Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-08-30

DAT MERLIN's FEET THE Willy WHEN LAY"
All went merrily at Davenant during
the brief days Of November and De-
ccember, though the master of the house
WIS not without his burden OF secret
cark and care That magnificent coal
and iron producing o tate In the north
had not been yielding quite 50 much
hard cash as It's owner expected from
it lately. Strikes and tradeunlonlsm
had tod upon Mr. Sincair's income
The coal market had lluctuated awk-
wardly. Belgium had been tapping the
demand for IRON There was plenty OF
rRnoney coming in, of course, from Gil
bert's large possessions; but uniortu,
nately there was also great deal
going out The Newmarket tables
had cost small fortune, the Newman
lfet horses had been unucky, and Gil
bert look for the last three or four
sea- ons had been u decided failure
THE fact is, Wyatt, he emarked, to
that confidential alVi.er, one dull al
Eernoon, over tete-a-tete game at
billiards, 81 m spending too much
money.
Have you only in found that out?"
'N5htu but bbllNlbOl, NAbb ~ Nulul ollHVAs
"The purch Sc OF this confounded
place took too IN CHI of my capital, and
these strikes and lock-outs coming on
the top of it"
Not to mention your vicious habit
of plunging," remarked Mr.. Wyatt,
parenthetil ally, taking q careful aim
Mt the distant red
Have very nearly stumped me-"
why not sell Davenant' You don't
want such big barracks of place,
and Mrs, Sinclair isn't happy here.
"No, said Gilbert, with smothered
saith; the associations are too ten
Ger.
Il could get you purchaser tenor
row.
"Yes, at a dead loss, no doubt. You
Bellows live by buying and selling, and
YOU don't care how much your client
loses by transaction that brings grist
so your MIL,
# can get you the money you gave
SOr Dave ant, timer and all. "
"WhO's your purchaser"
"I'd rather not mention his name yet
awhile. He lisa quiet party and wouldn't
like to be talked about.
81 understand. Some city cad who
has made his money in the geological
zine"
How 2oologlcal?"
"Bulling and tearing. Well, if those
Eeastly ,lliers hold out much longer,
he may have Davenant and welcome.
But he must take my new furniture at
n valuation, I've paid no end of money
Cor it,
what did you do with the cd ia
robean oak?'
sob, the old sticks are put away
somewhere, believe, in lofts and lum-
ber-roons and servants bedrooms.
Some OF Mr.. S5il clair's other guests
drop ed into the billiard-room at this
Sunc u.e, and there was no more said
about the sale of Davenant.
Nobody NOT even his worst enemy,
and no doubt among his numerous
friends he had several foes-could' deny
&lH. Wyatt's merits Us guest in o
country house. He was Just the kind
of man TO keep things going--a past
master in all social acc)mpli 3hments-
s4nd Gilbert Sinclair graciOusly allowed
him to take the burden OF amusing
everybody upon his shoulders, while
the master of the house went his own
sway, and hunted or shot at his own
plea ure. Mr. Sinclair liked to fill his
no Sc with people, but he had no idea
o0f sacrificing hi Cwn inclination to
their en- ertainment; he thought he
did quite enough for them in giving
&hem what he elegantly called the
Af tbAi,, y n,l Ia, f,Nn
'Of his second-rate hunters.
On Mr.. Wyatt, therefore, devolved
the duty o. keeping things gotng-de-
vislng the days amusements, protect
-Sng the ladies of the party from the
seltishness of neglectful and unappl eel
Rtive mankind, arranging picnic lunch
.ch cons in keepers lodges, at which the
lair sex might assist, finding safe
mounts for those aspiring damsels who
wanted to ride to hounds. planning pri-
vate theatricas, and stimulating the
musical members of the society to the
performance of part SONGS in bust
mes Like and cteditable manner.
He had done all these things last
winter and the winter before, but on
those ocCa jions he had been aided in
Ahis task. Constance Sinclair had given
him her hearty cooperation, She had
played her part of hostess with grace
aand spirit-had allowed no cloud OF
thought or memory to obscure the
brightness of the present moment. She
had given herself up, heart and soul
to the duties of her position, and hen
friends had believed her to be the hap
plest of women, as we'll as the mos
fortunate. To seem thus had cost hei
many an effort, but she had deemed
this one of her obligations as Gilber'
=sSfnclairs wife.
Now all was changed. Her husband
had been obeyed; but that obedience
was all which Constance Sinclair,
sense of duty could now compel Sht
sat like beautiful statue at the heat
of her husbands table, she moved
about among her guests with as LITTLE
part in their pleasure and amusement
as if she had been a picture en- the
rwall-courteous to all, but familiar
with none, she seemed to live apar
from her surroundings "a strange ant
silent life, whose veil CT shadow evel
sympathy failed to penetrate. Mrs
,Millamount, not unkindly, despite he
iGGriyolity had tried to get Constance I,