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T. Tembarom

Chapter 6 6

Word Count: 7468    |    Released on: 28/11/2017

ppeared to T. Tembarom, like scenes in a play in which he had become involved in a manner which one might be inclined to regard hu

the world realized that they were actual occurrences, one rather regarded them, when their parallels w

rst, "is because we've not only never known any one it's happened to, but we've never known any one that's known any one it'

examination he found no scar or wound. The condition he was in was frequently the result of concussion of the brain, sometimes of prolonged nervous strain or harrowing mental shock. Such cases occurred not infrequently. Quiet and entire freedom from excitement would do more for such a condition than anything else. If he was afraid of strangers, by all means keep them from him. Tembarom had been quit

how hard this was for him, found also that to attempt to check or distract him was even worse. When, sitting in her father's room, which was on the other side of the wall, she heard his fretted, hurried pacing feet, her face lost its dimpled cheerfulness. She wondered if her mother would not have discovered some way of clearing the black cloud distracting his brain. Nothing would induce him to go down to the boarders' dining-room for his meals, and the sight of a serv

e for him. Let's call him Mr. Strangeways. I don't lik

dopted, and soon becam

didn't know it, he'd be all right. Likely as not he'd be thinking he was the Pope of Rome or Anna Held. What knocks him out is that he's just right enough to know he's wrong, and to be trying to get back. He reminds me of one of those chaps th

up for him in his room. The Hutchinsons were on the point of sailing for England-steerage-on the steamship Transatlantic, and Tembarom was secretly torn into fragments, tho

"try him out," even Hutchinson could not utterly flout a fellow who was making his steady twenty-five per on a big paper, and was on such terms with his boss that he might get other chances. Gee! but he was a fellow that luck just seemed to chase, anyhow! L

models and drawings than clothing. Hutchinson was redder in the face than usual, and indignant condemnation of America and American millionaires possessed his soul. Everybody was rather depressed. One boarder after another had wakened to a realization that, with the passing of Little Ann, Mrs. Bowse's establishment, even with the parlor, the cozy-corner, and the

but I'd have boarded her free if her father would have let her stay. But he wouldn't,

ing-room. Tembarom had diplomatically suggested it to Mr. Hutchinson. It was to be Tembarom's oyster supper, and somehow he managed to convey that it was only a proper and modest tribute to Mr. Hutchinson himself. Firs

eal of careful steering through shoals to do. At the outset the boarders had resented him, and sometimes had snapped back their own views of England and courts. Violent and disparaging argument had occasionally been imminent, and Mrs. Bowse had worn an ominous look. Their rooms had in fact been "wanted" before their first week had come to an end, and Little Ann herself scarcely knew how she had tided over that situation. But tide it over she did, and by supernatural effort and watchfulness she contrived to soothe Mrs. Bowse until she had been in the house long enough to make friends with people and aid her father

had said. "She'd make a railway stat

adually learned what his life had been, she felt a thrilled anxiety to hear day by day how he was getting on. She listened for details, and felt it necessary to gather herself together in the face of a slight depression when hopes of Galton were less high than usual. His mending was mysteriou

I've never had a woman do anything for me since I was ten. I guess women do lots of things for most fellows; but, the

across, and when two people who had no money were separated by it, they were likely to remain so. Rich people could travel, poor people couldn't. You just stayed where things took you, and you mustn't be silly enough to expect things to happen in your class of life-things like seeing people again. Your life just went on. She kept herself very busy, and did not allow her thoughts any latitude. It would vex her father very mu

ng packed and ready, and put just where

your thick topcoat, and there's an extra pair of spe

w a big, worried sigh. "Where's them going?" he asked, pointing to some newl

men's washing. I thought I'd take time to

ing care of everybody. What did

elves, but oftener they went without. Men make poor

ed her and her mending over

m's Tembarom

held up a p

down the streets to save car-fare does it. He's never got a heel to

began his t

Ann; but so'll the othe

going to let him keep his work. I do hop

atively lenient moment,-"I believe the chap'll get on myself. He'

id I," ans

nson's. They both heard some one inside the room knock at it. H

d and got restless. What's Tembarom going to do with

dare say he's got restless beca

't have thee long. He can't do

he door and opened i

come in here,

en, and his clothes looked as though he had bee

. "Where is he?" He caught at Ann's sleeve in a sudden

n moved t

n't you go catchin' hold o

What shall I do if I can't r

tted his arm

rgotten it. It's just slipped your memor

. Yes, Tembarom. He said T. Tembarom

and made him sit down. She an

e wouldn't, he won'

hinson's admission. He paused after it to glance at

. He's up-town at his work," she explained to Strangeways. "He'll be back be

s grew ner

with you? T. Te

had evidently not observed the packed and labeled trunks when he

se? You said h

his arm and led h

"They are father's and mine. Look on the labels. Jose

a puzzled way. He read a la

Liverpool. What's

"you know that. It's a place in Eng

the straining look in his eyes. He was making that horrible struggle to get back somewhere through the

Ann, softly, and tr

, and his voice dragged out words again, as tho

gland-back to Eng

is face fell upon them, into heavy, deadly sobbing-the kind of sobbing Tembarom

d turn up. What are we to do?" He didn't l

he wisdom of centuries in the soft, expostulatory voice which seemed to reach the very darkness he was lost in.

you to do it. He'll be in directly. 'Sh! 'Sh, now!" And simple as the wo

t myself, what with this going back and everything. I can't have a chap coming and cryin

is head from his arm

I say," Hutchins

hing it was to be seen that he was a tall man with square shoulde

m," he said. "I forgot.

e did next. When Ann went with him to the door of the hall bedroom, he

he turned into the room an

' that in books," he said, "but I never t

to her mending, loo

moments, "England made him com

hen I'm out of it," said Mr. Hutchinson, sitting down heavi

sed Little Ann. "There's never a

s you let on," he said. "You've no

cheek a little,

just staying indoors so much. Mr. Tembarom won't be long now;

oom, Jim Bowles and Julius St

stew, and it's time old T. T. was here. Julius and me are just get

quiet a bit, or you'll be losi

e," answered Jim, "any more than you co

though she were listening. She h

as the pair prepared to rush to meet him. "When any one's that tired he wants to wash his face, an

ng all day for the hour when she would hear exactly what had happened. If he was all right, it would be a nice thing to remember when she was in England. In this moderate form she expressed herself mentally. "

I do that. I'm sure

at her. She was that li

cited, Ann

his face now." Sounds of splashing water c

ched her with

ot for that l

luttered. Her answ

ather. He's taki

and you're going away Saturday,

It never did any one any har

thing," Hutchinson began

or, he's turning the h

short lock curled and stood up. He had been uptown making frantic efforts for hours, but h

oment he entered. "I've got it, b

ut and out?" Hutchinson wa

aw. He says I've done first-rate, and

that I am!" Hutchinson gave in hand

ar, smiling. Her sm

"I'd never have got there but for you. It w

me telling you," she answ

oment that Mrs. Bows

much flustered. "That's the way with things. Th

at both her hand

reporter! The best-looking boarder you've go

I knew you'd get it. But this gentleman's been h

dered. "What's the chap want?

ys it's more Mr. Tembarom's business than his. He looked real mad when I showed him into the parlo

kened by inopportune callers, an actual suggestion of the possible fact that she was

of the pianola you can bring him up here, Tembarom. I'll see he don't stay long if his bus

. "I'll just go down and see what he wants. No

as," said Hutchinson. "We

down the st

were starting up for him in real earnest. It might be a message from Galton, though he could not believe that he had

go back on his word,

the notion counter had company; and one of her guests was playing "He su

e envelop as he looked about him. He was plainly taking in the characteristics of the room, and was not leniently disposed toward them. His tailor was clearly an excellent one, with entirely correct ideas as to the cut and material which exactly befitted an elderly gentleman of some i

dvanced and

arom?" he

m answered, "I

h a slightly puzzled expression.

dy eye, however, did not seem to have moved from his face. At the same time it had aided him to realize that

ll convey nothing to you. I am of the firm of Pal

& Grimby were "solicitors," and he was not su

esitated. "That's not

; in London. I co

e intent. Somehow Mr. Palford presented a more unyielding surface th

en here so

New York. Won't

iends began to sing the chorus of "He sut'nly was

May Irwin done it,"

rformers. He did not say whet

each other in a private room," he said. "It

s going to happen. "But there are no private rooms in the house. We can be quieter than

uch better," rep

the third, and on to the fourth. As he led the way he realized again that the worn carpets, the steep narrowness, and the pieces of paper unfortunately stripped of

ns' door he stop

e because the Hutchinsons are going away;

Mr. Hutchins

was beset by a fear that he might be grotesquely compelled by existing circumstances to accept these people's invitation, if they insisted upon his sitting down with them and sharing their oyster stew. One could not calculate on what would happen among these unknown quantities. It might be their idea of boarding-house politeness. And ho

d Miss Hutchinson," Tembarom introduced

behind his newspaper, je

o see y

and took the chair

come to your room. I have business to discuss with Mr. Tembaro

ght under my bed," growled Hutchinson

es

od!" Hutchinson d

from her chair

d sit with me in m

eave the field clear and the stew to its fate if

doesn't mind us," he sai

d. "Certainly not. If you are old fr

wered, "We've not known him long, but we know h

Lincoln's I

runted H

firm of Palfo

awyer-clothes, way of pronouncing his words, manners, everything. No mistaking him-old family solicitor sort of chap.

l of careful research and inquiry has finally led me here. I am compelled to believe I have follo

ooked at Tem

? What does h

was at once bo

y of calling me that way,-to save time, I guess,-and I got to like it. They'd have guyed my real name.

as it e

ooked almo

t was Temple Temple Barholm. Two Temp

rted from his chair. His red face suddenly became

m does tha say

and checked him, but with a

ever hear your father refer to a pla

filial affection which should have caused him to recall memories of his father. They had not liked each other. He had known that he had been resented an

s were swell people who would never think of speaking to him,-perhaps didn't know he was alive,-and they lived in a big way in a place that was named after the

ily knew nothing of him. The inquiry has been a tiresome one. I trust I am r

t forth Tembarom

ind either George Temple Barho

n I was eight years old," Tembarom volun

that he was no

ted it; but he wasn

papers belon

hesitat

I believe it's my grandfather and grandmother, taken when they were married

hem to me?" Pal

m his seat "They're in my room. I turned

boldness in the idea of intruding on his reflections. Hutchinson stared at him and breathed hard and short in his suspense. The stiff old chap was thinking things over and putting thi

ere yellowed old letters, and on the top of the package

. "Get on to her embroidered collar and big breast-pin with his picture in it. That's English enough,

them and examined post-marks and dates. When he had finished, he rose f

cing. You are a very fortunate youn

igorously endeavoring to conceal that he found himself called upon to make the best of an extremely bad j

fool. He laughed half nervously. It seemed to be up to h

t property-the estate of Temple Barholm in Lancashire," Palford began to explain,

ple Barholms as didn't come over with th' Conqueror was there before him. Some of them was Saxon kings! And him-" pointing a stumpy, red f

uster annoyed him. "That is my business here. Mr. Tembarom is, in fact, Mr.

ives there yet. Art tha struck dumb, lad!" he said al

ned his mouth, and then gulped and shut it. Little Ann had dropped her sewing. H

aid, his half-laugh slightly

said Little Ann. "Sudde

er shaky. He touched himself

Hully gee! It's like

in Hutchinson's mind seem

!" he ejaculated. "Why, it stood f

y nor proper sentiment in it. The young man was utterly incapable of comprehending the meaning and proportions of the

h impressed, Mr. Tem

, "but, say, this thing can't be true! You couldn

you will realize the truth of it," said Mr. Palford. "Seventy thou

dollars, my lad-that's what it s

t if I try hard enough. I mayn't be able to keep myself

defense the streets of New York had provided Mr. Temple Barholm with in many an hour when he ha

find the New Yorkers are given

x-newsboy's diction, and his entire incongruousness as a factor in any circumstances connected with dignity and splendor. He would certainly not have credited the fact that though he had not the remotest idea what sort of a place Temple Barholm

get on to it," he said. "But I guess

had a rather decent, sharp-cut face, and extremely white and good young teeth, which he sh

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