The Washington times., 1894-11-19

''Oh this is the listener have prayed Tor
from my youth up! will reward you, Miss
| Hudson. with adventures never yet conf1ded
| to mortal. Where's the horse? Give me a
Winchester. George, and I'll throw the shoot
| ing in. The brook meadow would be good
make-shift for veldt, think
AS thew walked thither Madeleine began to
| quake: George overlook them with a groom
and led horse.
"Oh. the wretched boy has brought Ras-
per- she exclaimed. Hes much too
| spirited"
'sWe take them as they come. Now, Miss
Hudson. here is the first trial of the conf
| dence you have sworn.
"You have not earned 1t yet"
well. IL you're 90 punctilious, for few
minutes more you may cherish the fancy that
those two objects" pointing, "are young
trees, not antelopes
Rasper approached, fretting and tossing
| "Oh, don't try it, please!' Madeleine cried,
'I'll accept your word
Heaven will forgive you the flb, hope.
| Now. George, the rtne.
81 say! There are men working yonderp'
Tell them not to get behind those young
trees. Winchester hits hard!'' And he
sprang into the saddle.
Behind the trees" George murmured.
''Well, he has cheek.
Madeleine was white with alarm as Sir
! GeofTrey returned up the long meadow full
gallop. He unsluag the rifie-she clutched
Georges arm; suddenly with cheer he drew
| his feet from the gtirrups-Madeleine saw no
more But on the instant shots rang out,
one after another. till the magazine was
empried.
"Now, Miss Hudsonr' Sir Geoffrey laughed
"prepare TO change all your views about
everything under my direction. You were not
frightened, surely? Why, Afrikander boys
can perform that feet at ten years old"
"Then I'm not surprised their fathers beat
us at Majuba hill" cried George. Every
| bullet hit
He galloped home and met them at the hall
door with a tankard. Sir Geoffrey declined
| it.
care you teetotaller?' Madeleine asked,
rather ironically.
~ don't know; but I never felt an inclina-
| ton to drink anything but water"
George whis pered III stage aside:
MY dear, he has begun to reward you with
thumpers already"
Sir Geoffrey only laughed.
| That was the explanation OF course. But
| few DAYS afterward Madeleine spent an after
noon with Lady Steyne. who. getting very
| hopeful now, recited her sons virtues; among
them was total abstinence. Madeleine could
no longer doubt.
Instantly a mischievous thought arose. If
he was so lively on tea and water what would
q
very same idea struck George. when she told
! him and at the first opportunity he made an
| attempt.
"My dear fellow" said Sir Godfrey, ST
daren't! 1t would be like testing some new
explosive, of which one can't calculate the
| force"
This comparison was not likely TO deter
George Feeling himself unable to work the
| oracle, as he said he urged his sister to try.
She resisted laughingly, though as curious as
himself TO see the issue.
The growing intimacy which delighted Lady
| Steyne alarmed Mr.. Hudson. lie gave Sir
| Godfrey hlnt-a pretty strong one Now
| this young man, though easy and careless
| had an intense pride of family, and at the
| bottom of his heart lay an undYing grievance
against the men who had not only bought the
| home of his forefethers, but had vulgarized
: it. Some sharp words passed. He chanced
ftO meet George on leaving and told him.
| George told his sister, requesting Sir Godfrey
| TO wait A small domestic row followed and
| poor Mr.. Hudson sent an apology. Meantime
| the afternoon turned out wet; George pre-
vailed on him TO stay TO dinner-"just 10 show
there was no i'll feeling"
Its the first time I have dined here
! Godfrey murmured, as they sat down. II
ask myself miserably is 1t to be the last?"
"Oh'' Madeleine cried, 'heres the portent!
! Sir Geoffrey Steyne feels miserable. Fill his
! glass, George. II must not be said that you
were really miserable for the first time in
your life at our table! insist, Sir Geofreyr'
please let me off, don't know what the
| consequences may be-"
The natural consequences OF a glass of
wine are cheerfulness,' said George. "Drink
| and forget your cares"
His sister supported him with merry malice.
! Sir Geoffrey shook his head, but obeyed.
The result was all they had hoped and more
for time. Cheerfulness returned with
| vengeance Mr.. Hudson himself could not
! stop laughing-the servants forgot their dis
cipline. But Sir Godfrey kept slipping. A
! child would scarcely have been excited by the
| amount he drank, but II was enough to upset
that vivacious temperament. The lively mood
! passed and he talked earnestly on the affairs
of the day-on politics, even on religion,
| speaking well on every theme.
Dinner was long finished. Medicine rose
at length, surprised and delighted, but rather
nervous aboutthe issue. The others adjourned
| to the billiard-room.
Sir Geoffrey had not seen this apartment
before. Ii was the family chapel, as has been
said, desecrated by Mr.. Hudson's father; but
Mr. Hudson himself had lately refurnished it
in the style termed oriental by upholsterers-
| with dado of Indian mating walls paneled
| with Turkish stuffs and even the vaulted roof
hidden by ceiling of bamboo. 1t was a
building apart, but under the main wall of
| the abbey.
Sir Godfrey sto od In the doorway looking
at the decorations with an air of passionate
| distaste. 'This is where my forefathers used
to worship! Did you leave any mark to show
where the altar STOOD Mr.. Hudson? Ah l see,
that cue rack indicates the spoil Very
thoughtful and appropriated" He advanced
lone of my ancestors was buried somewhere
about. It's an interesting story. He lost his
head on Tower Hill, and his widow brought
hon fha hNI Ixy VnI1l onfr rOti oya-
stone perhaps? Who could regret sacrifice
of sentiment in view of work of art like
this?" And so on with increasing bitterness.
George, getting alarmed, called for brandy
and soda, in hopes that his mood would
change once more. 1t did not-he began to
rave.
For heavens sake don't talk so loud!"
said George. 'Madeleine's room is just
above"
But he was quarreIsome now Mr.. Hudson
fed, angry and frightened. bidding his son to
'Do go, Steyne,' he urged. 1--WE shall
hardly pacify the governor nowm
"Pacify! Pacify the shades OF my fore
fathers! Strip yonr gimcrackery from their
walls! Burn it, Fire is the only purge for
crime like thisr' With eyes flaming he stalked
to and fro, his tossed hair wet with perspira-
ton. He was mad.
moment after the curtains were blazing.
They fared up-panels and ceiling caught.
All was fame and smoke in an instant.
Steyne ran out shouting-the passage was
empty. Georges words recurred-Madeline's
room was just alb owe. He ran on-a servants
staircase opened on his right. The smoke
grew thicker as he dashed up, crying: made
line! Madeline!''
IN thereP' screamed maid, rushing past.
Madeline was throwing on the dress inst