Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-01-22
AN EXPERIMENT.

There were excellent reasons-which
have lost force now--for hushing up the
story of the fire at Portal abbey. That
Sir Godfrey Steyne caused it was known
in 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 limited at the time that the Steynes
had never forgiven the purchasers OF their
ancient seat This is absurd The fam
lilies were friendly enough till, 80 years
ago, Mr.. Hudson, father of the present,
began to Improve" the abbey. Among
othor dreadful deeds, he transformed the
private chapel into a billiard ROOM Sir
Herbert Steyne took proceedings, under
an old statute, to prevent this outrage,
but he had to drop the action finding him
self unable to prove that tho building had
ever been consecratcd. Then the acquaint-
ance broke off naturally. AS matter of
fact, l believe that none Of the present
generation had SO much as seen each other
until this story opened.
Sir Godfrey Steyne, his fortune re-
cruited by long minority, spent abroad
for the most part, led a shooting expedi.
ton from tho Zambczi right up to the do
main of tho East African company, where
Captain Hudson, r.. E., was surveying at
the time. A quarrel arose with tho ma
tives the camp was attacked, and Hudson
arrived only just in time to save the par
ty. He spont but few hours in their
company, sending them down to the coast
next day under escort, but Sir Geotfrey's
character struck him.
II never saw such fellow" he wrote
home. Its absurd to suppose he was
drunk. A drunken man doesn't fight i'll
that way, especially when wounded in half
dozen places, but If it isn't anything
spirituous which flows in that boys veins
it's quicksilver. And he proceeded to de-
tails which interested his sister Madeleine
She was not pattern young lady--much
too fond of fun, which seemed all the more
delightful II it had spice of mischief
Some weeks afterward Sir Godfrey
reached England and called on the family
of his prcserver The conversation opened
with all decorum, but when tho young
man had expressed his thanks-vcry nice
ly, too-ho broke loose, just as Captain
Hudson described. have no space for
samples of his humor, which, in truth,
was little more than the outburst Of abnor-
NAL vivacity, amusing enough to any hear
CT, but especially to young people as
thoughtless and as ready to laugh as Mad
eleine-not adapted for transcription,
however. That sort of man makes ac-
quaintance 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. MIR. Hudson
expressed their thought. $50 carly in the
afternoonp' he murmured. Dear, dcar,
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, a
young man of property ought to marry,
but hitherto, in the literal sense OF tho
words, he had regarded no young lady Sc
riously. Madeleine on her best behavior
seemed most desirable match, and she
was very pretty.
So the acquaintance grew, not with Mr.
Hudson's approval, but that signifed
nothing. As time went on tho first nat
ural explanation of Sir Geoffrey's high
spirits became rather doubtful. He refused
to drink anything besides water and tea
Most people would have felt quite sure
that the suspicion was quite unjust, but
Mr.. Hudson had drunkenness on tho brain,
as they say. He regarded that as the main
spring Of events at large public and pri-
vate, in this realm Of England. And Mad
elcinc of course, had imbibed something
of his fancy.
Sir Godfrey was telling stories one day
when he was interrupted. ''Do you mean
literally that you can jump off horse 60
ing at full gallop and shoot an antelope
right and leftS Can you do it in tho
park?''
"Trot out the antelope, and will try. !"
THAT'S not necessary. Let us SEQ you
jump off, and we'll imagine tho antclopes. ;"
do you offer any prize?"
Eyes; I'll believe every word you say
hereafter!" -
"Oh, this is the listener have prayed
for from my youth up! will reward you,
Miss Hudson, with adventures never yet
conHded to mortal. Where's the horse?
Give mo a winchester George, and I'll
throw the shooting in. The brook meadow
would be good makeshift for veldt,
think"
As they walked thither Madeleine began
to quake. George overlook them with q
groom and lead horse.
"Oh, the wretched boy has brought
Rasper!' she exclaimed. "IIc's much too
spirited"
'We take them as they come Now,
Miss Hudson, here is the first trial of the
confidence you have sworn"
"You have not earned it yet"
well, II you're SO punctilious, for a
few minutes more you may cherish the
fancy that those two objects, pointing,
"are young trees, not antelopes."
Rasper approached, fretting and tossing.
ooh, don't try 1t, please" Madeleine
cried. "I'll accept your word
Heaven will forgive you the fib, hope.
Now, George, the rifie!"
II sayl There are men working yon.
derl"
"Tell them not to get behind those
young trees. A winchester hits hard!"
And he sprang into the saddle.
"Behind the treesp' George murrnured.
"Well, he has q cheekl"
Madeleine was white with alarm as Sir
Godfrey returned up the meadow full
gallop. He unslung the rifle. She clutched
Georges arm. Suddenly, with cheer, he
drew his feot from tho stirrups. Madeleine
saw no more But OH the instant shots