Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-06-14
CHATTER l.
AT THE STAR AND GARTER

msyste rious where 1T falls upon the
growing darkness OF the woodland; O
pensiye light, by which men not alto
gethe given up to the world are apt
TO porder the deeper enigmas OF this
life, and 10 look backward, Heaven
knows with what keen agonies OF re-
greet, to youth thay has vanished and
friends tina. are dead.
Two men who had been dining at the
Star and Carter, and who have stolen
away from &c dessert to smoke their
cigars under the midsummer moon,
contemplate the familiar landscape in
q lazy, meditative silence, One is sit
ting on the stone balustrade CT the ter
rae, with his face turned to the distant
eurve OF the river, watching the tender
light with very somber expression Of
countenance. the other stands with his
elbows resting on the balustrade,
smoking industriOusly, and looking
every now and then with rather an UNI
easy glance at his companion.
The first is Sir Cyprian Davenant,
the last scion of good old Kentish
family, and owner of one OF the finest
md oldest places in the county OF Kent,
The Davelants have been wild, reck-
loss set for the last hundred years, and
there Is not an acre OF Dayenant Park
or a tree in Davenant Woods unen-
numbered by mortgage. How Sir
Cyprian lives aud contrives to keep
out OF debtors prison is subject for
the wonder of his numerous aCquaint-
ances. His intimate friends know that
the man has few expensive habits and
that he has Il small income from an
state inherited from his mother.
Sir Cyprian's companion is man
approaching middle age, with a decid-
edly plain face, redeemed from ugli-
ness by a certain brightness of express
sion about the mouth and eyes. This
gentleman is James Morton Wyatt, u
solicitor, with an excellent practice,
and decided taste for literature,
which he is rich enough to be able to
cultivate at his leisure, leaving the or
binary run of cases to the care OF his
junior partner and only putting in an
appearance at his office when an affair
OF some Importance is on hand, James
Wyatt is bachelor and great favor
ite with the fair sex, for whom his
fashionable modern cynicism seems to
possess an extra ordinary charm. The
Oynlc has natural genius for the art
OF hattery and d certain subtle power
Of pleasing that surprises his male ac-
quaintances, who wonder what the
women can see in this fellow, with his
long, mean-looking no Q, and his small
gray eyes, and his ince 3sant flow of
shallow talk.
you're not very likely company to-
night, Davenant, james Wyatt said,
at last. 1--WE been waiting with exem-
plary patience for some kind of reply
to the question | asked you about u
quarter of an hour ago.
"You can scarcely expect much live
illness from man who is going to start
for Africa in four-and-twenty hours,
with very vague prospect OF coming
back again"
We'll, don't know about that. It's
a pleasure trip, isn't it, this African
exploration business?"
ut is to be called pleasure, believe.
My share in it would never have come
about but for a promise to an old
friend 1t is a point of honor with me
togo. The promise was given five or
six years ago, when l was hot upon the
subject. expect very little enjoyment
from the business now, but | am bound
to 60"
He sighed as he said this, still look
ing far away at the winding river,
with the same somber expression in
his eyes,
James Wyatt heard the regretful
sigh, and noted the dependence of his
companions tone.
81 should have thought there We're
not many people in England you would
care about leaving, Davenant, he said
with curious, watch(ul look at the
other mans half averted face, 81 have
heard you boast of standing alone in
the world.
Rather a barren boast, isn't it,"
said Sir Cyprian, with brief and bit
ter laugh. yes, / am quite alone.
Since my sister Marians marriage, and
complete absorption in nursery cares
and nursery joys, there is no one to
offer let or hlndrance to my going yon-
der. | have friends, of course, great
many-such as you. jim, for instance;
jolly good fellows, who would smoke a
cigar with me tonight in the bonds
OF friendship, and who would hear of
my death month hence without turn
ing hair"
Don't talk platit des about your
friends, Cyprian. l have no doubt they
are as good as other peoples. | don't
know a man going more popular than
you are.
Cyprian Davenant took no notice of
this remark.
I'll tell you what it is, Davenant,
continued the lawyer, there is some
thing deeper than you have owned to
yet at the bottom of your reluctance to
leave England. There is some one, at
least "a woman.
The other turned his face full upon
the speaker You're about right,
jim, he said, tossing the end of his
cigar away as he spoke. There Is a
woman not sudden caprice, either
but woman | have loved truly and
tOndly for the last five years Of my life.
IL we're a wise man, should be very
glad of this chance of curing my in
fatuation by putting q few thousand
miles between myself and the loveliest
face ever saw"
Its a hopeless case, then, sup
pose" suggested James Wyatt.
quite hopeless. What have | to
offer the woman | love? The income
upon which I have managed to live
since my ruin and subsequent reforma-