The Red Cloud chief., 1888-12-07
~ALLINGSFORD HOUSE.
How It's Burning Brought Things
Out All Right.

How It's Burning Brought Thing
Out All Right.
Allin2sford House was not very old, no
was it particularly beautiful; at least tn
late AliingsfOrd House. which is the one
An speaking OF. was not. But, or the othe
hand, the park was one of the noblest i,
England, and contained some splendi,
shooting. The kennels also. at no grea
distance from the house, were renowned
both near and far. The enormous trou
caught in the Alling, which ran through thu
park, were often mentioned in the Field. ant
had furnished many a days work TO thu
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 10 come with
me and burn il, for that is what mean to do
Remember what a gOdsend il will be tC
conversation al local dinner parties for the
next six months. What a story for mine
host at the Eagle in tho village TO tell for the
rest OF his life. Then think Of the new
quarry Ut C~uts,One. which has just started
working. and Of young Mr.. Smith, the sci.
ertific architect. who has scarcely had u
single job since ne designed the Town Hall
80 successfully two years ago. admit that.
AS "A rule. burning dow family mansions is
not a nice thing to do, and least of all At
Christmas time: but l think that you will
agree with me that in this case the circnm-
stances render the act iustifiable.
II was Christmas Eve, and most OF the
guests had gone to bed, for. indeed il was
long past twelve o'clock. But Sir John and
hi. hr.tk... , l Am -.
manned in the smoking room, chatting over
= last pipe and tumbler of toddy.
"Well, it's hn own fault" said Sir John.
Hes had rs good a chance as a man could
wish for, after dinner. alone with her in the
conservatory for nearly a quarter of an
hour, the thermometer standing at eighty
five. IT h. couldn't pull himself together to
propose then, all l can say is that he never
will. The boy ought 70 be ashamed OF him
self"
Yet the yOungs,er Is worth a dozen of
the puppies one meets nowadays" replied
the Colonel. 81 shall never forget the day
he got his Y. &. at Ashallan Gasha. I fancy
] 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
hN VIM oiipuSh httdt hst. anu Sffl.l
blame either. Not SO Harry: he knew that
if the rebels got them back they could have
given us the very deuce OF IA time of il till
reinforccmeats carneup; SO he stuck to them
like a man, and brought them in safely,
tour'
"Why doesn't he ask our niece to marry
him! Any fool can see tina, he wants To,
ard ! know that Nina want IL. and we all
tglns fl,an Tn NnKg &C ,-,,, a,.l =.
the match il would haze been over and fin
ishcd long ago. Then the girl won't help
pull him on either. She ought TO iiirt with
young Jcrvis"
"Wcli. well. Jack: these things have =
wonderful knack of coming ri.lit when we
least expect. ANYHOW. I can't see howo oar
talking half the night will improve matters.
It's a quarter past one: I'm OF 10 bed"
So, after the master of the house had SAT.
isfied himself that all the fastcnincs were
secure for the night. the " fine old broth
crs strobe III stairs together, caudlcstick in
hand
Jack. l believe that window on the stairs
is open; feel just like sneezins." and the
gallant Colonel pulled out his handkerchicf
ard with IL his pipe, which merri'ly sambo!ed
down two flights of stairs. and then IN
Judge by the sound, shattered itself on the
hall stove.
MY old.meerschaum gone at last. Never
mind. hope no one trips up over the stem
10 morrow morning Goodnight, Jack"
'Good-night."
Their bedrooms were both on the first
floor. and in half an hours time, as befits
healthy old gentlemen with clear ,,,r.
sciences, they were both fast asleep.
More than was Captain Henry Melville.
who had been fevcrishly pacing hi. room
Tor the last hour, hardly knowing wha, he
thought o1 or what he did. Promoted c;,, If
his turn for distinguished service. he vns
the youngest Captain in her Maiestv,s
army. and. with his slight figure, clear akin
ard the very smallest attempt a, n mus.
tache. locke . mere boy. Though M nel,.
ton OF the Aliingfords, he had been known
to both brothers from his cnildhood. ANA
was now in the last week of a long visit IN
their house. Two months before he Ind
that he was looking forward to thi.
visit with special Impotence, thouch mot
for one minute would he have admitted n
Now that it was nearly over there was No
conccaling from himself that he Was head
over earn in love with Nina Darlington. the
Baroret's niece. But however brave he
wus in the field Of battle, Master H.rr,
in this affair showed . lameutable want Of
courage
Nina was . heireas. while Harry's fortune
I'll In chancefy: that d to saw. therr
no telling whethor Il WAS his fortune or
body ease'A. He thought that to uush |
~ salt would b 70 beeray Sir Johns kind-
49,. ~ho was be. apeaniless Capeain in |
erseimeat Of foot 70 marry Nina barring
~ hetrose 70 w Of tho finest essatee in |
Andi Il Aad always been . joke IN TIE
N&tmeat that though Melville was ~
''eess fellow tAas ever stepped" be cssld
nssee Dc bco1ght TO think himself any thing /
iooa- kvoa when be got his =. C. &
d4 - ses0 % him that he had done snv
thiag N.ticulariy brave; he had done his
duty. - - would any OF the other Ssl. |
~ >acp such . modest tempera-
meat Il he height Of prcsarpeioa
to heps would ever como 70 10
ctpeocese %, while that she did %
alreaAyH Ged 70 him.
Poor eell1 really 70 bepitisa: The
NJ loo eAy~ 'eoked qatEe n taxing