Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-10
THE BURNING OF ALLINGS-
FORD HOUSE.

ing of. was not. But, on the other hand, the
park was one of the noblest in England and
contained some splendid shooting. The ken.
nels also at no great distance from the house
were renowned both near and far. The enor
nous trout caught in the Alling. which ran
through the park, were often mentioned in the
IJeId and had furnished many a days work te
tine local taxidermist. Add to this that the
house was built of red brick and fully insured
and perhaps you will not feel so very much
Mortified when ask you to come WEI and
burn it, for that is what mean g.
Remember what a godsend it vii. ne to con
versation at local dinner parties for the mex
Fix months. What a story for mine host a.
the Eagle in the village to tell for the rest o.
his life. Then think of the new quarry a.
tutstone, which has just started working, anC
OF young Mr.. Smith, the scientific architect
who has scarcely had single Job since he de-
signed the Town Hall so successfully two years
ago. L admit that, a rule, burning dowr
family mansions is not nice thing to do, and
least of all at Christmas time; but think thai
you will agree with me that in this case the
circumstances rendered the act justifable.
IL was Christmas Eve, and most Of the guests
had gone to bed, for, indeed, it was long past
IL o'clock. But Sir John and his brother
smoking-room. chatting over last pipe and
tumbler of toddy.
We'll, it's his own fault" said Sir John
Hes had as good a chance as a man could
wish for. after dinner. alone with her in the
conservatory for nearly quarter of an hour
the thermometer standing at IS. II he couldn't
pull himself together to propose then. all can
say is that he never will The boy ought to be
ashamed of himself"
Yet the youngster is worth dozen Of the
puppies one meets nowadays" replied the
colonel. Il shall never forget the day he got
his v G. at Ashallan Gasha. 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 fell
lows would have left the guns when that am
bush attacked. aud small blame either. Not
30 Harry; he knew that if the rebels got them
hack they could have given us the very deuce
of a time of il till achievements came up; so
he stuck to them like a man, and brought them
in safely. toOI''
Why doesn't he ask our niece to marry him?
ANY fool can that he wants to. and know
that Nina wants to. and we all want them to.
Now. If | were dead against the match it would
have been over and finished long ago. Then the
girl won't help pull him on either. She ought
IT, fiirt with young Jervis."
well. well, Jack; these things have a won
derful 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 salts
fed himself that all the fastenings were secure
upstairs together. candlestick in hand.
Jack. believe that window on the stairs is
open: feel Just like sneeZing," and the gall
lint colonel pulled out his handkerchief and
with IL his pipe. which merrily gamboled down
two flights Of stairs. and then, to 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
tomorrow morning. Good night, Jack
Good night"
n L a
and IN half an hours time. as BELTS healthy old
gentlemen with clear consciences, 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
ar what he did Promoted out of his turn for
distinguished service. he the youngest
captain in her majesty's army. and with his
slight figure. clear skin. and the very smallest
attempt at "a moustache. looked mere bow
Though no relation of the Allingfords he had
been known to both brothers from his child
Rood. and was now in the last week of a long
visit 10 their house. Two months before he
had found that he looking forward to this
visit with special impotence. though not for
one minute would lie have admitted it. Now
that II was nearly over there no concealing
from himself that he was head over ears in
love with Nina Darlington. the baronet's niece.
But however brave he in the field of battle
Master Harry in this affair showed lamentable
want of courage.
Nina was an heiress. while Harry's fortune
was all in ehaneery; that is to say, there was no
telling whether il was his fortune or somebody
else's. He thought that to push his suit would
lie u betray Sir Johns kindness. Who was he.
a penniless captain in regiment of foot. to
marry Nina Darlington. heiress to one of the
finest estates III England? Ii 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,
y kWT~ l.. ~
it did not seem to him that he had done any
thing particularly brave; he had done his duty,
and 80 would any of the other fellows. Hence,
u such "a modest temperament it seemed the
Height of presumption to hope that Nina would
ever come to reciprocate his affection. while
that she did so already never occurred to him.
Poor fellow. he was really to be pitied the
last few days he had looked quite i'll, taking
long walks by himself. and seeming in society,
as one of his friends expressed il, las nervous
a cat" And yet. such Is human blindness
lie never suspected that his indisposition was
noticed OF the cause guessed by his host or any
one else. SO he paced his room up and down.
up and down. He would cut his visit still
shorter and leave early in the morning the
DAY after Christmas day. He would volunteer
for the Egyptian army and get killed in the
SOudan. Or he would offer to carry dispatches
To- Emin and be caught by dervishes and put to
death by torture, which would be very nice
and very agreeable; but neither Nina nor her
guardian should ever hear of his hopeless pas
zion.
Let us leave this young man, who is very bad
company. and making great ass of himself
and come up stairs. Up. up. up, past the sec
ond story. along this little passage. up the old
cOrkscrew stair to the little turret room Hushl
tread gently. for the occupant Of this room has
had the sense to go to sleep. like a prudent
girl who wants to look her best in the morning
Light the candle and we will see how Miss
Nina has been amusing herself before she went
IL bed Her sketch book and pencils are scat
tered about on the dressing table so she must
have been drawing; and. to judge by the litter
IN the fender, she seems to have torn her draw
ing UP into very little pieces and burned most of
u. Luckily, was looking over her shoulder
al the time; 50 can tell what she drew First
the drew young man on horseback
linen she turned the paper over
and drew another young man in
lnickerbockers and a Norfolk jacket. with a
gun ON his shoulder. Then, taking a fresh
piece of paper. she drew third in a patrol
jacket and regulation boots. with a drawn
sword III his right hand. while with his left
he seemed 70 be frantically calling to some one
behind him to come on. OH of course we can
see II all now. They all meant for the same
person. and that person Is Harry Melville; but
hes not nearly SO tall or well proportional
as You have drawn him, Miss Darlington; he's
not. really.
just now she IL dreaming. dreaming that she
l. looking at Millais famous picture. Yes. -
She wonders why she never before appreciated
u 80 much, and sits down in front of il. Soon
she wonders what makes the place terribly
hot Then she faucies that every one q no