The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05
LPsi"tcd bv Snecsai Arrangement Copyrighted 1891
COL. FEATHERLEY'S SONS.
The First Prize Story of the War.
RY ROBERT c. v. MEYERS.

landscape An. mere was long Hili ios hO 40
cend it amid the red foam that flowed down its
sides
Tie wind blew, the rain bit at my face; low
cred my UNI brella further over my eyes. Sud
denly that useful adaptation of Jonas Hanway
was taken froE my hand. and an old negress
confronted me- She pointed to an alley of trees
which I was nearing:
"Par'dise Hail, sah" she said. "Kunnel
Feathley's compliments: he done sec you on de
hill. an youTl be pleased ter come long er me
twel you done meet up wild him.
She led the way into the green alley where the
rough. Shiny ground was strewn with sapings, a
Ratchet lying close to basket partly filed with
chips; and all soaked and dripping we came to a
stone archway, the iron gate rusted off its hinges
and spread across cur path like huge gridiron.
A few steps further and there was sudden view
of rambling. low browed house, surrounded by
piazzas, and set in among the densest trees On
the topulost of six steps which led to the vide
front entrance gentleman awaited me.
Colonel Featherey was about seventy fyc
years of age, tall. though somewhat stopped,
thin aud yellow. His coat was years behind
shs prevailing mode, was rather threadbare, and
lacked button here and there; his linen collar.
of narrowing height aud rigidity was scaffolded
by black satin stock, over which dropped the
ends of his white mlstache like fringe OF
frosted silver. When / was within speaking
distance he descended two OF the steps, only
two, and extended his hand, keeping it so held
out until / had come up and laid my card
against the palm, when the long. wiry fingers
a., -, .ar1s
cordial grasp.
Holding to me, he conducted me into carpet
less hall whose walls held antlers fowlng pieces,
fishing rods, and the like, over which the light
from shattered stained glass window at the
further end Of the passage cast poetic haze.
We went into room on the right, the drawing
room. The first object to arrest the attention
was the portrait OF two children, up over the
mantel-picce in the center of the ROOM made
ruby by the blazing fire in the CRATE beneath.
''Mr. Thomas Althrop, welcome to Paradise
Hail. said Colonel Featherley. glanciug at the
crumpled card in his hand
Mon ami!' iourmured soft voice.
ten thousand pardons!" cried the Colonel.
From the d;mness Of the long apartment
emerged fair. tiny lady with soft gray curs on
each side Of her face, coquettish cap of lace
head aud falling away in floating tabs that
spread over tho front OF brown chintz frock.
Colonel Featherly bended bis gaunt figure and
the lady whose cap did not reach To his shoulder
touched his fingers with her own and smiled up
On ms.
Madame. my wife, permit me to present Mr..
Thomas Althrop, overtaken by the storm" =
Mr. Aithrop honors Paradise Hail. she said.
She came out into the wider shafts of light,
said some further words of interested welcome,
AwRA4 49, ~ bnrr
faded into the shadow, on to the ball, leaving me
TO recount to her husband the nature of the diff
Guilty in which he had found me.
He would have waved off explanation. gravelv
ipclning his head in acknowledgement of the
Difference paid him.
GA most unpleasant contretemps for you" he
assured rue. when had finished, though it Of
fords Us the privilege of offering you some hog
pltality. IF you will pardon my absence for one
minute, shall ascertain ii your chamber is
ready; the servant Is internationally long about
it," and, with sweep of tho hand, he left me
alone In the freight, which appeared
doubly CHEEKY DOW that the evening shad-
ows settled outside He had no
more than reached the hall when the old necress
entered the room with an arm-ioad of wood
which she threw in the CRATE She looked about
her. nursing finger that had rag tied around
1t, hecEed cinder from the sprawling center
table, another from The antique piano which had
drawers with brass knobs for the slowing away
to the picture over The mantsl-piece.
''Marse Hubert n Marse Hamilton when dev
was ltty bit chilssn,' she said. sDe Kunners
sons. sah."
They were beautiful boys; the one slim and
upright q poplar, dark Spaniard, with
wide gaze, naughty curve to the lips, arrogance
In the out-thrust china boy who would be lead
er or nothing The other. sghter. Trailer,
younger, with timid. sensitive expression: he
was holding TO his brother as though seeking
kf4A sat, H. ii
perhaps, strongly interested in the picture be-
cause the artist had endued the eyes with that
calm watchfulness of the spectator winch char
acterl2es certain portraits OF the romantic
school, ard which impresses those OF us who
look for more than accurate anatomy and life
like flesh tints in canvases depicting hu-
manity.
Would you go ter yo' chamber sah9' asked
the necress
Ny chamber cozy bedroom where
great chintz-covered chair was drawn up to a
newly-iighted fire fanked by q pair Of slippers
whose soles were upturned to the heat. Going
to the window | looked down upon deserted
barns and stables, wistful-waiting Alderney
cow, the ore living creature in that dripping
landscape
While / stood at the window wondering if
Akers and my law business could get on without
me for tonight, gong sounded In the lower
hall.
The Colonel and his wife awaited me there.
lay u barb of point, caught at the top by quaint
brooch of diamonds set in silver; the calico
frock had given place to robe of rafting bro
cade, beautiful lace gathered at the throat by
brooch like that in the hair while clustered
brilliants blazed in the fine little ears,
Your arm 10 supper, Mr.. Althrop.' said
Madame
And the supper was no maudlin tea, no hyster-
Zeal make belief dinner; chickens fried to gold
en- brown. waffies nutty and melting. sweetcakes
OF several kinds. o variety of preserves, cream
and butter for which blessed the wet cow under
my window. and coffee with an amber rosary in
every cup.
There svere covers laid for FIVE. Beside Mad
anne chair napkin in silver ring heavy
cutglass tumbler and knife and fork; beside
the Colonel was another chair. in front Of which
was another napkin, tumbler and knife and
fork.
l was assigned to place in solitary state at
the side. my vis-a-vis fower-flled epergue
which cffectually barrcaded rue from tho two va
cant places to which no reference was made dur