The Portland daily press., 1894-12-26

ton. You were nOb IrlBuO5uSu ouioiy'
Why, Afrikander boys can perform that
feat at / 0 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 tankard. Sir Godfrey
declined it.
Are you a teetotaler?" Madeleine.
asked rather ironically.
II don't know, but l never felt an in
clination to drink anything but water"
George whispered in a stage aside, MY
dear, he has begun to reward you with
thumpers already"
Sir Godfrey only laughed
That was the explanation, of course,
but few days afterward Madeleine spent
an afternoon with Lady Steyne, who, get
ting very hopeful now, recited her sons
virtues. Among them was total absti-
nence Madeleine could no longer doubt.
Instantly a mschievous thought arose.
If he was so lively on tea and water, what
would be the result of a glass of cham
pagne2 The very same idea struck George
when she told him, and at the first oppor-
tunity he made an attempt.
MY dear fellow, said Sir Godfrey, Il
daren'ti 1t would be like testing some
new explosive of which one can't calcu-
late the force. T"
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. He
gave Sir Godfrey hint-a pretty strong
one Now this young man, though easy
and careless had an intense pride of fam
ily, and at the bottom of his heart lay an
undying grievance against the men who
had not only bought the home of his fore
fathers, but had vulgarized it. Some sharp
words passed He CHANGED to meet George
on leaving and told him George told bis
sister, requesting Sit. Godfrey to wait.
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, lust to
show there was no i'll feeling"
Its the first time have dined here"
Godfrey murmured as they sat down.
II ask myself miserably is it to be the
last?"
"Oh," Madeleins cried, here's the
portent Sir Godfrey Steyne feels miser-
able. Fill his glass, George 1t must not
be said that you were really miserable for
the first time in your life at our table.
insist, Sir Geoffrey!"
''Please let me off. don't know what
| the consequences may be. "
1.-THE natural consequences of glass of
| wine are cheerfulness, said George.
Drink and forget your cares. !"
His sister supported him with merry
| malice Sir Godfrey shook his head, but
| obeyed
| The result was all they had hoped, and
| more-for a time. Cheerfulness returned
with vengeance. Mr. Hudson himself
| could not stop laughing, the servants for
| got their discipline, but Sir Godfrey kept
| slipping A child would scarcely have been
| excited by the amount he drank, but it
| was enough to upset that vivacious tenn
permanent The lively mood passed, and
| he talked earnestly of the affairs of the
day-on politics, even on religion, speak
| ing well on every theme.
Dinner was long finished. Madeleine
| rose at length, surprised and delighted,
| but rather nervous about the issue. The
others adjourned to the billiard room.
| Sir Godfrey had not seen this apartment
before. 1t was the family chapel as has
L
ther. but Mr. Hudson had lately refur'
nished it in the style termed oriental by
uphosterers-witha dado of Indian mat
| ting, walls paneled with Turkish stuffs
and even the vaulted roof hidden by cell
ing of bamboo. 1t was building apart,
but under the main wall of the abbey.
Sir Godfrey stood in the doorway look
ing at the decorations with an air of pas
sionate distaste This is where my fore
fathers used to worship. Did you leave
any mark to show where the altar stood,
| Mr.. Hudsona All, see That cue rack
indicates the spot. Very thoughtful and
appropriated" He advanced "One of my
ancestors was buried somewhere about.
It's an interesting story. He lost his head
on Tower hill, and his widow brought
homo the body You did not notice the
gravestone perhaps? Who could regret a
sacrifice of sentiment in view of a work
of art like this?" And SO on, with in
creasing bitterness.
George, getting alarmed, called fol
brandy and soda, in hopes that his mood
would change once more. 1t did not. He
began to rave.
ssFor heavens sake, don't talk so loudP'
said George Medicines room is just
above"
But he was quarrelsome now Mr.. Huo-
son fled, angry and frightened, bidding
his son to follow. George fingered mo-
ment.
''Do go, Steyne," he urged. 1--WE shall
hardly pacify the governor now"
''Pacifyl Pacify the shades of my fore
fathers! Strip your gimoraokery from theil
wallsi Burn it! Fire is the only purge
for crime>like this!' With eyes flaming
he stalked to and fro, his tossed hair wei
with perspiration. He was mad.
George left the room hastily to consult
A moment afterward the curtains were
blazing. They fared up-panels and cell
ing caught. AL was flame and smoke il
an instant.
Steyne ran out shouting. The passage
was empty. Georges words required
Madeleine's room was just above. He rar
OH A servants staircase opened on his
right. The smoke grew thicker as he
dashed up, crying, Madeleine, Made
leiner'
"In therei' screamed maid, rushing
past.
Madeleine was throwing on the dress