The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-21
AN EXPERIMENT..

oUO4J VI btiS t110
Sir Godfrey Steyne caused it was known
in a very few hours, for several of Mr..
Hudson's servants overheard his angry
reproaches, but the facts lave 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, 80 years
ago, Mr.. Hudson, father of the present,
began to Improve" the abbey. Among
other dreadful deeds, he transformed the
private chapel into a 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 consccrated. Then the acquaint-
ance broke off naturally. AS a matter of
fact, l 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 a long minority, spent abroad
for the most part, led a shooting expedi-
ton from the Zambezi right up to the do
main of the East African company, where
Captain Hudson, r. E., vas surveying at
the time. A quarrel arose with the ma
tives, the camp was attacked, and Hudson
arrived only just in time to save the par
ty. He spent but a few hours in their
company, sending them down to the coast
next day under escort, but Sir Geoffrey's
character struck him.
II never saw such a 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 a pattern young lady-much
too fond Of fun, which seemed all the more
delightful if it had a spice of mischief.
Some weeks afterward Sir Godfrey
reached England and called on the family
of his preserver. The conversation opened
with all decoru1n, but when the young
man had expressed his thanks-very nice
ly, too-he broke loose, just as Captain
Hudson described. / have no space for
samples of his humor, which, in truth,
was little more han the outburst of abnor-
NAL vivacity, amusing enough to any hear
er, but especially to young people as
t~houghtless 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 her
brother, and both laughed. MI. Hudson
expressed their thought. $50 early in the
afternoonl" he murmured. Dear, dear,
such a fine young man tool"
The call was returned, of course. Then
Lady Steyne made advances. Her son had
passed the age when, as she thought, a
young MAI of property ought to marry,
but hitherto, in the lite \ sense OF the
words, he had regarded ~ soung lady Sc
riously. Madeleine on Der best behavior
seemed a most desirable match, n she
was very pretty.
So the acquaintance grew, not with Mr..
Hudson's approval, but that signified
nothing. AS time went on the first nat
ural explanation of Sir Geoffrey's high
spirits became rather doubtful. He refused
to drink anything besides water and tea.
Most people would have felt quite sure
that tho 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 pri-
yate, in this realm of England. And Mad
eleine, of course, had imbibed something
Of his fancy. :
Sir Geofrey was telling stories one day
when he was interrupted. "Do you mean
literally that you can jump off O horse 60
ing at full gallop and shoot an antelope
right and left? Can you do it in the
park"
"Trot out the antelope, and I will try"
That's not necessary. Let us see you
jump of, and We'll imagine the a%ntelopes."
''Do you offer any prize?"
Eyes; I'll believe every word you say
~hereafterl"
''Oh, this is the listener / have prayed
for from my youth up! 1 will reward you,
Miss Hudson, with adventures never yet
confided to mortal. Where's the horse?
Give me a winchester, George, and I'll
throw the shooting in. The brook meadow
would be a good makeshift for a veldt, I
think"
AS they walked thither Madeleine began
to quake. George overlook them with a
groom and a lead horse.
''Oh, the wretohed boy has brolght
Rasper!' she exclaimed. He's much too
spiritedl'
eve take them as they come. Now,
Miss Hudson, here is the first trial of the
confidence you haye sworn"
"You have not earned it yet"
"Well, if you're SO punctilious, for a
few minutes more you may cherish the
fancy that those two Objects" pointing,
'sare young trees, not antelopes."
Rasper approached, fretting and tossing.
"Oh, don't try it, please" Madeleine
cried. ''IW accept your word"
Heaven will forgive you the fb, Ihope.
Now, George, the rife!"
II sayl There are men working yon-
deri''
''Tel them not to get behind those
young trees. A winchester hits hard!''
And he sprang into the saddle.
behind the ~trees!'' George murmured.
"Well, he has q cheekf'
Madeleine was white with alarm as Sir
Godfrey returned up the meadow full
galiop. He unslung the rife. She clutched
Georges arm. Suddenly, with a cheer, he
drew his feet from the stirrups. Madeleine
saw no merei But on the instant shots
rang out, one after another, till the maya
zine was emptied.
Now, Miss Hudsonl'' Sir Godfrey
laughed. Prepare to change all your
views about everything under my direc-
ton. You were not frightened surely?
Why, Afrikander boys can perform that
feat at 10 years DID,
Then I'm not surprised their fathers
beat us az Maiuha Hill, = cried George.
EVERY lxillet hit.
I,e ral! irA lienio and met them at the
~. 49,. Z: - 49,. - go EAsE