The Duplicity of Hargraves by O. Henry
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and bowed, his rather boyish face bright and flushed with_the knowledge of success .

at last miss Lydia turned and looked at_the major . his thin nostrils were working like the gills of a fish . he laid both shaking hands upon_the arms of_his chair to rise .

" we_will go, Lydia," he_said chokingly ." this_is an abominable-- desecration ."

before he_could rise, she pulled him back into his seat .

" we_will stay it out," she declared ." do_you_want to advertise the copy by exhibiting the original coat ? " so they remained to_the end .

Hargraves's success must_have kept him up late that night, for neither at_the breakfast nor at_the dinner table did he appear .

about three in_the afternoon he tapped at_the door of major Talbot's study . the major opened it, and Hargraves walked in with_his hands full of_the morning papers-- too full of_his triumph to notice anything unusual in_the major's demeanor .

"I put it all over 'em last night, major," he began exultantly ."I had my inning, and, i_think, scored . here's what the post says:

"' his conception and portrayal of_the old- time southern colonel, with_his absurd grandiloquence, his eccentric garb, his quaint idioms and phrases, his motheaten pride of family, and_his really kind heart, fastidious sense of honor, and lovable simplicity, is_the best delineation of a character role on_the boards to- day . the coat worn by colonel Calhoun is itself nothing less_than an evolution of genius .Mr Hargraves has captured his public .'

" how does that sound, major, for a first-nighter ? "

"I had the honor"-- the major's voice sounded ominously frigid--" of witnessing your very remarkable performance, sir, last night ."

Hargraves looked disconcerted .

" you were there ? I didn't know you ever--I didn't know you cared for_the theater .Oh, I_say, major Talbot," he exclaimed frankly, "don't you be offended .I admit I_did get alot of pointers from_you that helped out wonderfully in_the part . but it's a type, you_know-- not individual . the way the audience caught on shows that . half the patrons of_that theater are Southerners . they recognized it ."

" Mr Hargraves," said the major, who had remained standing, " you_have put upon me an unpardonable insult . you_have burlesqued my person, grossly betrayed my confidence, and misused my hospitality . if i_thought you possessed the faintest conception of what_is the sign manual of a gentleman, or what_is due one, i_would call you out, sir, old as I_am . i_will ask_you to leave the room, sir ."

the actor appeared to_be slightly bewildered, and seemed hardly to_take in_the full meaning of_the old gentleman's words .

" I_am truly sorry you took offense," he_said regretfully ." up here we don't look at things just as_you people do . I_know men who_would buy out half the house to_have their personality put on_the stage so the public would recognize it ."

" they_are_not from Alabama, sir," said the major haughtily .

" perhaps not . I_have a pretty good memory, major; let me quote a few lines from your book . in response to a toast at a banquet given in-- Milledgeville, I believe-- you uttered, and intend to_have printed, these words:

"' the northern man is utterly without sentiment or warmth except in so_far as_the feelings may_be turned to_his own commercial profit . he_will suffer without resentment any imputation cast upon_the honor of himself or his loved ones that_does_not bear with it the consequence of pecuniary loss . in_his charity, he_gives with a liberal hand; but it must_be heralded with_the trumpet and chronicled in brass .'

" do_you_think that picture is fairer than_the one you saw of colonel Calhoun last night ? "

" the description," said the major, frowning, " is-- not without grounds . some exag-- latitude must_be allowed in public speaking ."

" and in public acting," replied Hargraves .

" that_is_not the point," persisted the major, unrelenting ." it_was a personal caricature .I positively decline to overlook it, sir ."

" major Talbot," said Hargraves, with awinning smile, " i_wish you_would understand me . i_want you to_know that I never dreamed of insulting you . in my profession, all life belongs to_me .I take what i_want, and what I_can, and return it over the footlights . now, if_you_will, let's let it go at_that . I_came in to_see you about something else . we've been pretty good friends for some months, and I'm going to take_the risk of offending you again . I_know you_are hard up for money-- never mind how I_found out, aboarding house is no place to_keep such matters secret-- and i_want you to let me help_you out_of_the pinch .I've been there often enough myself .I've been getting a fair salary all the season, and I've saved some money . you're welcome to a couple hundred-- or even more-- until you get----"

" stop ! " commanded the major, with_his arm outstretched ." it seems that my book didn't lie, after all . you_think your money salve will heal all the hurts of honor . under no circumstances would I accept a loan from a casual acquaintance; and as to_you, sir, i_would starve before i_would consider your insulting offer of a financial adjustment of_the circumstances we_have discussed .I beg to repeat my request relative to your quitting the apartment ."

Hargraves took his departure without another word . he also left the house the same day, moving, as Mrs Vardeman explained at_the supper table, nearer the vicinity of_the downtown theater, where a magnolia flower was booked for a week's run .

critical was_the situation with major Talbot and miss Lydia . there_was no one in Washington to_whom the major's scruples allowed him to apply for a loan . miss Lydia wrote a letter to uncle Ralph, but it_was doubtful whether that relative's constricted affairs would permit him to_furnish help . the major was forced to_make an apologetic address to Mrs Vardeman regarding the delayed payment for board, referring to " delinquent rentals" and " delayed remittances" in a rather confused strain .

deliverance came from an entirely unexpected source .

late one afternoon the door maid came up and announced an old colored man who wanted to_see major Talbot . the major asked that he be sent up to_his study . soon an old darkey appeared in_the doorway, with_his hat in hand, bowing, and scraping with one clumsy foot . he_was quite decently dressed in abaggy suit of black . his big, coarse shoes shone with a metallic luster suggestive of stove polish . his bushy wool was gray-- almost white . after middle life, it_is difficult to estimate the age of a Negro . this_one might_have seen as_many years as had major Talbot .

"I be bound you don't know me, Mars' Pendleton," were his first words .

the major rose and came forward at_the old, familiar style of address . it_was one_of_the old plantation darkeys without a doubt; but they had_been widely scattered, and he_could_not recall the voice or face .

"I don't believe I_do," he_said kindly--" unless you_will assist my memory ."

"Don't you ' member Cindy's Mose, Mars' Pendleton, what ' migrated 'mediately after de war ? "

" wait a moment," said the major, rubbing his forehead with_the tips of_his fingers . he loved to recall everything connected with those beloved days ."Cindy's Mose," he reflected ." you worked among_the horses--breaking the colts . yes, I remember now . after_the surrender, you took the name of--don't prompt me-- Mitchell, and went to_the west-- to Nebraska ."

"Yassir, yassir,"-- the old man's face stretched with a delighted grin--"dat's him, dat's it .Newbraska .Dat's me--Mose Mitchell . old uncle Mose Mitchell, dey calls me now . old Mars', your pa, gimme apah of dem mule colts when I lef' fur to staht me goin' with . you ' member dem colts, Mars' Pendleton ? "

"I don't seem to recall the colts," said the major ." you_know . i_was married the first year of_the war and living at_the old Follinsbee place . but sit down, sit down, uncle Mose .I'm glad_to_see you . I_hope you_have prospered ."

uncle Mose took a chair and laid his hat carefully on_the floor beside it .

"Yessir; of late I done mouty famous . when I first got to Newbraska, dey folks come all roun' me to_see dem mule colts .Dey ain't see no mules like dem in Newbraska .I sold dem mules for three hundred dollars .Yessir-- three hundred .

" den I open a blacksmith shop, suh, and made some money and bought some lan' . me and my old 'oman done raised up seb'm chillun, and all doin' well 'cept two of 'em what died .Fo' year ago a railroad come along and staht a town slam ag'inst my lan', and, suh, Mars' Pendleton, uncle Mose am worth leb'm thousand dollars in money, property, and lan' ."

"I'm glad_to_hear it," said the major heartily ." glad_to_hear it ."

" and dat little baby of yo'n, Mars' Pendleton-- one what you name miss Lyddy--I be bound dat little tad done growed up tell nobody wouldn't know her ."

the major stepped to_the door and called: "Lydie, dear, will_you come ? "

miss Lydia, looking quite grown up and a little worried, came in from her room .

" DAR, now ! what'd I tell you ? I knowed dat baby done be plum growed up . you don't ' member uncle Mose, child ? "

" this_is aunt Cindy's Mose, Lydia," explained the major ." he left Sunnymead for_the west when_you were two years old ."

" well," said miss Lydia, " I_can hardly be expected to remember you, uncle Mose, at_that age . and, as_you say, I'm ' plum growed up,' and was ablessed long_time_ago . but I'm glad_to_see you, even if I_can't remember you ."

and she was . and so was_the major . something alive and tangible had come to link them with_the happy past . the three sat and talked over the olden times, the major and uncle Mose correcting or prompting each_other as_they reviewed the plantation scenes and days .

the major inquired what the old man was doing_so far from_his home .

" uncle Mose am a delicate," he explained, " to de grand Baptis' convention in dis city .I never preached none, but bein' aresidin' elder in de church, and able fur to_pay my own expenses, dey sent me along ."

" and how did you_know we were in Washington ? " inquired miss Lydia .

"Dey's acullud man works in de hotel whar I stops, what comes from Mobile . he_told me he seen Mars' Pendleton comin' outen dish here house one mawnin' .

" what I come fur," continued uncle Mose, reaching into his pocket--" besides de sight of home folks-- was to_pay Mars' Pendleton what I owes him .

"Yessir-- three hundred dollars ." he handed the major a roll of bills ." when I lef' old Mars' says: ' take dem mule colts, Mose, and, if_it be so you gits able, pay fur 'em .' Yessir--dem was his words .De war had done lef' old Mars' po' hisself . old Mars' bein' long_ago dead, de debt descends to Mars' Pendleton . three hundred dollars . uncle Mose is plenty able to_pay now . when dat railroad buy my lan' I laid off to_pay fur dem mules . count de money, Mars' Pendleton .Dat's what I sold dem mules fur .Yessir ."

Tears were in major Talbot's eyes . he_took uncle Mose's hand and laid his other upon his shoulder .

" dear, faithful, old servitor," he_said in an unsteady voice, "I don't mind saying to_you that ' Mars' Pendleton spent his last dollar in_the_world a week ago . we_will accept this money, uncle Mose, since, in a way, it_is a sort of payment, as_well as a token of_the loyalty and devotion of_the old regime . Lydia, my dear, take_the money . you_are better fitted than I to manage its expenditure ."

" take it, honey," said uncle Mose ." hit belongs to_you . hit's Talbot money ."

after uncle Mose had gone, miss Lydia had a good cry--- for joy; and_the major turned his face to a corner, and smoked his clay pipe volcanically .

the succeeding days saw the Talbots restored to peace and ease . miss Lydia's face lost its worried look . the major appeared in a new frock coat, in_which he looked like a wax figure personifying the memory of_his golden age . another publisher who read the manuscript of_the _Anecdotes and Reminiscences thought that, with a little retouching and toning down of_the high lights, he_could make a really bright and salable volume of it . altogether, the situation was comfortable, and not without the touch of hope_that is often sweeter than arrived blessings .

one day, about a week after their piece of good luck, a maid brought a letter for miss Lydia to her room . the postmark showed that_it_was from New_York . not knowing any_one there, miss Lydia, in a mild flutter of wonder, sat down by her table and opened the letter with her scissors . this_was what she read:

dear_miss TALBOT:

i_thought you_might_be glad to learn of_my good fortune . I_have received and accepted an offer of two hundred dollars per week by a New_York stock company to play colonel Calhoun in a magnolia flower .

there_is something else i_wanted you to_know .I guess you'd better not tell major Talbot . i_was anxious to_make him some amends for_the great help he_was to_me in studying the part, and for_the bad humor he_was in about_it . he refused to let me, so I_did it anyhow . I_could easily spare the three hundred .

sincerely_yours, H .HOPKINS HARGRAVES .

P .S . how did I play uncle Mose ?

major Talbot, passing through_the hall, saw miss Lydia's door open and stopped .

" any mail for_us this_morning, Lydia, dear ? " he asked .

miss Lydia slid the letter beneath a fold of her dress .

"_The Mobile chronicle came," she said promptly ." it's on_the table in your study ."

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