The Washington times., 1894-11-19
Shocking Experiment.

There were excellent reasons-which have
lost force now-for hushing up the story of
the fire at Portal abbey. That Sir GeofIrey
Steyne caused it was known in a very few
hours. for several of Mr.. Hudson's servants
overheard his angry reproaches. But the
facts have not been published and they are
worth noting.
1t was hintei at the time that the Steynes
had never forgiven the purchasers Of their
ancient seat This is absurd. The families
were friendly enough till thirty years ago Mr..
Hudson. father OF the present. began to ''im-
prove" the abbey. Among other dreadful
deeds he transformed the private chapel into
a billard-room. Sir Herbert Steyne took pro-
ceedings, under an old statute, to prevent
this outrage, but he had to drop the action
finding himself unable to prove that the build
ing had ever been consecrated. Then the ac-
quaintance broke off, naturally. AS matter
of fact, believe that none of the present gen.
Grafton had so much as seen each other until
this story opened.
Sir GeofIrey Steyne, his fortune recruited
by long minority spent abroad for the most
part, led a shooting expedition from the Zam-
besi right up to the domain of the East African
Company, where Capt. Hudson, r. E., was
surveying at the time. quarrel arose with
the natives-the camp was attscked-and
Hudson arrived only Just in time to save the
party. He spent but few hours in their COM
pany, sending them down to the coast the
next day under escort; but Sir Geofreys
character struck him.
II never saw such a fellow" he wrote
home, "it's absurd to suppose he was drunk;
a drunken man doesn't fight in that way, es-
pecialIy when wounded in half a dozen
places. But if it isn't anything spirituous
which flows in that boys veins, it's quick
silver" And he proceeded TO details 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 ca led on the family OF his pre-
server. The conversation opened with all
decorum. But when the young man had ex-
pressed his thanks-very nicely, too-he
broke loose, just as Capt. Hudson described.
have no space now for samples OF his hu-
NOR. which in truth was little more than the
outLurst of abnormal vivacity, amusing
enough to any hearer, but especially to young
people as thoughtless and as ready TO laugh
as Madeleine not adapted for transcription,
however. That sort of man makes acquaint-
ance 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. Mr.. Hudson ex-
pressed their thought. 80 early in the after
noon!' 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 re-
garded no young lady seriously. Madeleine
on her best behavior seemed a most desirable
match and she was very pretty.
So the acquaintance grew; not with Mr..
Hudson's approval, but that signihed moth
ing As time went on. the first natural ex-
PLANTATION of Sir Geoffrey's high spirits be-
came rather doubtful. He refused to drink
anything besides water and tea Most people
would have felt quite sure that the suspicion
was unjust. But Mr.. Hudson had drunken
ness on the brain, as they say. He regarded
that as the handspring of events at large,
public and private, in this realm of England.
And Madeline of course had imbibed some
thing of his fancy.
Sir Geoffrey was telling stories one day
when he was interrupted: "Do you mean
literally that you can jump of horse going