The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

8 THE “T hope I may live up to the title, madam,” he said. ‘“1’m sure I ask your pardon for speak- ing right out like that, Mr. Tarleton,” went on the old lady quaintly. “Since we lived here—an’ that’s going on ten years! —we haven’t had a chance to see very many gentlefolk. I never know just what to expect. Jerry, he’s got very queer ideas and he’s like as not to bring a tramp or a peddler home to supper. ‘Any one that’s hungry has got to be fed, he thinks; and I suppose that really is the most Christian way of looking at it. I must say, though, that when I was a young woman and all our folks were in better cir- cumstances—we all lived in Connecticut then—over round New London — and though we were always known to be just as free-handed as anybody, we—”’ “Pardon me, grandmother,” broke in Jerry, half fearful of offending her, ‘“‘but Mr. Tarleton has been feeling ill, and I think he should sit down. He will spend the night with us, I hope, and we shall be able to talk after supper, you see.”’ The grandmother was overcome with fresh contrition. She applied ignominious epithets to herself for a thoughtless old busybody, and insisted upon placing a rocking chair for the guest and helping him to get settled among its cushions. “First off, Mr. Tarleton,” she said with sprightly good humor, “I don’t think there’s anything better for chills and a new-caught cold than a good bowl of gin- ger-tea. Plenty of ginger in it, and good and hot. My mother used to give it to us just like that every time—”’ “T think that will be fine for Mr. Tarle- ton,” Jerry interrupted, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘‘and the sooner he gets it the bet- ter he will feel. I’ll have some of it, too.” It was ten o’clock when supper was laid on the table. The two men ate with relish, and the hostess took the burden of the conversa: tion. Exmoor was silent, and Jerry knew that he was beginning to feel the secondary re- action from the strain he had undergone. ARGOSY. The guest admitted presently that he wanted nothing so much as rest and sleep, and Jerry rose promptly and went up the narrow stairs to prepare a bed for him. The house had but two rooms under the roof, so that the host was forced to share his own chamber with the guest. He made the bed ready for him, then got an extra mattress and improvised a cot for himself. ‘That cot on the floor was made to my measure apparently,” observed Exmoor, when he was brought up. “But the bed is what I offer you, never- theless,” said Hampton quickly. “TI have slept on the bed nearly twenty-eight years, and the change will be agreeable.” ‘“‘Nothing of the sort!” protested the other. ‘‘You embarrass me, Mr. Hamp- ton, and make me feel the enormity of my intrusion.” “Consider the situation reasonably,” Hampton argued good humoredly. ‘You should know that nothing touches a man’s vanity more nearly than his sense of hos- pitality; he craves the feeling that he is sacrificing something for his guest.” “Tt wouldn’t hurt that sort of vanity for the world!” Exmoor declared genially, “so I’ll tumble into the bed without another protest. I fancy, Mr. Hampton, that if I had stopped at that baronial castle on the hill I should scarcely have found a more gracious host. When I see something ap- proaching the grand manner, the open hand, nowadays, my faith in heredity grows stronger. I can picture your father as something of a courtier in his time, one of the gallants who were not afraid to show good manners openly.” Jerry was removing and carefully fold- ing his clothes, and noting with regret their damp and rumpled condition. His back was turned toward Exmoor, and he did not look around. “Tt don’t remember my father very well,” he said slowly. “I don’t think I saw him after I was two years old. But he was a gentleman and a man of some distinction, they say, when he wasn’t too far gone in drink. My mother was forced to leave him, and he didn’t last long after that.” CORMICGLOOOKS (C@)