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impudence isiswhy； it's colossal； it's sublime。〃
〃No； this one doesn't seem to cringe much。〃
〃Cringewhy； he doesn't know the meaning of the word。 Hatchments！ To
commemorate that sniveling tramp and his； fraternal duplicate。 And he is
going to send me the remains。 The late Claimant was a fool； but plainly
this new one's a maniac。 What a name！ Mulberry Sellersthere's music
for you； Simon LathersMulberry SellersMulberry SellersSimon
Lathers。 Sounds like machinery working and churning。 Simon Lathers；
Mulberry Sel Are you going？〃
〃If I have your leave； father。〃 …
The old gentleman stood musing some time； after his son was gone。 This
was his thought：
〃He is a good boy； and lovable。 Let him take his own courseas it would
profit nothing to oppose himmake things worse； in fact。 My arguments
and his aunt's persuasions have failed； let us see what America can do
for us。 Let us see what equality and hard…times can effect for the
mental health of a brain…sick young British lord。 Going to renounce his
lordship and be a man！ Yas！〃
CHAPTER II。
COLONEL MULBERRY SELLERSthis was some days before he wrote his letter
to Lord Rossmorewas seated in his 〃library；〃 which was also his
〃drawing…room〃 and was also his 〃picture gallery〃 and likewise his
〃work…shop。〃 Sometimes he called it by one of these names； sometimes by
another； according to occasion and circumstance。 He was constructing
what seemed to be some kind of a frail mechanical toy； and was apparently
very much interested in his work。 He was a white…headed man； now； but
otherwise he was as young； alert； buoyant； visionary and enterprising as
ever。 His loving old wife sat near by； contentedly knitting and
thinking； with a cat asleep in her lap。 The room was large； light； and
had a comfortable look； in fact a home…like look； though the furniture
was of a humble sort and not over abundant； and the knickknacks and
things that go to adorn a living…room not plenty and not costly。 But
there were natural flowers； and there was an abstract and unclassifiable
something about the place which betrayed the presence in the house of
somebody with a happy taste and an effective touch。
Even the deadly chromos on the walls were somehow without offence；
in fact they seemed to belong there and to add an attraction to the room…
…a fascination； anyway； for whoever got his eye on one of them was like
to gaze and suffer till he diedyou have seen that kind of pictures。
Some of these terrors were landscapes； some libeled the sea； some were
ostensible portraits； all were crimes。 All the portraits were
recognizable as dead Americans of distinction； and yet； through labeling
added； by a daring hand； they were all doing duty here as 〃Earls of
Rossmore。〃 The newest one had left the works as Andrew Jackson； but was
doing its best now； as 〃Simon Lathers Lord Rossmore； Present Earl。〃
On one wall was a cheap old railroad map of Warwickshire。 This had been
newly labeled 〃The Rossmore Estates。〃 On the opposite； wall was another
map； and this was the most imposing decoration of the establishment and
the first to catch a stranger's attention； because of its great size。
It had once borne simply the title SIBERIA； but now the word 〃FUTURE〃 had
been written in front of that word。 There were other additions； in red
inkmany cities； with great populations set down； scattered over the
vast…country at points where neither cities nor populations exist to…day。
One of these cities； with population placed at 1；500；000； bore the name
〃Libertyorloffskoizalinski；〃 and there was a still more populous one；
centrally located and marked 〃Capital；〃 which bore the name
〃Freedomolovnaivanovich。〃
The 〃mansion〃the Colonel's usual name for the housewas a rickety old
two…story frame of considerable size； which had been painted； some time
or other； but had nearly forgotten it。 It was away out in the ragged
edge of Washington and had once been somebody's country place。 It had a
neglected yard around it； with a paling fence that needed straightening
up； in places； and a gate that would stay shut。 By the door…post were
several modest tin signs。 〃Col。 Mulberry Sellers； Attorney at Law and
Claim Agent；〃 was the principal one。 One learned from the others that
the Colonel was a Materializer； a Hypnotizer； a Mind…Cure dabbler； and so
on。 For he was a man who could always find things to do。
A white…headed negro man； with spectacles and damaged white cotton gloves
appeared in the presence； made a stately obeisance and announced：
〃Marse Washington Hawkins； suh。〃
〃Great Scott！ Show him in； Dan'l； show him in。〃
The Colonel and his wife were on their feet in a moment； and the next
moment were joyfully wringing the hands of a stoutish； discouraged…
looking man whose general aspect suggested that he was fifty years old；
but whose hair swore to a hundred。
〃Well； well； well； Washington； my boy； it is good to look at you again。
Sit down； sit down； and make yourself at home。 There； nowwhy； you look
perfectly natural； aging a little； just a little； but you'd have known
him anywhere； wouldn't you； Polly？〃
〃Oh； yes； Berry； he's just like his pa would have looked if ；he'd lived。
Dear； dear； where have you dropped from？ Let me see； how long is it
since〃
I should say it's all of fifteen‘ years； Mrs。 Sellers。〃
〃Well； well； how time does get away with us。 Yes； and oh； the changes
that〃
There was a sudden catch of her voice and a trembling of the lip； the men
waiting reverently for her to； get command of herself and go on； but
after a little struggle she turned away； with her apron to her eyes； and
softly disappeared。。
〃Seeing you made her think of the children； poor thingdear； dear；
they're all dead but the youngest。
But banish care； it's no time for it nowon with the dance； let joy be
unconfined is my motto； whether there's any dance to dance； or any joy to
unconfineyou'll be the healthier for it every time；every time；
Washingtonit's my experience； and I've seen a good deal of this world。
Comewhere have you disappeared to all these years； and are you from
there； now； or where are you from？〃
〃I don't quite think you would ever guess； Colonel。 Cherokee Strip。〃
〃My land！〃
〃Sure as you live。〃
〃You can't mean it。 Actually living out there？〃
〃Well； yes； if a body may call it that； though it's a pretty strong term
for 'dobies and jackass rabbits； boiled beans and slap…jacks； depression；
withered hopes； poverty in all its varieties〃
〃Louise out there？〃
〃Yes； and the children。〃
〃Out there now？〃
〃Yes； I couldn't afford to bring them with me。〃
〃Oh； I see；you had to comeclaim against the government。 Make
yourself perfectly easyI'll take care of that。〃
〃But it isn't a claim against the government。〃
〃No？ Want to be postmaster？ That's all right。 Leave it to me。 I'll
fix it。〃
〃But it isn't postmasteryou're all astray yet。〃
〃Well； good gracious； Washington； why don't you come out and tell me what
it is？ What； do you want to be so reserved and distrustful with an old
friend like me； for？ Don't you reckon I can keep a se'
〃There's no secret about ityou merely don'