John Henry Smith Part 1

John Henry Smith.

by Frederick Upham Adams.

TO THE READER

John Henry Smith has requested me to revise and edit his diary, and, to use his own expression, "See if I can make some kind of a book from it."

It was his idea that I should eliminate certain marked pa.s.sages, and disguise others, so as to conceal the ident.i.ty of the originals. Since Mr. Smith is abroad I can do as I please. Aside from renaming his characters, I have left them exactly as he has drawn them. This may lead him to do his own editing in the future.

I have also taken the liberty of reproducing some of the sketches made by Mr. Smith. In addition to literary, artistic, and athletic gifts Mr.

Smith has had the rare good fortune to--but I must not antic.i.p.ate his story.

THE EDITOR

Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

THE CHARACTERS

JOHN HENRY SMITH, who tells the story. Heir of his father, lives in Woodvale club house, devoted to golf, becomes interested in Wall Street, and falls in love with Grace Harding

GRACE HARDING, only daughter of Robert L. Harding, visitor in Woodvale

ROBERT L. HARDING, millionaire railway magnate, who first despises golf and then becomes infatuated with it

MRS. HARDING, the matter-of-fact wife of the above

JIM BISHOP, farmer near Woodvale, who knew Harding when the two were boys in Buckfield, Maine

WILLIAM WALLACE, Bishop's hired man, later golf professional in Woodvale, and later something else

OLIVE LAWRENCE, pupil to William Wallace

PERCY LAHUME, in love with Miss Lawrence

JAMES CARTER, wealthy member of Woodvale, who knows how to keep a secret

MISS DANGERFIELD, who makes a collection of golf b.a.l.l.s

MISS ROSS, who is very pretty

MR. and MRS. CHILVERS, and MR. and MRS. MARSHALL, estimable young people, who enter into this narrative

BOYD, LAWSON, DUFF, BELL, MONAHAN, ETC., members in good standing in the Woodvale Golf and Country Club

JOHN HENRY SMITH

ENTRY No. I

Miss HARDING Is COMING

"Heard the news?" demanded Chilvers, approaching the table where Marshall, Boyd, and I were smoking on the broad veranda of the Woodvale Golf and Country Club. We shook our heads with contented indifference.

It was after luncheon, and the cigars were excellent.

"Where's LaHume?" grinned Chilvers. "Where's our Percy? He must hear this."

"LaHume and Miss Lawrence are out playing," languidly answered Marshall.

"What's happened? Don't prolong this suspense."

Miss Ross and Miss Dangerfield turned the corner and Chilvers saw them.

Chilvers is married, but has lost none of his effervescence and consequently retains his popularity.

"Come here," he called, motioning to these two charming young ladies.

"I've got something for you! Great news; great news!"

"What is it?" asked Miss Ross, her deep-brown eyes brightening with curiosity.

"Another heiress coming!" announced Chilvers, with the bow of a jeweller displaying some rare gem "--another heiress on her way to Woodvale! This is going to be a hard season for such perennial bachelors as Smith, Boyd, Carter, and others I could name. You girls will have your work cut out when this new heiress unpacks her trunks and sets fluttering the hearts of these steel-plated golfers."

"Who is it?" impatiently demanded the chorus. Chilvers has all the arts of an actor in working for a climax.

"Miss Grace Harding; that's all!" said Chilvers.

"The famous beauty?" cried Miss Ross.

"Last season's society sensation in Paris and London?" exclaimed Miss Dangerfield.

"Daughter of the great railway magnate?" asked Marshall.

"The one to whom Baron Torpington was reported engaged?" I added.

"You all have guessed it the first time," laughed Chilvers. "She's the only daughter of Robert L. Harding, magnate, financier, Wall Street general, the man who recently beat the pirate kings down there at their own game. How much is Harding supposed to be worth, Smith?"

"Thirty millions or so," I replied.

"Well, I wish I had the 'so.' That would keep me in golf b.a.l.l.s for a while," Chilvers continued, turning his attention to the ladies. "What show have you unfortunate girls against a combination like that? And think of Percy LaHume! What will that poor boy do? Percy heads for the richest heiress of each season with that same mighty instinct which leads a boy to cast wistful glances at the largest cut of pie. He thought the heiresses had quit coming, and now this happens; but he has gone so far in his campaign for the hand and cheque-book of Miss Lawrence, that he cannot stop quick without dislocating his spine. I doubt if that poor little Lawrence girl will ever have more than five millions."

"Never mind Percy and his prospects," said Marshall. "Who told you that Miss Grace Harding is coming to Woodvale?"

"Carter told me," replied Chilvers. "Carter knows them. The whole Harding family is coming, which includes Croesus, his wife, and their fair daughter, aged nineteen or thereabouts. Ah! why did I marry so soon?"

Mrs. Chilvers was standing back of him and soundly boxed his ears.