The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-02-11
G22Ak||
|0g

Go@ swept broadening
down to West
minister Bridge. The Abbey towers rose
sharply into the clear air. and caught
the moonlight full upon their heads. but
beneath them. on the farther side. lay
a wide region of silent and mysterious
shadow. In the shadow paced the figure
of a man. BY the slow and monotonous
regularity of his footballs as he passed
backward and forward you might I'VE
taken him for a sentinel OF guard. But
to a closer look, the long. high-collared
coat. the quaint and ample outline Of
his hat, and a certain balance in his
step betrayed the seafaring man., n
gave a hint of his rank. His figure n
h easy swing of his movements pro-
claim him strong, but the obscurity con-
ccaled all other characteristics.
Up and down, up and down, he paced:
always the same measured step, al
ways the same distance to a yard. Moth
ing about him spoke of impatience, and
yet he was evidently expecting some
one or something: for each time that
his beat ended at the angle Of the north
ern tower he stopped, and looked first
to the right across the deserted square
~ " sh'S IN VI ~ oifd
then to the left, where, on the edge Of
st James Park. the lights of Glamor-
gan House shone through a few gaunt
and leaf1ess trees.
Fol this was in 1921, and in 1921 Gla-
morgan House was still standing. And
tonight 1t was especially in evidence,
for the open gates n h unwonted
illumination of the garden court showed
plainly that some festivity was in prep
aratiOn within.
Minute after minute passed. till sud
denly from overhead came the deep
sound of the clock striking the hall
hour. At the same instant a carriage
rolled into the square. The watcher had
just turned his back. and vas retreat
ing for the fiftieth time toward the
doorway Of the Abbey. when the vibra-
ton Of the chimes ceased, and the sound
of the approaching hoofs and wheels
fell upon his ear. In a moment he was
back at the corner of the building,
where he stood motionless, with his
head thrown forward like q dog strain
ing in the leash.
The carriage passed close before him,
wheeled off to the right, and disap-
peared into the court of Glamorgan
House. He made a quick step forward
as If to follow, but checked himself,
and stood for a m irresolute.
While he was h~esitating, a party of
aides muffled in opera cloaks and
shawls. and attended by several gentle
men, crossed the road from the en-
trance of Deans Yard. and took the
same direction as the carriage. The fig
ure in the shadow hesitated no longer,
but followed in their wake with long,
resolute strides. He came up with long,
as they reached the portico, and passed
into the cloak room with the gentlemen
of the party. There coat and hat were
laid aside. and he stood revealed as an
officer OF the kings navy, wearing a
captains epaulettes upon a very stall
wart pair of shoulders.
AS ne entered Lord G~lamorgan-a
tall, old man with bushy eyebrows and
u Jovial red face-stepped in front and
shook him warmly by the hand. Then
putting a big hand upon his shoulder
with a fatherly air. he wheeled him for
ward, and himself turned to face his
wife. MY dear" he said. with a half
bow. II present to you Capt. Richard
fStcourt Of his majesty's ship -.
Well. well! Dick, which shall it be, eh?'
His lordship had been a lord of the
admiralty i'm the last ministry. and
though now for some time out of office.
he retained a perhaps exaggerated idea
of his own influence in naval affairs.
Lady Glamorgan received the young
nan with ali the g~raciousness for which
she was deservedly popular. Capt.
~Estcourt," she said, lis slower to fol-
low an advantage on shore tina at sea;
his reputation had been here Ions be-
fore him"
Estcourt flushed. Il have been four
years on the Indian stations" he said.
and three before that in America"
Since he had been almost the first in
the ROOM. ii seemed impossible that he
should miss the person for whom he
was waiting; but when the stream Of
incomers had apparently ceased, and
Lady Glamorgan found time to leave
the door and look at the dancing, her
eye fell on him at once, still on guard
in his solitary corner. She came toward
him Immediately. bent on the hostess
congenial duty Of introduction.