Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-10-05
RaYuER's RouanCE.

made Martin Rayner's acquaintance
during my last term at Oxford. He came
up for commemomtion to stay with Q
friend Of mine at Balliol. and met him ct
luncheon IN the latter's room. A large
party was assembled to do honor TO the
distinguished novelist. believe most Of
US were disappointed In him. We OK.
pectcd to find his conversation as brilliant
- his books. Every time he opened his
lips we pricked our ears for something
striking. And Il did not come. He
talked little, and that little by no means
above the common level. Jones, the hero
Of our debating society. could have given
him points. The general verdict was that,
~ q lion at luncheon. Martin Rayner had
failed.
In the middle Of july month or 20
after our last meeting ut Oxford--I had Q
letter from Rayner asking me to spend q
few weeks with him Ut Ills country cot.
,age In somersetshire. | gladly accepted
the invitation. Rayner lived on the east.
srn side Of that delightful country, near
where IL adjolns the Wiltshire border. Il
was quaint little hamlet, i've miles from
Q station and seveu from q town. II lay
In q hollow among wooded slopes and I'm.
dulating pastures. Away down the val.
10y eastward run o namelcss little river,
showing on sunny days silver patch here
and there among the meadows, until Il
lost itself IN the distant shadows under
Salisbury plain.
1t was just the spot for poet; 4 very
paradise for dreamer. A sleepy still.
ness held possession everywhere; silence
that TO me, Londoncr, was positively
startling. W.
During my first few days with Rayner,
could not get rid OF the impression that
something had stopped 10 the earth's ma
chinery. Il made me feel ''unked," as
they say down there. hut, OF course,
soon grew accustomed to 1t. And, be.
sides, 30 much Of an absorbing nature
happened TO me there ~ quito to withdraw
my notice from external surroundings.
However, must not anticipate,
arrived at Rsyner's on y Saturday
evening. The next morning broke fine
and pleasant, and Rsyner took me to the
village church. This place Of worship
was queer little building, more queer
than pretty. The architecture was mixed.
1t represented nearly every order from
early English TO early Georgian. There
were also repairs executed after still
more modern style. by what title to dig.
nifty the latter do not know. I should
imagine, however, that It had been eA
pecially invented by some enterprising
local builder. Tie service was equally
hybrid. Old fashioned and new tangled.
should have fallen fast asleep, but my
attention was attracted to q rustic beauty
In nelghboring pow. am not gener.
ally q. all susceptible to female charms,
but the girls face struck me ut once.
have never seen another In the least re-
sembling II. do not think II couformcd
to the proper can0ns Of beauty; but can.
not BIO sure. When you see sts.endld
sunset y0u do not stop to consider whether
tho details Of the landscape which that
crimson glory foods are In themselves ar
tistlc. was conscious Of two glorious
eyes, Of Q sweet expression thereupon re-
dec,ed, but OF nothing else. II created
rather an odd sensation. II you bellevu
INC, II raised something Of lump In my
throat.
After service was over Rayner aud
stood waiting outside the church door. 1t
was his custom, he told me, to have the
vicar and bis family dine with him every
Sunday, and they always walked back to-
gether.
1--WE arc very intimate" said Raynhr.
II am godfather OF two Of his children.
They regard me - one Of the family"
heard this with some surprise, That
obvious dullsrd OF parson seemed hardly
the sort OF Q man with whom ltayner
should be intimate. But OF course did
not express my surprise, merely asking Of
whom the wears family consisted.
''lIis wife, daughter and three sons,
Rayner told me. ''But here they come.
Unjust put you through the ceremony Of
introduction"
l looked toward the church porch.
scarcely noticed the others. My eyes were
fixed on one face. So my rustic beauty
was the wears daughter, and was about
to make her acquaintance. Al unaccount.
able excitement came upon me and
robbed mo Of my usual self possession.
hope ! did nothing idiOtic.
was sure now that she did not conform
to the canOns Of orthodox beauty, either
in face or figure. Her nose was OF no rec
ognized artistic shape. imagine that hel
mouth was too wide by half an inch at thu
least. She had an appearance OF lanki
ness (hateful. but indispensable word
which would have completely spoiled hcl
for sculptOr's model. But her eyes ant
the expression Of her face! This pen shal
not venture 70 portray them. The sou
that besmed through those bright win
dows, and saw an outside world on which
truth and purity and gentle inn0cenc
were alone reflected, impaired itself to al
her smiles and looks.
We had pleasant luncheon. My chai
was between the Wears daughter and tn
wears wife. P0liteness constrained me b
address much OF my conversation to th
elder lady, In whom ! soon became inter
ested. She talked well, aud In q YER
pleasant voice. Her manner was gentl
and refined. Her face was lined and care
worn, but there were still traces Of beaut
visible. ! should say that many year
ego she resembled what her daughter wa
now.
At about 8 o'clock the wears curate,
fellow named Millington, was announced
He had charge Of district church som
miles away, was informed, but he geneI
ally came over to join Raynsr's gstherin
10 the afternoon. He differed greatly
a