From the Housetops

self quite capable of making a man of Braden, but he did not allow the boy to think that the job was a one-sided undertaking. Braden worked for all that he received

ruitless appeal to Mrs. Tresslyn. He smiled as one smiles with relief when a

wn. You will not get anywhere pacing this twenty by thirty room, and you are liable to run into

clinched and his teeth showing. "I'll never sit down in your house again! What

still. I can't understand half you say while you are stamping around like that. This isn't a china shop. Contro

e to call it without resorting to profanity. She's forcing Anne into this damnable marriage, and she is making a perfect fool of you. Can't you see it? Can't yo

mpleton Thorpe quietly.

afternoon. I told you then just what I think of your treachery. There isn't anything more for me to say, but I'd

raden," said the old man. "You couldn

ou marrying her? Why are you s

wreck such as I am, just because I happen to be willing to pay her two millio

ng with great intensity. Braden, struck by the change, turned suddenly

uation is quite as plain as that nose, if you look at it in the broad light of understanding. If you think that I am marrying Anne because I love her, or because I am in my dotage and afflicted with senility, you are very much mistaken. If you think I am giving her two million dollars as a wedding gift because I expect it to purchase her love and esteem, you do my intelligence an injustice. If you think that I relish the prospect

sly. A new light had come into his eyes when Mr. Thorpe uttered those amazing words-"but because I love you." H

I have not been treated most unfairly, most

the advice of her mother and married the man she loved, disdaining my riches and me as well. Roger wasn't much of a success as a husband, but he was a source of enlightenment and education to his wife. Not in the way you would suspect, however. He managed in very short order to convince her that it is a very ignorant mother who permits her daughter to marry a man without means. They hadn't been married three years when his wife had learned her lesson. It was too late to get rid of Roger,

poverty, had it not been for the fact that Mrs. Blair was so thoroughly educated by this time that she couldn't even contemplate a mistake in her calculations. She had had ample proof that love doesn't keep the wolf from the door, nor does it draw five per cent, as some other bonds do. She brought Constance up in what is now considered to be the most

nt behaviour?" demanded Braden harshly. "Spe

lf for having squandered the fortune which brought him so much misery. Now we come to Anne, Arthur's daughter. She became deeply enamoured of a splendid, earnest young chap named Braden Thorpe, grandson of the wealthy and doddering Templeton Thorpe, and recognised as his sole heir. Keep your seat, Braden; I am coming to the point. This young Thorpe trusted the fair and beautiful Anne. He set out to make a name and fortune for himself and for her. He sought knowledge and experience in distant lands, leaving his poor old grandfather at home with nothing to amuse himself with except nine millions of dollars and his dread of death. While Braden was experimenting in London, this doddering, senile old gentleman of Washington Square began to experiment a little on his own account. He set out to discover just what sort of stuff this Anne Tresslyn was made of and to prove to h

ng up in his chair and taking a long, deep breath. T

e from a miserable fifty thousand, and actually laughed in my face when I reminded her of the young lady's exalted preference for love in a cottage and joy at any

w about that?" broke in t

night. You will also recall that her letters were not so full of intensity-or enthusiasm: they lacked fervour, they fell off considerably in many ways. I happen to know about all this, Braden, be

looked upon him as the stupidest, ugliest man in town. His attentions have been a stand

t of them believe she could make them happy. Now, no one concedes physical beauty or allurement to Percy. He is as ugly as they grow,

e as any man I know and he would be the last person to try to co

that is desirable in a husband except good looks and perhaps good manners. So she began fishing for Percy. Anne was a delightful bait. Of course, Percy's robust health was objectionable, but it wasn't insurmountable. I could see that Anne loathed the thought of having him for a husband for thirty or forty years. Anybody could see that,-even Pe

o, poor girl," cried Braden joyous

eventy-seven, and failing pretty rapidly. It occurred to me that I would be just the thing for her. To make the story short, I began to dilate upon my great loneliness, and also hinted that if I could find the right sort of companion I would jump at the chance to get married. That's putting it rather coarsely, my boy, but the whole business is so ugly that it doesn't seem worth while to affect delicacy. Inside of two weeks, we had come to an understanding,-that is, an arrangement had been pe

ous!" exclaimed young Thorpe, springing to his

"Inasmuch as I have made it quite clear that all of my money is to go to charity,-scienti

t she will renounce t

she thought that I intended to include you among

aned Braden. "I could overcome the vile teaching of her mothe

r and laying his hand upon the young man's shoulder. He forced the other's eyes to meet his. "Do you believe that sh

hocked, bewildered. I can't say what I believe, grandfather. I only know tha

no doubt, in a strictly physical way, but I wouldn't put much dependence in her soulfulness. One of these fine days, she will come to you

say?" exploded Braden. "I should tell her t

fine, unselfish woman to help you to the heights you aspire to reach. Anne Tresslyn would not have helped you. She cannot see above her own level. There are no heights for her. She belongs to the class that never looks up from the ground. They are always following the easiest pa

an's unsuspected sentiment. "Will you go ahead and-and marry her,

Templeton Thorpe grimly. "I

nevertheless," sai

at you do. After that, I fancy you will not care to remain here for the wedding.

dding if it is to take place, and up to that very

st man in New York," said Mr. Thorpe, emotion