Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-12-18

1
er's company.
The head keeper, an old man OF near,
ly seventy, was mere agura-head, and
the work fell mostly on Eustace and
the grooms, OF whom there were sew
eral Eustace lived in the little shoot.
ing lodge, nearly two miles from the
manor, In the heart of the beech woods.
The members OF the shooting parties
given by his lordship invariably ex-
pressed curiosity on the subject Of the
new Keeper. 10 inquiries the Marquis
made answer that he knew nothing OF
the young man except that he was the
best gafne.keeper he ever had ON his
preserves Mordaunts manner towards
the ladies and gentlemen who visited
the manor was that Of undertaking re-
spect and courtesy. His breeding was
apparent at glance. The Marquis
cousin, healthy country girl of seven
teen, once remarked in his hearing on
the smallness and whiteness of his hands.
whereupon he blushed deeply and moved
out Of sight.
Time and again the Marquis besought
his keeper, to whom he had taken a
great liking (for which Mordaunts abil-
tiles as a sportsman we're perhaps par
TALLY responsibility, to quit his menial
position and become his private secre.
tary The Americans invariable reply
was that be liked his position and
would keep II as long as his lordship
allowed him to do so.
Then came tragic night. Poachers
were abroad and the Marquis OF Sans
downe, returning late at night through
his grounds from neighbor's, tried to
capture two Of them single He
was felled to the ground with bludg-
con and might have perished then and
there had not Eustace Mordaunt came
stalking through the moonlit glade
with his fowling-piece over his shoul-
der. One poacher fed The other, as
he stood over the PROSTATE Marquis,
preparing to strike another blow, re-
oeived charge OF bird shot in the thigh.
lie responded with pistol shot that
stretched the American on the dewy
sward and then limped ava y.
1t was six weeks before Eustace left
his bed. During his period Of captivity
the Marquis cousin, the blue-eyed lady
Edith, trotted down to the lodge
every day with some delicaey to tempt
his palate. The Marquis was not
Jealous Perhaps he rightfully in
terpreted her charity as gratitude for
his own salvation When Eustace be-
gan to prowl about the grounds again,
pale and thin, work was out OF the
question. When his employer asked
him one day IL there was any thing he
wished for he blushed and hesitated.
What is it, man2 Speak out, said
the Englishman, heartily.
while ! am idle all day. answered
the American, i should like to have
piano down at the lodge, If your lord
ship would permit me to send to Lon
don for it,"
The Marquis raised his eyebrows in
astonishment
"You are a musician as we'll as a gen
tleman, then, said he.
Only an amateur" responded Eus-
tace, modestly; but all exiles love
music, and am an exile, you know"
The next day four grooms came down
had formerly graced the Marquis draw
ing-room. And after that the woods
re-echoed with the melody that was
poured into them.
Prior to this Eustace had kept his
tenor secret In his illness, however,
something Of his old heart ache came
back TO him. and he sang as he did in
the old days. or course the Marquis
heard of it, He came down to the lodge
and was enraptured, but the American
resisted all his employers entreaties to
come up and sing for the guests at the
manor. The game-keeper was stubborn |
on this point He knew his place, he |
said and would keep it.
Sometimes. however the Marquis and !
his cousin would stop in their moon
light walks under the eccentric keepers |
window and listen to the songs that
were carolled out into the frosty night |
The Christmas season drew on and
there was a typical English house party |
up at the manor. There we're noble
men and their families from distant
statesmen from London and
some foreigners of note, including an
American beauty or two who had lately
realized the ambition OF their lives by
being presented az court. For a week
all was light, laughter and gayety.
With Christmas eve came frost-hard,
honest frost, that covered the cute lit
tie artificial lake in the woods with
three solid inches Of ice. A moonlight
skating party was a delicious novelty,
and every guest at the manor was de-
lighted at their hosts proposal to have
one. For four hours the ghostly figures,
the ladies we'll clad in furs-glided
over the surface, and then the ice was
deserted and host and guest started
lomeward over the frozen turf.
Very ghostly looked the frost-laden
in the moonlight 1t lacked
.wo minutes OF midnight when the
party of pedestrians stopped, thunder
struck. Quito the silence came ringing
he notes of superb tenor The sound
ieemed TO spring out Of the trees. Like
/ bugle call they rang forth, loud, clear
md sweet. The wayfarers were under
he windows OF the keepers lodge.
Their footballs made no sound on tue
rozen sod, and all stayed to listen.
The singer was in the midst of the i'm
Cantique de Noel:
He it was who taught us 10 love one another;
His word is law and His gospel is peace,
Chains shall He break the slave is our
brother
And at His word all oppression shall cease.
Fall on your knees
Now hear the Heavenly voices
o. Night Divine
o! Night when Christ was born.n
As the last wonderful notes-that
anne Fat was among them-went ed
ying forth, the singer left the piano
nd eane TO the window As be stood
here for an instant the watchers below
aw tall young man whose pale face ,
Doked wan and euaciated in the food
( moonlight leaning against the case ,
rent And at that instant one of the