The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-04
CHAPTER I.


warm valley between curved lines of grassy
hills, whence since the Roman occupation
they have hewn out the hard grey stone to
which The place owes its aspect of uncon-
scious and resigned melancholy. The heights
dominating the northern end of the valley
and blocking the descent to the sea are
crowned with the ruins of castle, whose
majestic ivy-shrouded skeleton clings proud
" to the soil of which time and human
yicissitudes have made it part.
Three miles from the nearest station an
ancient vehicle known by courtesy as
Stills Omnibus'' goes to meet the few
trains that stop. 1t brings back an occa-
sional commercial traveller, parcel from
the London stores for the vicarage. wares
for the draper or ironmonger and perhaps
in fine weather a rare and pensve visitor.
One beautiful afternoon in early June Mr.
Still, who drove his own omnibus meeting
the 4:50 train from London brought back
for his sole passengers a beautiful young
lady and charming little girl of six. Still
decided they belonged 10 the gentry al
though the signs of prosperity he was ac-
customcd to associate with the distinction
were for the most part absent
The omnibus was jolting back quietly
through the solemn beauty OF the country.
the two passengers seated by the driver.
Shall l have difficulty in finding lodg-
ings?" asked the lady
NO, ma'am." said Still; "our seasons
only just beginning"
You have a season."
"Certnly." said Still for the little grey
town had its aspirations, but we're not in
full swing before July. Our castles very
famous. There! You can see Hubert's
Tower over them trees"
Following the direction of his whip the
lady saw the noblest fragment of the ruin
above the leafy landscape
There's the castle, Ethel"
Yes" said the little girl I'VE had a pic
ture of it at home"
There wasn't no powder strong enough
to blow it up in those days" said Still
proudly. Coin to make a long stay,
maam?"
Yes the visitor answered, 'ff L can find
SUI able lodgings"
There's some nice rooms over Eyerton's
shop said Still but he'll be asking thirty
shillings a week for EN-"
The horse languidy walked up the hill
the bees hummed dreamily across the hot
road, the lady surveyed the soft landscape
with subdued interest AT the bottom of the
slope lay the little grey town; beyond. the
ruin of the Norman citadel with its frac-
tured battlements guarded the smiling val
ley
"A gran view. amt it, ma am? You never
see nothing to equal that in Lunnen, little
missile" he added, turning to the child.
We don't live in London said the girl
shyly, shifting her seat more closely to her
mother
Still imagined all visitors came from Lon
don. This exceptional case therefore pro-
voked his curiosity.
He stopped his horse on the brow of the
hill to rest it. Behind was the distant grey
line of the channel on either side the
Quarry-scored hills, whilst to the north the
ruins on the heights they crowned shut out
the world beyond. Still took advantage of
the occasion to point out the chief features
Of interest. The red-roofed house under the
elms was the vfcarage. Who was their
vicar? Why, Mr.. Warlock. to be sure.
Been there nigh thirty years ever since
/ were a lad"
"Warock, mammal" exclaimed the little
girl why, that's our name
Bless my soul alive! exclaimed Still, ''is
i now?"
Perhaps it is a relation, mamma. said
No, dear" said her mother, decisively
eve no reason to think So"
THAT is queer start now,'. said Still,
looking at his passengers in. curiosity,
very queer indeed!
There are many Warlocks in the world, :"
said the lady, in tone intended to rebuke
his curiosity.
It's a fine old name, Warlock. All you
can see from here once belonged to em.
They lived in that castle like little kings
The church there's chock full of EN-. The
vicar, who belongs to the Junior branch of
the family 'ull tell you about 'em, and
their scutcheons and 'brasses' and SUCH
like. The last of EN- was bad bad could
be The acres slipped through their fingers
like suowballs. and to-day they don't own
SO much as a rood O. land in the county.
Maybe you'll be related to EN-, ma'a am. Kins
an odd thing"
Il dessay not, maam Particular as there
amt much to claim now. Why, you'll hard
ly believe it, but there's a brother O. my
wife's a big cab proprietor in London. You
might a driven in his cabs. His stables is
at Holloway and he employs as many as
twenty-five men. Well, l don't claim kin
with Hodgson, I don't though he's own
brother to Mrs. Still
But the lady showed no interest in Mr..
Stills prosperous relations, so he whipped
the horse into a desultory trot and began
the descent of the sloping road and en-
tered the walls of the little grey town.
That evening Mr.. Still smoked his pipe at
the Goat" one Of the most vivid centers
of life in the little grey town. Several of
the leading burghers were seated on the
hard tressle seats before pint pots of the
uneXhilaratng mawkish beverage which
met the local taste in beer.
BUSY day, StiH?" asked Webbing, who
Kept tie small general stores.
Quiet" said Still. only two passengers
by the $50 train"
Usual parcel from the cooperative stores
Tor the vicarage?" inquired Webbing in a
tone of anticipatoTy disapproval for the i'm
Piled slight ON the resources of his own es-
Enlistment, which he avenged by chapel
going
Not so much as piece of frozen meat"
returned Still. only a young lady an her
daughter. I put EN- down at Everton's
place, whose rooms she's took on my rec
mendaton Her names Warlock"
The information created a sensation
What you don't mean TO tell me she
was one o the real Warlocks!" exclaimed