The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-09-09
THE HUT ca THE MOOR.

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own laws The heir Of the great Armstrong
family OF Holme Wood might have been a
changeling for all the likeness to his progeni-
tors traceable in mind or feature; and had he
been born a couple Of centuries ago his want
of direct resemblance would have certainly
cost more than one life on the plea Of witch
craft and diabOlical traDspositiOn.
Hugh Armstrong, his father and the head OF
the family. was a tail, hearty, ford, magnifi-
cent-looking fOX-huutcr, with the frame OF an
athlete and the head of a prize-fghter; and
Julia his mother, as tall, as hearty, as forld
and a. magnificent as her husband, was like
white-armed and dcep-breasted Juno in hat
and habit with the flush Of the northern breeze
on her comely checks and the gray of the north
ern skies in her calm fixed ewes.
They were the handsomest couple in the
county and the most popular He was master
of the hunt, she was mistress OF society and
the foremost patroness Of all the local chart
ties he set the ball agong among men and
she kept il in the right line with the women;
he was the ideal Of an English country gentle
man aud she was the ideal OF that English
country gentleman's wife. They were people
who enj0yed themselves and did their duties
without stint or failure; and who had neither
doubt nor care, neither fear nor pain
outside that one irretrievable mistake OF their
son. And that was mistake which no argu-
ments would Justify soften or explain.
He was a cross and they did not deny that
fact to themselves or 10 Others. Nevertheless
he was their son. And bad as he was he was
not bad all through. Outside his principles
Heaven save the mark they thought with con
temptuous COMPASSIONATE was nice creature
enough for his lost kind. They despised his
kind from the bottom of their hearts but they
could not hate him, nor yet Danish him from
their presence as Clarence Armstrong, Hughs
Younger brother wished and advised. But
the father and mOther while always deeply de-
ploring the strange twist that had been given
10 their bow. ever refused TO send him abroad
under surveillance and in disgrace, as Clarence
so constantly suggested. 1t was their own,
their son. their heir, their Representatives,
sorry one truly but still their own. And though
they did rot love him as they would have done
had he been more cOngenial to their tastes,
they did not quite want to lose him; and
though Young Hugh, Clarence's eldest son,
bore the family name and was an Armstrong
every inch of him, still he was only nephew
and Julian was the child OF their love.
Wherefore they kept him at home and content
ed themselves with rating him soundly when
things went worse than usual with him and
he was more than ordinarily absurd; but such
as he was they put up with him as well as they
could-fOr all that he was their cross.
SO the time passed. Julian went to college;
took fairly good degree but in no wise one
of such brilliancv as atOned for his failure in
caste-righteOusness and family duty. Had he
carried of all the honOrs they would have for
given some of his fOllies: but the truth was,
the young fellow was more of dreamer than
q worker-an enthusiast for ideas rather than
a seeker after facts-and he cared more to
spout at the debating club, and lay down the
law on all debatahle social points than sit in
his own room and master the difficulties of the
Greek aOrist and the ditierential calculus.
Now all this was bad enough. An Armstrong,
who held unsound views on the game laws,
the land laws and the rights OF man, and VINO
had not made sby-rocket Of himself at college,
was an infection almost past endurance; but
worse remains behind-and that worse was al
most impossible to bear.
The game-keeper's pretty daughterf All!
what misery for the family at Holme Noodlay
in the fact that Debby Scambler had face
and figure more like the face and figure OF a
classic Dread than of an ordinary English
country girl: that she was good and modest,
virtuOus and affectionate; that she was brave
and pure. lovely and sincere She was really
a most rare and precious creature, counting
her humanity as more valuable than her social
class The most determined cOntemner ofthe
people mast have confessed that she was SUI
preme in her own way; but to the Armstrong
family she was as hateful as if she had been
CalibaA's twin sister and Hecate's fayorite
daughter. And her name-Debby Scambler
What mattered her beautiful soft hair, like
ripe nuts in the sunshine-her large hmpid
hazel eVeS-her checks with their pcach-llke
blOom-her lips with their "Cupd's bOw'' for
outline. their flesh as soft and smooth and red
as cherries; what mattered her sweet voice and
her nymph-lillc form, when she was only a
gamekeeper's daughter, and was called Debby
Scambler. Her very name was disgrace, as
her birth and parentage were social sins
made SO by the fact that Julian Armstrong of
Home Wood was in love with her and meant
to make her his wife. Had he been in love
with her, without meaning to make her his
wife, even then the shame would have been
sufficient: but as things were his love for the
girl was the last drop in the cup OF bitterness
and the parents refused to swallow it.
There was no CLOSING over an unpleasant
truth, or automatically biding his time with
Julian. What he had to say he said at once,
going straight to the point, without circum-
locution or concealment. As soon as he had
made il clear TO himself and Debby that he
loved her and had heard that she loved him in
return, he made it clear also to his father and
mother. In less than half an hour after he
had taken her first kiss, and given his own
faith, he revealed this notable secret to his
parents; and he revealed it with as much en-
thusiasm and pride and delight as if he had
gained the love of princess and was to call a
King his father-in-law. Instead of which he
had onlywon the love of Debby Scambler; and
his future father-in-law was the head game
keeper on his own ancestral estate. But it was
the right kind of thing altogether he said,
tossing back his long black locks. This fusion
of the classes was to be the true salvation of
England-this dwelling up the only righteous
revolution. He was not only glad because he
loved Debby and she loved him, but because
IL was such an admirable occasion for carrying
out his Misunderstanding the strength and
worth Of his ideas. He was happy as man,
lover, and experimentalist, a philosopher; and
he invited his father to congratulate him on
his choice and his mother to be glad even as
he was glad.
You are mad or worse" cried Mr.. Arm
strong furiously. "If you marry that girl you
viii break your mothers hearth
mo, my mother will learn to love her!'
said Julian with the heroism of infatuatiOn.
q She viii live to thank me for giving her such
q daughter"
as this folly or insoleneeln asked his father, !
looking at him curiously.
Neither Julian answered, meeting that |
searching look with one as candid as a child's. |
1T is truth and love"
Hugh Armstrong turned away with an i'm |
patient exclamation. He had loved his wife /
no man better, but then Julia was his fit help /
mate. She was his equal in birth, fortune, ed /
ucation. condition. There were no loose /
timbers in the matrimonial ship 10 threaten /
laundering or TO creak unpleasantly. But this !
affair Of Julian's was very different kind of |
thing. This was unsound throughout-not |
timber that did not creak, not a square inch 4
that cid not portend laundering.
Truth and lovel-rubbishl" said Hugh |
contemptuously. Understand me- he then /
continued turning back and speaking to his /
Ron with hardness, anger, decision and impa-
thence all in one. "If you marry that girl you /
may live as You viii or as you can. cannot |
prevent YOUR coming into the estate; butwhile !
] am alive not one sixpence shall find its way /
from my pocket into yours
"That win be so much to the good OF my |
moral nature, - was the answer of the incor-
rigible. Il shall learn a mans duties before /
me and assume husbands responsibilities"
"Juliani how can YOU be so insane, so \
wicked, cried his mother II ANYTHING she |
was even more disguised than his father, and |
took the disgrace and shame of the whole /
thing more TO heart