The Celebrity, Complete

into factions and rent by civil strife, and the porch of the inn was covered by little knots of women, all trying to talk at once; their faces told an ominou

ents of a quiet and retiring little community in a light that scandalized them beyond measure. And Mr. Charles Wrexell Allen, treasur

om the Celebrity was person

uties of host, as he conceived them, that as many as four of the patriarchs of Asquith and pillars of the church had returned home more or less insensible, while others were quite incoherent. The odds being overwhelming, the master of Mohair had at length fallen a victim to his own good cheer. He took post with Judge Short at the foot of the stair, where, in spite of the protests of the Celebrity and of other well-disposed persons, the two favored the parting guests with an occasional impromptu song and waved genial good-byes to the ladies. And, when Mrs. Short attempted to walk by with her head in the air, as though the judge were in an adjoining county, he so far forgot his judicial dignity a

in the face of severe criticism and declared that his daughter should accept any invitation from Mrs. Cooke that she chose, and paid but little attention to the coolness resulting therefrom. He was fast getting a reputation for oddity. And the Celebrity tried to

er spread out before him, eyeing the page with something akin to childish delight. I discovered that it was a pic

And he pointed to a rather stout and important gentleman in the foreground. "That's me!

t honor in his own c

Mr. Cooke, "but I did predict that I

not de

Asquith by a twist of the head. "I hear they're acting

t," I answered. "They didn't take kindly t

" said my client; "and besides, he was

ave the credit for leading him astray

said, brightening; "then I w

e what?"

hat I have here and those left me at the inn ought to be

was moving off whe

ocked up, old m

close surveillance,

t smuggle him over here some day soon. The judge al

Miss Thorn surrounded by some of her uncle's guest

out, "you're just the man

dismissal, and she was not long in co

queer but gifted genius who is h

sed. "I knew him before he t

nful," she said; "but tell m

, from what you said the other evening I inferred that he closely resembles the man whose name it pleased him to ass

e a comic gest

not for an instant believe, it was a foolish thing to do, and one very apt to lead to difficulties. I can understand the rest. He has a r

out here?" I asked. "

slightly, and ign

d heard not a little about him and his peculiarities. His name seems to have gone the length and breadth of the land. And, like most girls, I h

erstand th

in New York. He came to call, and I believe I danced with him once or twice. And then my aunt, Mrs. Rivers, b

mil

s one of those smoky manufacturing towns one sees in New England, and the 'Miles Standish' bicycle is made there. The day after we al

the circumstance to my aunt, who was highly amused. 'Why, my dear,' said she

lance so close as

e, and his nose straighter, and there are other little differences. I believe Mr. Allen has a slight scar on his forehead. But the likeness was remarkable, nevertheless, and it grew to be a standing

d her chair, which ha

or his coming to Asqui

lainly em

thing of an impulse, "After all, it is foolish of me not to tell you. You probably know

idiotic,"

nearly always. I imagine he got the idea of coming to Asquith," she went on with a c

ed, and there

twitching wi

id she; "that is all of my contribution. My uncle tells me you are the best lawye

to obtain for him an unpleasant notoriety if he continued long enough to track the same young lady about the country. Hence he had taken the trouble to advertise a trip abroad to account for his absence. Undoubtedly his previous conquests had been made more easily, for my second talk with Miss Thorn had put my mind at rest as to her having fallen a victim to his fascinations. Her arrival at Mohair being delayed, the Cele

y. I finally decided that he had taken it because convenient, and because h

at the foot of the rock, and peering over the edge I discovered a kind of sewing-circle gathered there. The foliage hid me completely. I perceived the Celebrity perched upon the low branch of an apple-tree, and Miss Trevor below him,

The Sybarites I have never discovered. I did not read the book because I was sick and tired of the author and his nonsense, but I imbibed, in spite of myself, something of the story and its moral from hearing it tal

was saying languidly, "but there is no us

med a voice. "He must be a charming man, and so youn

d, "and I am always reminding him

he is overestimat

l jealous of hi

ome? I have

called so," said the

evor interposed; "I hav

e, Irene?" they chorus

evor enumerated, as though counting her stitches, "an

just like that. I should go wild about him. D

tting that he

uted scornfully, "and

becoming calmness; "certainly his personality could not sell an edition of

the second voice; "I have not found a man yet who would s

s least expected. I saw with a wicked delight that the shot had told, for the Celebri

woman has. I know marriage isn't a necessary goal, but most women, as well as most men, look forward to it at some time of life, and, as a rule, a woman is forc

hey cried, as soon as Miss T

a book which admits that women a

d voice; "I did not say I expected it. I only said I had hoped t

le of Desmond?" asked the first voic

or Desmond, Mr. Allen? I ha

w recovered some

said. "I suppose an author must put his

like him?"

olds the s

do not ag

e for inconstancy. If I remember correctly, Desmond, in a letter to Rosamond, says: 'Inconstancy in a woman, because of the present social conditions, is often pardonable. I

about the woman to whom he has not given his word? Unfortunately, the present

g at Miss Trevor. She was bending over

hout some foundation," said the Celebrity

give her every reason to believe he is going to marry her save the only manly and substantial one. And yet tha

dog, of course," dec

in the inn ya

quieting voice, for the sake of putting an end to an argument wh

modestly; "when I read a book I pick them up just as a roll

, Mr. Allen, you have such an o

eturned the Celebrity, "a

the Fifth Reader story popped into my head of good King William (or King Frederick, I forgot which), who had a royal fancy for laying aside the gayeties of t