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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty six of Cloudy Jewel. This is the LibriVox recording.

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<v Speaker 1>All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more

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<v Speaker 1>information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording

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<v Speaker 1>by Terra Mendoza. Cloudy Jewel by Grace livingstone Hill, Chapter

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<v Speaker 1>twenty six. Howard Letchworth settled himself comfortably by an open

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<v Speaker 1>window in the five twelve Express and spread out the

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<v Speaker 1>evening paper, turning, like any true college man, first to

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<v Speaker 1>the sporting page. He was anxious to know how his

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<v Speaker 1>team had come out in the season's greatest contest with

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<v Speaker 1>another larger college. He had hoped to be there to

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<v Speaker 1>witness the game himself, and in fact the Clouds had

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<v Speaker 1>invited him to go with him in their car, but unfortunately,

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<v Speaker 1>at the last minute, a telegram came from a firm

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<v Speaker 1>with whom he expected to be located during the summer,

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<v Speaker 1>saying that their representative would be in the city that

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<v Speaker 1>afternoon and would like to see him. Howard had been

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<v Speaker 1>obliged to give up the day's pleasure and see his

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<v Speaker 1>friends start off without him. Now his business over, he

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<v Speaker 1>was returning to college and having his first minute of

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<v Speaker 1>leisure to see how the game came out. The train

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<v Speaker 1>was crowded, for it was just a closing time and

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<v Speaker 1>every one was in a rush to get home. Engrossed

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<v Speaker 1>in his paper, he noticed none of them until some

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<v Speaker 1>one dropped, or rather sprawled in the seat beside him,

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<v Speaker 1>taking far more room than was really necessary and making

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of fuss pulling up his trousers and getting

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<v Speaker 1>his patent leathered feet adjusted to suit him around a

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<v Speaker 1>very handsome soul leather suit case, which he crowded unceremoniously

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<v Speaker 1>over to Howard's side of the floor. The intruder next

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<v Speaker 1>addressed himself to the arrangement of a rich and striking necktie,

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<v Speaker 1>and seemed to have no compunctions about annoying his neighbor

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<v Speaker 1>during the process. Howard glanced up in surprise as a

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<v Speaker 1>more strenuous knock than before jarred his paper out of focus.

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<v Speaker 1>He saw a young fellow of about his own age,

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<v Speaker 1>with a face that would have been strikingly handsome if

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<v Speaker 1>it had not also been bold and conceited. He had

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<v Speaker 1>large dark eyes set off by long curling blue black lashes,

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<v Speaker 1>black hair that crinkled close to his head in satiny,

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<v Speaker 1>sleek sheen, well chiseled features, all save a loose, hum

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<v Speaker 1>insolent lip that gave the impression of great self indulgence

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<v Speaker 1>and selfishness. He was dressed with a careful regard to

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<v Speaker 1>the fashion, and with evidently no regard whatever for cost.

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<v Speaker 1>He bore the mark at once of wealth and snobbishness. Howard,

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<v Speaker 1>in spite of his newly acquired desire to look upon

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<v Speaker 1>all men as brothers, found himself disliking him with a

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<v Speaker 1>vehemence that was out of all proportion to the occasion.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't they have any Pallas cars on this road? The

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<v Speaker 1>question was addressed to him in a calm, insolent tone,

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<v Speaker 1>as if he were a paid servitor of the road.

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<v Speaker 1>He looked up amusedly and eyed the stranger pityingly. Not

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<v Speaker 1>so as you'd notice it, he remarked, crushingly, as he

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<v Speaker 1>turned back to his paper. People on this road too

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<v Speaker 1>busy to use em. But the stranger did not crush easily.

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<v Speaker 1>Live far out, he asked, turning his big, bold eyes

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<v Speaker 1>on his seat mate and calmly examining him from the

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<v Speaker 1>toe of a well worn shoe to the crown of

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<v Speaker 1>a dusty old hat. That Howard was trying to make

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<v Speaker 1>last till the end of the season. When he had

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<v Speaker 1>finished the survey, his eyes traveled complacently back to his

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<v Speaker 1>own immaculate attire and his well polished shoes, fresh from

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<v Speaker 1>the hands of the city. Stationed blot black. With a

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<v Speaker 1>well manicured thumb and finger, he flecked an imaginary bit

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<v Speaker 1>of dust from the knee of his trousers. Howard named

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<v Speaker 1>the college town brusquely. Ah. Indeed, another survey, brief and

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<v Speaker 1>significant this time, I don't suppose you know any people

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<v Speaker 1>at the college. It was scarcely a question, more like

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<v Speaker 1>a statement of a deplorable fact. Howard was suddenly amused. Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>a few, he said briefly. He was just finishing his

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<v Speaker 1>senior year rather brilliantly, and his professors were more than

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<v Speaker 1>proud of him. Another glance seemed to say in what capacity?

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<v Speaker 1>But the elegant youth finally decided to voice another question.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't happen to know a fellow by the name of Cloud?

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<v Speaker 1>I suppose owl Cla, I've met him, said Howard, with

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<v Speaker 1>his eyes still on his paper. He's from my state,

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<v Speaker 1>announced the youth, with a puff of importance. We live

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<v Speaker 1>next door in California. He's a regular guy. He is

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<v Speaker 1>got all kinds of money comin to him. He'll be

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<v Speaker 1>of age in a month or two now, and then

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<v Speaker 1>you'll see him start somethin He's some spender, he is.

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<v Speaker 1>Howard made no comment, but something in him revolted at

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<v Speaker 1>the idea of talking over his friend in such company.

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<v Speaker 1>I've got to hunt him up, went on the young man,

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<v Speaker 1>not noticing that his auditor appeared uninterested. I'm to stay

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<v Speaker 1>with him tonight. I was descend a telegram, but didn't

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<v Speaker 1>think of it till it was almost train time. Guess

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<v Speaker 1>it won't make much difference. The Clouds always used to

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<v Speaker 1>keep open house. I suppose they have a swell place

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<v Speaker 1>out here. Oh it's quite comfortable, I believe. Howard turned

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<v Speaker 1>over a page of the paper and fell to reading

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<v Speaker 1>an article on the high price of sugar and the

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<v Speaker 1>prospect of a fall. You ought to see there dump

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<v Speaker 1>out in Calli. It's some mansion, Believe me. There wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>anything else in that part of the state to compare

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<v Speaker 1>with it. For miles around and cash. They had cash

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<v Speaker 1>to burn. The old man was just lousy with gold,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, struck a rich mind. Years ago his wife

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<v Speaker 1>had a pile too. Her father was all kinds of

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<v Speaker 1>a millionaire and left every bit to her and Alan

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<v Speaker 1>his sister'll get everything seen anything of her. She ought

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<v Speaker 1>to be a winner pretty soon. She was a peach

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<v Speaker 1>when she was little. She's some speedy kid. We used

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<v Speaker 1>to play together, you know, and our folks sort of

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<v Speaker 1>fixed it up that we were just made for each

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<v Speaker 1>other and all that sort of thing, you know. But

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know. I'm not going to be bound by

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<v Speaker 1>any such nonsense, of course, unless I like one doesn't

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<v Speaker 1>want one's wife to be such an awfully good shot,

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<v Speaker 1>for instance, you know, A great anger surged up in

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<v Speaker 1>Howard's soul, and his jaw set with a fierce line

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<v Speaker 1>that those who knew him well had learned to understand

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<v Speaker 1>meant self control under deep provocation. He would have liked

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<v Speaker 1>nothing better than to surprise the insolent young snob with

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<v Speaker 1>a well directed blow in his pretty face that would

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<v Speaker 1>have sent him sprawling in the aisle. His hands fairly

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<v Speaker 1>twitched to give him the lesson that he needed, but

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<v Speaker 1>he only replied with a slight, inscrutable smile in one

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<v Speaker 1>corner of his mouth. It might be inconvenient for some people.

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<v Speaker 1>There and aloofness in his tone that did not encourage

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<v Speaker 1>further remarks. But the young stranger was evidently not thin skinned.

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<v Speaker 1>Or Elsie loved to hear himself babbling, I'm coming on here,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, to look this college over, he drawled. If

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<v Speaker 1>it suits me, I may come here next year. Got

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<v Speaker 1>fired from these institutions out west for Larkin. Father thought

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<v Speaker 1>I'd better go east. Awhile any fun doing out this way.

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<v Speaker 1>I suppose those that go to college looking for it

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<v Speaker 1>can find it, answered Howard noncommonly. Well, that's what I'm

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<v Speaker 1>looking for. That's about all anybody goes to college for

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<v Speaker 1>anyway that an makin a lot o friends. Believe me,

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<v Speaker 1>it would be a beastly bore of a One't for that.

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<v Speaker 1>Ol Cloud used to be a lively one. I'll wager

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<v Speaker 1>he's into everything. See much of the college people down

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<v Speaker 1>in town, do you, he eyed his companion patronizingly. Suppose

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<v Speaker 1>you get in on some of the spoets now and then, oh, occasionally,

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<v Speaker 1>said Howard with a twinkle in his eye. He was

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<v Speaker 1>captain of the football team and forward in basketball, but

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<v Speaker 1>it didn't seem necessary to mention it. Any fellows with

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<v Speaker 1>any pep in the mound here. I s'pose they must be,

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<v Speaker 1>or I wouldn't stay unless he's changed. He used to

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<v Speaker 1>keep things pretty lively. That's one reason why I told

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<v Speaker 1>Dad I'd come out here. I like a place with

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<v Speaker 1>plenty of ginger. It gets my goat to be among

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of grinds an sissies. This is a ko

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<v Speaker 1>egg college, Isn't it? That suits me all right? If

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<v Speaker 1>the girls have any pep and aren't too straight laced.

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<v Speaker 1>Any place around here where you can go off an

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<v Speaker 1>take a girl for a good dinner and a dash

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<v Speaker 1>of life. I couldn't stand for any good little boy stuff. Know,

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<v Speaker 1>any place around here where you can get a drink

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<v Speaker 1>of the real thing now, and then some place near

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<v Speaker 1>enough to go joy riding to. You know, I'll bring

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<v Speaker 1>my car. Of course, one can get away with a

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<v Speaker 1>lot more stuff if they have their own car, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>especially where there's girls. You can't pull off any devilmn

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<v Speaker 1>if you have to depend on hard cause you might

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<v Speaker 1>get caught. I suppose they have some pretty spicy times

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<v Speaker 1>down at the frat rooms, don't they. I understood the

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<v Speaker 1>frats were mostly located down in the town. Howard suddenly

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<v Speaker 1>folded his paper, looking squarely in the limpid eyes of

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<v Speaker 1>his seat mate for the first time with a cold, searching,

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<v Speaker 1>subduing gaze. I really couldn't say, he answered coldly. Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>I s'pose you're not interested in that sort of thing,

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<v Speaker 1>not being in college, said the other insolently. But ow

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<v Speaker 1>clad'll put me wise. He's no grind. I'll wager he's

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<v Speaker 1>always in for a good time, and he's such a

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<v Speaker 1>good bluff he never gets found out. Now, I somehow

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<v Speaker 1>always get caught, even when I'm not the guilty one.

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<v Speaker 1>The boy laughed uproariously, as if it were a good joke,

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<v Speaker 1>and his weak chin seemed to grow weaker in the process.

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<v Speaker 1>Howard was growing angry and haughty, but it was his

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<v Speaker 1>way to be calm and excited. He did not laugh

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<v Speaker 1>with the stranger, and steady waited until the joke had

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<v Speaker 1>lost its amusement, and then he turned soberly to the

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<v Speaker 1>youth with as patronizing an air as ever the other

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<v Speaker 1>had worn. Son, you've got another guest coming, tea about

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<v Speaker 1>Alison Cloud. You'll have the surprise of your young life

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<v Speaker 1>when you see him. I imagine why he's been an

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<v Speaker 1>a student ever since he came to this college, and

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<v Speaker 1>he has the highest average this last semester of any

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<v Speaker 1>man in his class. As for bluff, he's as clear

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<v Speaker 1>as crystal and a prince of a fellow. And if

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<v Speaker 1>you're looking for a spot where you can bluff your

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<v Speaker 1>way through college, you better seek elsewhere. Bluff doesn't go down.

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<v Speaker 1>In our college. We have student government, and I happen

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<v Speaker 1>to be chairman of the student exec Just now, you'd

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<v Speaker 1>better change your tactics if you expect to remain here.

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<v Speaker 1>Excuse me, I see a friend up at the front

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<v Speaker 1>of the car, with which remarks Howard Letchworth strode across

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<v Speaker 1>the sprawling legs of his fellow traveler and departed up

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<v Speaker 1>the aisle, leaving the elegant stranger to enjoy the whole

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<v Speaker 1>seat and his own company. Thus, Dick Clive Terence introduced

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<v Speaker 1>himself to Howard Lutchworth and bring dismay into the little

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<v Speaker 1>click of four young people who have been enjoying a

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<v Speaker 1>most unusually perfect friendship. Howard Lutchworth, as he stood the

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<v Speaker 1>rest of the ride on the front platform of the car,

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<v Speaker 1>conversing with apparent interest with a fraternity brother, was nevertheless

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<v Speaker 1>filled with a growing dismay. Now and then he glanced

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<v Speaker 1>back and glared down the aisle at the elegant, sprawling youth,

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<v Speaker 1>and wondered how it was that of being as insignificant

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<v Speaker 1>as that could so upset his equilirium. But the assured

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<v Speaker 1>drawl of the stranger as he spoke of Leslie and

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<v Speaker 1>called her a speedy kid, and made him boil with rage.

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<v Speaker 1>He carried the mood back to college with him, and

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<v Speaker 1>sat gloomily at the table, thinking the whole incident over,

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<v Speaker 1>while the banter and chafing went on about him unnoticed.

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<v Speaker 1>Underneath it all there was a deep uneasiness that would

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<v Speaker 1>not be set aside. The young man had said that

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<v Speaker 1>the clouds were very wealthy, that Leslie was especially so,

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<v Speaker 1>that when she was of age she would have a

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<v Speaker 1>vast inheritance. There had been no sign of great wealth

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<v Speaker 1>or ostentation in their living, But if that were so,

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<v Speaker 1>then there was an insuperbable wall between him and her.

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<v Speaker 1>It was strange that the question of wealth had never

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<v Speaker 1>come up between them. Howard had known that they were

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<v Speaker 1>comfortably off. Of course, they had a beautiful car and

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<v Speaker 1>or good clothes, and were always free with their entertaining,

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<v Speaker 1>But they lived in a modest house and never made

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<v Speaker 1>any pretenses. It had not occurred to him that they

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<v Speaker 1>were any better off than he might be some day

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<v Speaker 1>if he worked hard. They never talked about their circumstances.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, now he came to think about it. There

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<v Speaker 1>were fine mahogany pieces of furniture in the little house,

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<v Speaker 1>and wonderful rugs and things. But they all fitted in

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<v Speaker 1>so harmoniously with their surroundings that it never occurred to

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<v Speaker 1>him that they might have cost a mint of money.

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<v Speaker 1>They never cried out their prize to those who saw them.

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<v Speaker 1>They were simply the fitting thing in the fitting place,

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<v Speaker 1>doing their service, as all right minded things, both animate

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<v Speaker 1>and inanimate in this world should do. It was the

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<v Speaker 1>first serpent in the eden of this wonderful friendship at

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<v Speaker 1>Cloudy Villa, and it stung the proud, spirited young man

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<v Speaker 1>to the soul. Alone in his room that night, he

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<v Speaker 1>finally gave up all pretense at study and faced the truth.

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<v Speaker 1>He had been drifting in a delightful dream during the

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<v Speaker 1>last two years, with only a vague and alluring idea

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<v Speaker 1>of the future before him, a future in which there

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<v Speaker 1>was no question but that Alison Cloud and his sister

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<v Speaker 1>Leslie should figure intimately. Now, he was suddenly and roughly

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<v Speaker 1>awakened to ask himself whether he had any right to

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<v Speaker 1>count on all this. If these young people belonged to

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<v Speaker 1>the favored few of the world who were rolling in wealth,

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<v Speaker 1>wasn't it together likely that when they finished college they

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<v Speaker 1>would pass out of this comradele atmosphere into a world

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<v Speaker 1>of their own, with a new set of laws whereby

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<v Speaker 1>to judge and choose their friends and life companions. He

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<v Speaker 1>could not quite imagine Allison and Leslie as anything but

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<v Speaker 1>the frank, friendly, enthusiastic comrades they have been since he

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<v Speaker 1>had known them. And yet he knew the world, knew

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<v Speaker 1>what the love of money could do to a human soul,

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<v Speaker 1>for he had seen it many times before in people

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<v Speaker 1>he had come to love and trust, who had grown

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<v Speaker 1>selfish and forgetful as soon as money and power were

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<v Speaker 1>put into their hands. He had to confess that it

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<v Speaker 1>was possible. Also, his own pride forbid him to wish

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<v Speaker 1>to force himself into a crowd where he could not

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<v Speaker 1>hold his own and pay his part. They would simply

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<v Speaker 1>not be in his class, at least not for many years.

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<v Speaker 1>To come, and his heart sank with desolation. It was then,

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<v Speaker 1>and not till then, that the heart of the trouble

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<v Speaker 1>came out and looked him in the face. It was

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<v Speaker 1>not that he could not be in their class, that

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<v Speaker 1>he could not keep pace with Alice and Cloud, and

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<v Speaker 1>come and go in his company as freely as he

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<v Speaker 1>had done. It was that he loved the bright haired Leslie,

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<v Speaker 1>the sweet faced, eager, earnest, wonderful girl. She held his

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<v Speaker 1>future happiness in her little rosy hand. And if she

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<v Speaker 1>really were a rich girl, he couldn't, of course tell

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<v Speaker 1>her now that he loved her, because he was a

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<v Speaker 1>poor man. He didn't expect to stay poor always, of course,

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<v Speaker 1>but it would be a great many years before he

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<v Speaker 1>could ever hope to compete with anything like wealth. And

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<v Speaker 1>during those years, who might not take her from him?

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<v Speaker 1>Was it conceivable that such a cat as that youth,

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<v Speaker 1>who had boasted himself a playmate of her childhood, could

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<v Speaker 1>possibly win her. Howard went out and sat on the

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<v Speaker 1>campus under a great shadowing tree. He watched a silver

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<v Speaker 1>thread of a moon slip down between the branches and

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<v Speaker 1>dip behind the hill. And while he sat there, he

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<v Speaker 1>went through all the desolation of a lonely life, the

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<v Speaker 1>bitterness of having Leslie taken from him by one who

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<v Speaker 1>was unworthy. He persuaded himself that he loved her enough

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<v Speaker 1>to be willing to step aside and give her up

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<v Speaker 1>to a man who was better than himself. But this

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<v Speaker 1>little whiffet ugh. The chimes on the library pealed out

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<v Speaker 1>nine o'clock, reminding him of his work half done. Yet

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<v Speaker 1>the shadow of engulfing sorrow and loss hung over him.

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<v Speaker 1>With a jerk, he drew himself up and tried to

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<v Speaker 1>grasp at common sense. How ridiculous of him to get

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<v Speaker 1>up all this nightmare out of a few minutes talk

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<v Speaker 1>with a fellow who used to be the cloud's old neighbor.

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<v Speaker 1>He might not have been telling the truth, And anyhow,

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<v Speaker 1>it was a libel on friendship to distrust them all

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<v Speaker 1>in this way, as though riches were some kind of

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<v Speaker 1>a disease like leprosy that set people apart. It wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>his night to go down to the village, but just

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<v Speaker 1>to dispel this nonsense and bring back his normal state

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<v Speaker 1>of mind, he would go and drop in on the

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<v Speaker 1>clouds for a few minutes. A sight of them all

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<v Speaker 1>would reassure him and clear his brain for the work

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<v Speaker 1>he must do before midnight. Lest the cloud was very

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<v Speaker 1>young yet, and much can happen in a year or two.

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<v Speaker 1>He might even be in a fair way to make

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<v Speaker 1>a fortune himself somewhere, who knew. And as for that

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<v Speaker 1>little cad, it was nonsense to suppose he was anything

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<v Speaker 1>to fear. Besides, it wasn't time yet to think about

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<v Speaker 1>being married, when he wasn't even out of college. He

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<v Speaker 1>would forget it and work the harder. Of course, he

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<v Speaker 1>could never quite go back and forget that he had

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<v Speaker 1>admitted to himself that he was in love with Leslie,

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<v Speaker 1>but he would keep it like a precious jewel, hid

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<v Speaker 1>far in his heart, so carefully locked that not even

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<v Speaker 1>for his own delight would he'd take it out to

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<v Speaker 1>look at it. Now at this time, having thus resolved,

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<v Speaker 1>a weight seemed to have rolled from his shoulders, and

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<v Speaker 1>he sprang up and walked with a quick tread down

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<v Speaker 1>to the village. There was a cheerful clang of Victrolla's

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<v Speaker 1>player pianos and twanging guitars as he passed the fraternity rooms,

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<v Speaker 1>and he went whistling on his way towards the cloudy villa.

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<v Speaker 1>But as he neared the tall arched hedge and looked

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<v Speaker 1>eagerly for the welcome light, he saw that the big

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<v Speaker 1>living room windows were only lit by a soft play

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<v Speaker 1>of firelight. Did that mean they were all sitting in

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<v Speaker 1>the firelight around the hearth? A fearful thought of the

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<v Speaker 1>stranger intruded just here upon his fine resolves, and to

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<v Speaker 1>dispel it, he knocked noisily on the little brass knocker.

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<v Speaker 1>It was very still inside, but a quick electric light

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<v Speaker 1>responded to his knock, and in a moment he could

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<v Speaker 1>hear some one coming downstairs to the door. His heart leaped.

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<v Speaker 1>Could it be Leslie? Ah? He must not yet how

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<v Speaker 1>wonderful it was going to be to look at her

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<v Speaker 1>this first time, after really knowing his own heart in

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<v Speaker 1>plain language? Could he keep the joy of her out

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<v Speaker 1>of his eyes and the wonder of her from his voice?

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<v Speaker 1>Then the door opened, and there stood Cherry in negligee

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<v Speaker 1>of flaring rose, caught and crape, embroidered with gorgeous peacocks

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<v Speaker 1>and her pigtails and eclipse behind an arrangement of cheap

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<v Speaker 1>lace and pink ribbons. No, suh, mister, howitt da ain't

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<v Speaker 1>none of 'em be here. Dey got company some young

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<v Speaker 1>fellow from back to californyway Daydon took him out to

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<v Speaker 1>sea to town. Howard's heart sank, and he turned his

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<v Speaker 1>heavy footsteps back to the collin. The worst fear had

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<v Speaker 1>come to pass. Of course, reason asserted itself, and he

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<v Speaker 1>told himself that he was a fool, a perfect fool.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course, they had to be polite to an old neighbor,

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<v Speaker 1>whether they liked him or not. And what was he

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<v Speaker 1>to presume to judge a stranger from a five minute

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<v Speaker 1>conversation and turn him down so completely that he wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>willing to have his old friends even like him while

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<v Speaker 1>he was worse than he had thought of himself, and

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<v Speaker 1>something would have to be done about it. What he

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<v Speaker 1>did about it was to stay away from Cloudy Villa

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<v Speaker 1>for almost a week, and when Leslie, at last, after

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<v Speaker 1>repeated efforts to get hold of him by telephone, called

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<v Speaker 1>him up to say there was an important committee meeting

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<v Speaker 1>at the church which he ought to attend, he excused

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<v Speaker 1>his long absence by telling how busy he had been.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course he had been busy, but Leslie knew that

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<v Speaker 1>he had always been busy and yet had found time

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<v Speaker 1>to come in often. She was inclined to be hurt

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<v Speaker 1>and just the least bit stand offish. Of course, if

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<v Speaker 1>he didn't want to come, he needn't, And she took

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<v Speaker 1>Clive Terence driving in the car and showed him all

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<v Speaker 1>the wonders of the surrounding neighborhood with much more cordiality

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<v Speaker 1>than she really felt. It was her way of bearing

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<v Speaker 1>her hurt. At last, she got Allison by himself and

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<v Speaker 1>asked him, quite casually, why Howard hadn't been down. But Allison,

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<v Speaker 1>in haste to keep an appointment with Jane, and knowing

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<v Speaker 1>that Howard enjoyed being down as much as they wanted him,

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<v Speaker 1>hadn't even noticed the absence yet. Oh, he's up to

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<v Speaker 1>his eyes in work, responded Allison. He's likely busy as

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<v Speaker 1>a one armed paper hanger with fleas. He's a senior,

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<v Speaker 1>you know. Wait till next year and you'll see me

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<v Speaker 1>in the same boat. And he hurried away, whistling. End

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<v Speaker 1>of chapter twenty six. Recording by Terra Mendoza, Phoenix, Arizona,

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<v Speaker 1>April two thousand eleven,