The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-08
ALLINGSFORD HOUSE.

ALLINGSFORD HOUSE.
How It's Burning Brought Things
Out All Right.
Allingsford House was not very old, nol
was it particularly beautiful; at least the
late Allingsford House. which is the one
am speaking Of, was not. But, on the other
hand, the park was one of the noblest in
England and contained some splendid
shooting The kennels also, at no great
distance from the house, were renowned
both near and far. The enormous trout
caught in the Alling, which ran through the
park, were often mentioned in the Field, and
had furnished many a days work to the
local taxidermist Add to this that the
house was built of red brick and fully in
sured, and perhaps you will not feel so very
much Mortified when ask you to come with
me and burn it, for that is whatI mean to do.
Remember what a godsend it will be to
conversation at local dinner parties for the
next six months. What a story for mine
host at the Eaglei in the village to tell for the
rest of his life. Then think of the new
quarry at Cutstone, which has just started
entifc architect who has scarcely had a
single job since ne designed the Town Hall
so successfully two years ago. admit that,
as rule, burning down family mansions is
not a nice thing to do, and least of all at
Christmas time; but I think that you will
agree with me that in this case the circum-
stances render the act justifable.
1t was Christmas Eve, and most of the
guests had gone to bed, for, indeed it was
long past twelve O'clock But Sir John and
his brother, Colonel Allingsford, still re-
mained in the smoking room, chatting over
q last pipe and tumbler of toddy.
swell, it's his own fault" said Sir John.
*'He's had as good chance as man could
wish for, after dinner, alone with her in tho
conservatory for nearly quarter of an
hour, the thermometer standing at eighty
five. If he couldn't pull himself together to
propose then, all ! can say is that he never
will. The boy ought to be ashamed of him
self"
''Yet the youngster is worth dozen of
the puppies one meets nowadays" replied
the Colonel. ~ shall never forget the day
he got his " g. at Ashallan Gasha. / fancy
l can see him now, falling back on our
zareba with scarcely twenty men, and those
two Krupps they had taken out Of the Arab
fort. Most fellows would have left the guns
when that ambush attacked, and small
blame either. Not so Harry; he knew that
if the rebels got them back they could have
given us the very deuce of time of it till
reinforcements cameup so he stuck to them
like a man, and brought them in safely,
toor'
'Why doesn't he ask our niece to marry
himl Any fool can see that he wants to,
and know that Nina wants to, and we all
want them to. Now, If l were dead against
the match it would have been over and fin
ished long ago. Then the girl won't help
pull him on either. She ought to firt with
young Jervis."
"Well, well, Jack; these things have
wonderful knack of coming right when we
least expect. Anyhow, can't see how our
talking half the night will improve matters.
It's quarter past one; I'm Off to bed'
So, after the master Of the house had sat
isfied himself that all the fastenings were
secure for the night, the two fine old BROTH
ers strobe up stairs together, candlestick in
hand.
"Jack, believe that window on the stairs
is open; feel just like sneezing," and the
gallant Colonel pulled out his handkerchief
and with it his pipe which merrily gamboled
down two Fights of stairs, and then, to
Judge by the sound, shattered itself on tho
hall stove.
K "My old.meerschaum gone at last! Never
mind. hope no one trips up over the stem
TO morrow morning Good night, Jack"
Goodnight"
floor, and in half an hours time, as BELTS
healthy old gentlemen with clear con.
sciences, they were both fast asleep.
More than was Captain Henry Melville,
who had been feverishly pacing his room
for the last hour, hardly knowing what he
thought of or what he did. Promoted out of
his turn for distinguished service, he was
the youngest Captain in her Majesty's
army, and.with his slight figure, clear skin,
and the very smallest attempt at a mus
tache. looked mere boy Though no rela-
tion of the Allingfords, he had been known
to both brothers from his childhood, and
was now in the last week of a long visit to
their house. Two months before hA had
found that he was looking forward to this
visit with special impatience, though not
for one minute would he have admitted it.
Now that it was nearly over there was no
concealing from himself tina; he was head
over ears in love with Nina Darlington, the
Baronet's niece. But however brave he
was in the field of battle, Master Harry
in this affair showed lamentable want Of
courage.
Nina was heiress while Harry's fortune
was all In chancery; that is to say there
was no telling whether II was his fortune or
some body else's He thought that to push
his suit would be to betray Sir Johns kind
ness. Who was he, penniless Captain in
a regiment Of foot, to marry Nina Darling
ton, heress to one of the finest estates in
Englandi 1t had always been joke in the
regiment that though Melville was the
''best fellow that ever stepped" he could
never be brought to think himself any thing
but fool. Even when he got his V. G. IL
did not seem to him that he had done any
thing particularly brave; he had done his
duty, and so would any of the other fell
lows. Hence, to such a modest tempera-
ment II seemed the height Of presumption
TO hope that Nina would ever come to re-
ciprocate his affection, while that she did 80
already never occurred TO him.
Poor fellow, he was really TO be pitied; the
last few days ho had looked quite i'll, taking