Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1898-01-20

sx-,- Both started with
- undisguised inter-
u ~ est at q splendid
looking giant of a
man, fine Of feature under coat of
bronze, broad shouldered, with every
one Of his six feet and three inches Of
height procaiming the soldier. BY
hls side walked two boys of thirteen
or fourteen.
No. Who is IT, asked the second
Ttouian "He's almost as tall as
'OzZy.
It's Colonel Hope, I'm sure Of it.
Know linn from the photographs,
whispered the first. Suppose he's
come to show those chaps his old
hunting ground. They can't be his
sons. for he isn't married, SO far as I
.yer heard Only think, he got the
v {. when he was a major of thirty.
Know all aboNt him? I should say |
did and 50 ought you. Ever since /
was 50 high he's been one OF my
heroes. read the other day he was
barl, IN England Wonder how it
seems. after fifteen years of good hard
fighting III India and Afghanistan and
Chitral2'
The two Etonian youths looked very
much as though they would have liked
e 50 up and shake hands with the
famous soldier, but instead they
passed wistfully on, unnoticed by th cir
hero.
II was June day, Of blue and green
and gold, with scent Of new-mown
bay and sweet briar in the air. Colonel
Hope walked thoughtfully with his
two ncphews in the famous Playing
Fields Of Eton.
1ho boys were about to enter the
old school he loved and as he trod the
familiar paths hundred memories of
his early youth came crowding into
bis mind. He was only thirty eight,
but aeons of life seemed to stretch be-
tween him aud those dead days.
Here was the leafy shades Of Poets
Walk, where. as Sixth Form boy, he
had been privileged to take tea while
the Youngsters were in school; little
further on was the ancient redbrick
wall, mellow with time, which had
witnessed the struggles Of generations
N that barbarous game Sof football
played nowhere save at Eton.
How the faces of boys came back IN
TO his recollection like forgotten
dreams. With half smile he mechan-
lrally rubbed an ear which had
once been injured in football scrim-
mage as he explained to his awed
lIGt hn nf , ,rr
the ball along the wall, with terrific
scrnbbingS of body and face against
the rough surface of the brick and on
m ancient elm he pointed out the
chalk marking indicating goal
'talx, IN the slang of Eton.
From the cricket ground the three
strolled over toward the river, where
me roaming stream boiled swiftly
doNn from the weir above. 4 stray
dog came barking and fawning to the
Two boys, inviting them to throw q
stlc6 into the water for him. aud
Colonel Hope paced in abstraction ~
and down beneath the lmmemoria
elMs
Never once since he left Eton tc
study for the army had he revisited
'he old school; and now, out of the
fNrglng crowd of memories two face:
Shone clear and bright-Henry Rae
hnrn and Ethel Stuart's. Raeburn haf
hecp the friend. the idol, of his earl,
youth, tive wear older than he, and :
hIc boy at Eton when he was littl,
one
dope had tagged for Raeburn. W o,
hau received the humble alteration O
'he Younger lad with an air of amusee
patronage. which had. however, speed
lly turned into affection. SO it wa
mat warm and genuine friendship
SPIang into being. and the two boy
We're constantly together. II was Rae
hNrn who first taught Hope to handl
an oar Il was Hope who saved Rae
'"F'i life when they were upset from
punt IN the swollen river. and Rae
pNrn was entangled III the ropy weeds
When Raeburn left Eton Hope be
cal-e constant visitor at his father
mouse; and when it was Hopes turI
leave school and begin his studie
'e me army there tame no change in
then old friendship until -Th
Woman appeared upon the scene.
TOW We'll Hope remembered no,
'4e hrsi day he had seen Ethel Stuar
-"ne Fourth of July at Eton, Onl
Young girl. scarcely older than he
""i already radiant and bevltchin
''a"ty with ali the piquant charm ,
Matured coluette. She was dl:
'aA' cousin of Raeburn and so il wa