Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-19
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST.
Copyright, 1875. by the AuthOr.l
CHAPTER 1.
By q. RIDER HAGGARD.

tallest of them hung n single star. Past
these bordering frs there ran n road, on
which in this evening of the opening of
our story a young man stood irresolute,
CHANGING now to the right and now to the
left.
To his right were two stately gates of
iron Enthusiastically wrought, supported by
stone pillars on whose submits stood
grifiins of black marble embracing coats
of arms and bar ners inscribed with the
device, Per atdua ad astra.' Beyond
these gates ran n bruad carriage drive
lined on either side by q double row Of
such oaks as England alone can produce
under the most favorable circumstances
of soil with the aid of the nurturing hand
of man and three or four centuries of time.
At the head of this avenue, perhaps half
n mile from the roadway, although ts
looked nearer because of the eminenoe
upon which it was placed, stood a man
sion of the sort that in auctioneers' adver-
tiscments is usually described as noble"
Its general appearance was Elizabethan,
for in those days some forgotten Outram
had practically rebuilt il, but the greater
part OF its fabric was far more ancient than
the Tudors, dating back indeed, SO said ira
dition, to the days of King John
y hundred yards or so down the road
was a second gate of much less imposing
appearance than that which led to Outram
Hall. Leonard passed through it and
presently found himself ut the door of a
square rcd brick house, built with no
other pretensions than to those of comfort.
This was the rectOry, now tenanted by
the Rev. and Hon. James Beach, to whom
the living had been presented many years
before by Leonard's father, Mr.. Beachs
old college friend.
Leonard rang the bell. and as its dis
tant Clamor fell upon his ears n new fear
struck him. What sort of reception would
he meet with in this house? he wondered.
Hitherto it had always been so cordial
that until this moment he had never
doubted of it, but now circumstances had
changed. He was no longer even the second
son of Sir Thomas Outram of Outram
Hall He was n beggar. an outcast, n
wandercr. the son of n fraudulent bank
rupt and suicide
Now, rs it CHANGED, Leonard, beggared
as he was, had still something left which
could be taken away from him, and
that something the richest fortune which
Providence can give TO any man in his
youth-the love of n woman whom he also
loved For the Hon. and Rev. James
Beach was blessed with n daughter, Jane
by name who had the reputation, not I'M
sweetest naturcd girl that the countryside
could show.
Presently the door was opened, and
Leonard entered. At this moment it &C.
CURED to him that he did not quite know
why he had come. To be altogether accu-
rate, he knew why he had come well
enough. 1t was to see Jane and arrive at
an understanding with her father.
The Rev James Beach was a stout man
of bland and prcpusscsSing appearance
Never had he looked stouter, moro pre-
possessing or blander than on this partic-
ular evening when Leonard was ushered
into his presence.
Lconards sudden advent brought SOW
eral emotions into active play. There
were four people gathered round that COM
Portable fire-the rector, his wife, his son,
a young man at college, and last, but not
least, Jane herself. Mr.. Beach dropped
the cup sufficiently to allow himself to
look at his visitor ut length, for all the
world as though he were covering him
with silver L.underbuss. His wife, an
active little woman, turned round rs if
she moved upon wires, cxclaiming, Good
gracious, who'd have thought it:" while
the son, a robust young man of about
Leonard's own age and his college COM
paniOn, said: HELLO, old fellow. Well,
l never expected to see You here today!
a remark which, however natural it may
have been, scarcely tended to set their Wis
itor at his ease.
Jane herself, a tall and beautiful girl,
with bright auburn hair, who was seated
on a footstool nursing her knees and star
ing ut the fire, paying apparently very lit
tie heed to her fathers lecture upon an
cient plate, did none of these things. On
the contrary, she sprang up with the ut
4 hsnv
lovely face red with bushes or the heat
| OF the fire, and ran toward him, with
open arms. exclaiming as she came, "Oh,
Leonard, dear. dear Leonard
Mr.. Beach turned the silver blunderbus:
upon his daughter and fired n single but
| most effective shot.
Jane he said in a voice in which IA
therly adnonition and friendly warning
were happily blended
Jane stopped in full career rs though il
obedience to some lesson which she haC
momcntarily forgotten Then Mr. Beach
| setting down the fagon, advanced upoT
| outstretched hand
How are you, my dear boy, how ar
your" he said. We did not expect
To see me here under the circum
stances" put in Leonard bitterly. Mo-
would you have done so, but Tom and
understood that it was only to be a thre'
days sale
Then came another pause, during which
every body present except Mr.. Beach him
self rose one by one and quilted the room
Jane was the last to go, and Leonard no
ticed as she passed him that there wer
tears in her eyes.
Jane said her father in a meaning
voice when her hand was already on tn
door you will be careful to be dressed IL
time for dinner, will you not, love? Yo1
remember that young Mr.. Cohen is com
ing, and 1 should like somebody to b
down to receive him.
James only answer to this remark wa
to pass through the door and slam it bt
hind her. Clearly the prospect of the ad
vent of this guest was not agreeable to hel
Well, Leonard" went on Mr.. Beac
when they We're alone in a tone that wa
meant TO be sympathetic, but which jarre
horribly on his listeners ears, this is
sad business, very sad. But why are 20
not sitting down''
Because no one asked me to-" sal
Leonard as he took a chair.
HEM went on Mr.. Beach. "By tn
way, believe that Mr.. Cohen is a frien
of yours, is he not:''
AN acquaintance, not a friend" sa
Leonard.
Indeed thought that you were at tt
same college,
YES, but he is a Jew, and don't Ill
Jews"
Prejudice, my dear boy, prejudice,
minor sin indeed, but one against whiC
you should struggle. Besides the fami
have been Christian for n generation. b
there, there, it is natural that yen shou
not feel warmly toward the man who w
-, one day own Outram. Ali As i sal
this is all very sad, but it must be gre
consolation to you to remember that Wit
everything is settled there will be enoug
D SO am told, to repay those whom 20
unhappy father-um-defrau Al
now is there anything that I can do 4
you or your brother,''
). This" answered Leonard nervousl
You can show your confidence in me