The Portland daily press., 1894-12-26
AN L.A4 EMINENT.

There were excellent reasons-which
have lost force now-for hushing up the
story of the fire at Portal abbey. That
Sir Godfrey Steyne caused it was known
in very few hours, for several of ME-
Hudson's servants overheard his angry
reproaches, but the facts have not been
published, and they are worth noting.
1t was limited at the time that the Steynes
had never forgiven the purchasers OF their
ancient seat This is absurd. The fam
lilies were friendly enough till, 30 years
ago, Mr. Hudson, father Of the present,
began to Improve the abbey. Among
other dreadful deeds, he transformed the
private chapel into billiard room. Sir
Herbert Steyne took proceedings, under
an old statute, to prevent this outrage,
but he had to drop the action, finding him
self unable to prove that the building had
ever been consecrated Then the acquaint-
ance broke off naturally. AS matter OF
fact, believe that none of the present
generation had so much as seen each other
until this story opened.
Sir Godfrey Steyne, his fortune re-
cruited by long minority, spent abroad
for the most part, led shooting exped1-
ton from the Zambezi right up to the do
main of the East African company, where
Captain Hudson, R. E., was surveying at
the time A quarrel arose with the ma
tiyes, the camp was attacked, and Hudson
arrived only just in time to save the par
ty. He spent but few hours in their
company, sending them down to the coast
next day under escort, but Sir Godfrey S
character struck him.
II never saw such fellow he wrote
home Its absurd to suppose he was
drunk. A drunken man doesn't fight in
that way, especially when wounded in half
a dozen places, but if it isn't anything
spirituous which flows in that boys veins
it's quicksilver And he proceeded to de-
tails which interested his sister Madeleine.
She was not pattern young lady-much
too fond of fun, which seemed all the more
delightful if it had spice of mischief.
Some weeks afterward Sir Godfrey
reached England and called on the family
of his preserver. The conversation opened
with all decorllm, but when the young
man had expressed his thanks-very nice
". too-he broke loose, just as Captain
Hudson described. I have no space for
samples of his humor, which, in truth,
was little more than the outburst of abnor-
NAL vivacity, amusing enough to any hear-
er. but especially to young people as
thoughtless and as ready to laugh as Mad
eleine-not adapted for transcription,
however That sort of man makes &C
quaintance rapidly. George Hudson begged
him to call whenever he had time, and
Madeleine seconded the invitation with her
eyes.
When he had gone, she looked at heI
brother, and both laughed. Mr.. Hudson
expressed their thought. So early in the
afternoon!' he murmured. Dear, dear,
| such fine young man too!'
The call was returned, of course. Then
| Lady Steyne made advances. Her son had
passed the age when, as she Thought,
| young man of property ought to marry,
| but hitherto, in the literal sense OF the
| words, he had regarded no young lady Sc
| riously. Madeleine on her best behavior
seemed most desirable match, and she
was very pretty.
So the acquaintance grew, not with Mr.
| Hudson's approval, but that signltieo
| nothing. AS time went on the first nat
ural explanation of Sir Geofrey's higt
| spirits became rather doubtful. He refused
to drink anything besides water and tea
] Most people would have felt quite sure
| that the suspicion was quite unjust, but
| Mr.. Hudson had drunkenness on the brain
as they say. He regarded that as the main
| spring of events at large public and prl
| vate, in this realm of England. And Mad
| eleine, of course, had imbibed something
| of his fancy.
Sir Godfrey was telling stories one day
when he was interrupted. "Do you NEAR
| literally that you can jump off horse go
| ing at full gallop and shoot an antelope
| right and left? Can you do it in the
| park?'
| 'tTrot out the antelope, and Twill try. >
''Thats not necessary. Let us see you
| Jump off, and we II imagine the antelopes. y
''Do you offer any prize?"
eyes; I'll believe every word you say
hereafter!'
| 'sOh this is the listener l have prayed
for from my youth up! I will reward you
| Miss Hudson, with adventures never yet
| confided to mortal. Where's the horse
Give me a winchester, George, and II
| throw the shooting in. The brook meadow
| would be good makeshift for veldt,
| think"
AS they walked thither Madeleine begar
to quake George overlook them with ;
| groom and lead horse.
"Oh, the wrctched boy has brough
| Rasperl'' she exclaimed He's much too
spirited"
1--WE take them as they come. Now
Miss Hudson, hsre is the first trial of tb'
confidence you bave sworn"
'You have not earned it yet. :"
''Well, if you're so punctilious, for I
few minutes more you may cherish thu
fancy that those two objects, pointing
fare 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 fib, hope
Now, George, the rifie!''
81 say! There are men working yon
derl'
.'Tell them not to get behind thos'
young trees. A winchester hits hard!'
And he sprang into the saddle.