayish beard and an automobile cap that half concealed the eyes that burned with the authority of generations beneath. Withal it was a kindly face, and, though there was a stern command in the figure, there was genial humoi and even tenderness too. By no au thority could he have been considered well dressed. His clothes seemed rather to have been thrown on negligently. The little party at the table regarded him with hostility, and Lady Creech turned up her aristocratic nose. “What a dreadful person!” she said and turned again to her paper. The German walked sedately across the terrace to the table wherS the two servitors still stood at attention and lifted his hand in a curt half military salute In acknowledgment of their bow. “See to my Amerienn friend,” he said

“What a terrible perron!” remarked Lady Creech again, and Hawcastle bent toward her. but be speaks English. So be careful.” “So many objectionable people do," commented tjie crusty dame. . Herr von Grollerhagen turned smilingly to Mariano. “My American friend desires his national dish.” Mariano bowed. “Yes, Herr von Grollerhagen,” replied Mariano deferentially. “He will have the eggs on but one of two sides and the ham fried, so he go to cook it himself." Von Grollerhagen smiled, when from without the gates came a shout of amusemebt and wild laughter. Mariano instantly bowed and ran toward the hotel. “Ha!” he said eagerly. “He return from the kitchen with that national dish.” Michele emerged from the hotel walking backward and candying a covered dish, while Ethel turned with a little shudder of disgust to the countess. “How horrible!” she said, and the Frenchwoman patted her shoulder reassuringly. Immediately following the servitor came Pike, the same self possessed Pike, clad in a linen duster and a straw hat that was decorated with a bright ribbon. If there was anything distinctive about him it was his scarf, which was of that type known as Windsor and much affected by artists in the east and every one in the west. He carried a towel with him and dropped it in one hand as he glanced about. “Law!” he observed, startled, but amused. “I didn’t know there were folks here. Reckon you’ll have to excuse me. Here, son!” he called, tossing the towel Into Michele’s hands and walking over to the table. Hawcastle, Lady Creech and Horace stared unbelievingly. Ethel hid her face, with another little shudder, as Pike, without removing his dust coat, sat down opposite the German. “You are a true patriot,” laughed Von Grollerhagen. “You allow no profane hand to cook your national dish. I trust you will be as successful with that wicked motor of mine.” Pike laughed heartily. “Lord bless your soul, doc, I’ve put a self binder together after a pony engine had bucked It halfway through a brick depot.” said Pike genially, tucking his napkin inside the collar of his shirt and falling to on the ham and eggs. At the table where sat the Hawcastle party there were expressions of pained agony. “You have studied mechanics at the university, then?” went on Von Grollerhagen. “Is it not so?” “University!” returned Pike. “Not much! On the old man’s farm.” Hawcastle turned a( once to Horace. “Without any disrespect to you. my dear fellow, what terrific bounders most of your fellow countrymen are!” Horace mentally writhed under the veiled taunt, but turned quickly with an assent In effect “Do you wonder that sis and I have emancipated ourselves?” he asked, and the noble earl, with a softened glance as he thought of the dollars, replied blandly. “Not at all, my dear boy,” and turned once more to his paper. Vdn Grollerhagen glanced at the three with slight amusement and held out the caviare to Pike. “Can I persuade you to try one of my national dishes," he asked—“caviare?” “Caviare?” replied Pike. “I’ve heard of it, but I thought it was Russian.” “It is also German,” answered the other, recovering himself from the start he had given. “Will you not?” Daniel looked him straight In the eye quizzically. “I’d never get into the legislature again if any of the boys heard of it,” he remarked, “but I guess I’m far enough from home to take a few chances.” Quite slowly and hesitatingly he placed some of the caviare in his mouth and then turned a vacant and pained look upon the German. The latter smiled and observed quickly: “You do not like it? I am sorry. Here! A taste of the vodka will destroy the caviare.” Mariano quickly filled a glass and passed it to Daniel, who seized it eagerly. This time he sat bolt upright in the chair and exhibited real distress. Then he quickly seized another forkful of the caviare and ate it hurriedly. “But I thought you did not like the caviare?” said the German. Daniel breathed quickly for an instant. and the flush died from his face. “That was to take away the taste of the vodka," he said weakly, and Von Grollerhagen lifted his Lead and laughed heartily. “I lift my hat to you, my friend,” he Mid; and Pike looked at him genially. “You never worked on a farm, did yqu, doc?” he asked, and the German airoiitted that such a pleasure had been denied him. # “I guess that's right,” went on Daniel reflectively. “Talk about things to drink! Harvest time and the women folks coming out from the house with a two gallon Jug of Ice cold buttermilk.” r ..Horace shuddered convulsively, and Von Grollerhagen asked: “You still enjoy those delights?” “Not since I moved up to our county seat and began to practice law, ten years ago," Pike answered. “Things don’t taste the same in the city.” “Then you do not like your city?" -“Like it! Why, sir, for public buildings and architecture I wouldn’t trade our state insane asylum for the worst ruined ruin in Europe—not for hygiene and real comfort.” “And your people?” “The best on earth. Why, out my way folks are neighbors!"

Horace rattled bis' paper sharply and glanced angrily at the disturber of his harmony. The German went on. “But you have no leisure class,” he objected, and Daniel smiled. “We’ve got a pretty good sized colored population,” he replied. The German lifted his hand protesting^. “I mean no aristocracy—no great old families such as we have, that go back to the middle ages.” Pike laughed seriously, if one might Imagine such a thing, and returned instantly: “Well, 1 expect if they go back that far they might Just as well sit down and stay there. No. sir; the poor man In my country don’t have to pay any taxes to keep np a lot of useless kings and earls and first grooms of the bedchamber and second ladies In waiting and I don’t know what aIL If anybody wants onr money for nothing, he’s got to show energy enough to steal it. Doc. I wonder a man like yon doesn’t emigrate.” “Bravo!” cried Von Grollerhagen, with keen delight, while Hawcastle turned with an angry gesture to Horace. “Your countryman does seem to be rather down on us!” Horace flushed with mortification and returned: “This fellow is distinctly of the lower orders. We Bhould cut him as completely in the'States as here.”

(To be Continued.)

“ I had him, you know, I rather think, didn’t I?”

"I AM MISS GRANGER SIMPSON"