Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-01-05
TIE people,
OF The MIST.
4 Il. RIDER HAGGARD.


"
tallest of them hung single star. Past
these bordering frs there ran a road, on
which in this evening of the opening of
our story 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
griffins of black marble embracing coats
of arms and banners inscribed with the
Device "Per ardua nd astra'' Beyond
these gates ran broad carriage drive
lined on either side by double row of
such oaks as England alone can produce
under tho 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
a mile from the roadway, although it
looked nearer because of the eminence
upon which 1t was placed, stood man
sion of the sort that in auctioneers' adver-
tiscments is usually described as noble. Z"
Its general appearance was Elizabethan,
for iii those days some forgotten Ontram
had practically rebuilt it, but the greater
part of its fabric was far more ancient than
dition, to the days of King John.
A 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 at the door of
square red brick house, built with no
other pretensions than to those of comfort.
This was the rectory, now tenantcd by
the Rev. and Hon. James Beach, to whom
the living had been presented many years
before by Lconard's father, Mr.. Beach's
old college friend
! Leonard rang the bell, and as it's C.s-
tant clGmor fell upon his ears a new fear
struck him. What sort of reception would
he meet with in this houses 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 oven the second
son of Sir Thomas Outram of Outram
Hall. He was a beggar, an outcast, a
wanderer, the son of fraudulent bank
rupt and suicide.
Now, as 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 a woman whom he also
loved For the Hon. and Rev James
Beach was blessed with daughter, Jane
by name, who had the reputation, not un-
deserved, of being tho most beautiful and
sweetest natured 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, be 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 stout man
of bland and prcpossessing appearance.
Never had he looked stouter, more pre-
possessing or blander than on this partic-
ular evening when Leonard was ushercd
into his presence.
Leonard's sudden advent brought sew
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 Mt his visitor at length, for all the
world as though he were covering him
with q silver hlunderbuss His wife, an
she moved upon wires, exclaiming, Good
gracious, who'd have thought iti" while
the son, q robust young man of about
Leonard's own age and his college COM
panion, SAIL: Hello, old fellow. Well,
/ never expected to SEQ you here today"
| a remark which, however natural it may
have been, scarcely tended to set their Wis
itor at his ease.
Jane herself, tall and beautiful girl,
with bright auburn hair, who was seated
ON footstool nursing her knees and star
ing at 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
most animation, her lips apart and her
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 Leonardo
Mr.. Beach turned the silver blunderbuss
upon his daughter and fred single bit
most effective shot.
Jancl' he said in voice in which ia
thcrly admonition and friendly warning
were happily blended.
Jane stopped in full career as though In
obedience to some lesson which she had
momcntarily forgotten. Then Mr.. Beach,
setting down the fagon, advanced upon
Leonard, with an ample plying smile and
outstretched hand.
How are you, my dear boy, how are
yous" he said. We did not expect
TO sec me here under tho crcum-
stances" put in Leonard bitterly. Nor
would You have done so, but Tom and l
understood that Il was only to be three
days sale.
Then came another pause during which
everybody present except Mr.. Beach HIM
self rose one by one and quilted the room.
Jane was the last to go, and Leonard no.
ticcd as she passed him that. there We're
tears in her eyes.
Jane, " said her father In meaning
voice when her hand was already on the
door, you will be careful to be dressed in
time for dinner, will you not, lover You
remember that young Mr.. Cohen is com
ing, and l should like somebody to be
down to receive him."
| James only answer to this remark was
to pass through the door and slam it be-
hind her. Clearly the prospect OF the ad-
vent of this guest was not agreeable to her
well, Leonard, went on Mr. Beach
when they were alone in tono that was
meant to be sympathetic, but which Jared
norTlDlN vi Ills llslcDcT > ears tuls 10 u
sad business, very sad But why are you
not sitting DOWN."
Because no one asked me to- said
Leonard as he took chair.
Henri went on Mr.. Beach. "By tho
way, believe that Mr.. Cohen is friend
of yours. is he mott"
IAN acquaintance, not o friend,s said
Leonard.
Indeed 1 thought that you were at the
same college"
Yes, but he is Jew, and don't like
jews"
Prejudice, my dear boy, prejudice, n
minor sin indeed, but ono against which
you should struggle. Besides the family
bave been Christian for a generation. But
there, there, it is natural that you should
not feel warmly toward the man who will
one day own Outram. Ali As ! said,
/ this Is all very sad. but it must be great
consolation to you to remember that when
everything is settled there will be enough,
SO am told, to repay those whom your
unhappy Observation-Disclosures. And
now is there anything that 1 can do for
you or your brother,"
This, answered Leonard neryously.
you can show your confidence in me by
+ allowing my engagement to Jane to be
proclaimed.
Here Mr.. Beach waved his hand once
more as though to repel some invisible foe,
Really l cannot listen to such non,
r sense any longer, = he broke in angrily.