Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-11

He found his father seated alone at the
dinner table. Swinging wide open the door
OF the dining room he strobe aggressively
in.
The old man stood up in his place at
the table, and his eyes frightened expect
antly when he saw his son, for his brain
was quickened by the thought that per-
haps, after all his wrong doing, the boy
ant prodigal. He was man of warm and
firm spirit, and now his breast heaved
with Ills emotions. This boy had been the
apple of his eye. Since the day of his
lirth he had looked for great things from
him. and had seen in him the refined per-
petuation Of the sturdy race of the Ender-
bys. He counted himself but a rough
sort Of country gentleman, and the refined
face of his son had suggested the country
gentleman cast in a finer mold. He was
about to speak kindly as of old, but the
young man. with Gathering spurs, came up
to the other end of the table, and with a
dry >insolence he said:
by whose invitation do you come here?"
The blood fed from the old mans heart.
For moment he felt sick; and his face
turned white. He dropped his head a
little and looked at his son steadily and
mournfully.
"Shall a man need an invitation to his
own house, my son?'' he said at last.
The arrogant lips of the young man tight
ened: he tossed up his head. 1.-The house is
mine. I am the master here. You are an
outlaw
IAN outlaw no longer" said the old man.
"for the Protector has granted me again
the home Of which was cruelty dispos-
sessed."
1.-THE Protector is a rebelr' answered the
young man, and his knuckles raped petu-
lantly upon the table. II stand for the
king-for King Charles the Second. When
you were dispossessed his late martyred
majesty made me master of this estate, and
a knight Also
The old mans hands clinched in the eff
fort IN r,r1o himself tn nnjafnoSS
You are welcome to the knighthood
which I have never accepted" said he; but
for these estates" All at once a fierce
anger possessed him, and the great Shout
ders heaved up end down with emotion
but for these estates, sir, no law nor king
can take them from me. I am John Ender-
by, the first son Of first son, the owner
of these estates since the time my mother
gave me birth. You, sir, are the first of our
name that ever was traitor to his house!
So intent were the two that they did not
see or hear three men who drew aside the
curtains at the end Of the room and stood
spying upon them-three of CromwelPs
men. Young Enderby laughed sneeringly
and answered:
TT was a king Of England that gave
Enderby Manor to the Enderbys. The king
Is the source of all estate and honor, and
am loyal to the king. He Is traitor who
spurns the kings honor and defies it. He
is traitor who links his fortunes with
that vile, murderous upstart, that blelher-
Scotland to join King Charles, and before
three months are over his majesty will
have come into his own again, and into
my own here at Enderby!
The old man trembled with the f1erceness
Of his emotions.
II only am master here" he said, land
should have died upon this threshold ere
my Lord Rippingdale and the kings men
had ever crossed it, but for you, an En-
derby, who deserted me in the conflict;
coward who went over to the enemies Of
our house!'
The young mans face twitched with a
malignant anger. He suddenly started for
ward, and with a sidelcng blow struck his
father with the fiat of his sword. A red
ridge of bruised flesh instantly rose upon
the old mans cheek and ear. He caught
the arm Of the chair by which he stood,
staggering back as though he had received
mortal wound.
mo, no, nor he said, his voice gulping
with misery and horror. mo, no! Kill me,
If you will; but I cannot fight you! Oh, my
God! my God,' he gasped scarcely above
a whisper. Unnatural! unnaturalI'
He said no more, for, upon the instant,
four men entered the room. They were of
Cromweifs ironsides. Young Enderby look
ed round swiftly, ready to fight, but he
saw at once that he was trapped. The old